Department of Parks and Recreation: California Youth Water Safety State Grant.

Existing law establishes the Department of Parks and Recreation in the Natural Resources Agency, and specifies that the department shall be conducted under the control of an executive officer known as the Director of Parks and Recreation. Existing law requires the director to establish the Outdoor Equity Grants Program to increase the ability of underserved and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor environmental educational experiences at state parks and other public lands where outdoor environmental education programs take place, among other requirements placed on the department and the director. This bill would require the department to establish and administer the California Youth Water Safety State Grant. The bill would require the department to make funding available to nonprofit organizations, special districts, and city or county parks and recreation departments to provide free swimming lessons for low-income and at-risk youth. The bill would authorize an applicant to apply on an annual basis, and would prohibit the department from awarding a grant larger than $25,000 per application. The bill would authorize the department to use up to 5% of amounts appropriated for these purposes for costs that result from administering the grant program. The bill would provide for implementation of all of these provisions only upon an appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes.