Resilience Navigators Program: climate change resilience financial assistance programs.

Existing law establishes the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, to be administered by the Office of Planning and Research, to coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as provided. Existing law requires the program to include working with and coordinating local and regional efforts for climate adaptation and resilience, including, but not limited to, developing tools and guidance, promoting and coordinating state agency support for local and regional efforts, and informing state-led programs to better reflect the goals, efforts, and challenges faced by local and regional entities pursuing adaptation, preparedness, and resilience. Existing law requires the office to coordinate with appropriate entities to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided. This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish within the program the Resilience Navigators Program to provide information and guidance to potential applicants for state programs that offer financial assistance, including grants or loans, to develop or implement plans, programs, or projects that seek to create, improve, or enhance resilience to climate change, including disasters associated with or amplified by climate change, including, but not limited to, wildfires and extreme heat. The bill would require the office to develop and maintain on its internet website or a related, state-administered internet website, and update annually, an interactive resource of all of these state programs, as specified, provide specified information and guidance to entities that are potential applicants for these programs, and conduct outreach to vulnerable communities, as defined, regarding available programs. This bill would require the Natural Resources Agency, on or before July 1, 2024, and in coordination with the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program and state entities represented in the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, to develop an interactive internet website that displays the state's climate adaptation strategy, including the strategy's priorities, goals, actions, metrics, timeframes, and lead agencies, as provided, and to develop coordinated, science-based approaches for measuring the performance and outcomes of state investments that support implementation of the state's climate adaptation strategy, as provided.