State Coastal Conservancy: grants: educational projects and programs.

Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy and prescribes the membership, functions, and duties of the conservancy with regard to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of specified coastal lands in the state. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to fund and undertake plans and feasibility studies and to award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for these purposes. This bill would additionally authorize the conservancy to provide technical assistance, and award grants for that purpose. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to undertake educational projects and programs for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, relating to the preservation, protection, enhancement, and maintenance of coastal resources, and to award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for those purposes, subject to certain limitations, and requires an educational grant program established pursuant to these provisions to comply with certain requirements. This bill would instead authorize the conservancy to undertake educational projects and programs for adults and for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, and to award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies, including federally recognized Indian tribes, for educational projects and programs related to the preservation, protection, enhancement, maintenance, and enjoyment of coastal resources and for onsite and distance learning facilities, activities, and instructional programs that support the delivery of science, history, and social science content, in accordance with prescribed requirements. The bill would also authorize the conservancy to award grants for the construction and improvement of structures and facilities used for those projects and programs. The bill would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys for grants awarded to public educational institutions, including community colleges, and would prohibit the conservancy from spending more than 10% of the funds received for grants for educational projects and programs for grant administrative costs. The bill would authorize the conservancy to award funds not otherwise restricted, on and after January 1, 2020, for funding grants to nonprofit organizations that offer scientific, educational, or heritage programs that focus on the history and stewardship of the ocean and coastal resources.