Existing law establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board within the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to investigate, study, and determine what areas within the state are most essential and suitable for wildlife production and preservation, and will provide suitable recreation. Existing law also requires the board to ascertain and determine what lands within the state are suitable for game propagation, game refuges, bird refuges, waterfowl refuges, game farms, fish hatcheries, game management areas, and what streams and lakes are suitable for, or can be made suitable for, fishing and hunting. Existing law also authorizes the board to administer various habitat conservation programs. This bill would require the department to establish the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which may include direct payments or other incentives, to encourage landowners to voluntarily cultivate or retain upland cover crops or other upland vegetation on idled lands to provide waterfowl, upland game bird, and other wildlife habitat cover for purposes, including, but not limited to, encouraging the use of idle agricultural lands for wildlife habitat. The bill would authorize the department to develop guidelines and criteria for the program as it deems appropriate. The bill would authorize the department to consult with the Wildlife Conservation Board, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and nonprofit waterfowl and upland game bird organizations before implementing those provisions, to determine the optimal ways of increasing and enhancing wildlife habitat on idled lands. The bill would provide that its provisions shall be implemented only if the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 is approved by the voters at the November 6, 2018, general election or a sufficient amount of federal grants or other funds are secured, as determined by the department, for the purposes of the bill.
Sponsored bills
Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to supervise the maintenance and operation of dams and reservoirs as necessary to safeguard life and property. Existing law authorizes the department to impose reservoir restrictions and to levy property liens on an owner of a dam who fails to comply with certain provisions relating to dam safety or any approval, order, rule, regulation, or requirement of the department. This bill would require the department to post, and update annually, on its Internet Web site a report containing the name of each reservoir subject to a restriction and the reservoir's associated downstream hazard potential classification, the effective date of the reservoir restriction, the reason for the restriction, and any actions, planned or completed, that the dam owner reports to address the restriction. The bill, if no reservoir restrictions are in effect, would require the department to post this fact on its Internet Web site.
Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to supervise the maintenance and operation of dams and reservoirs as necessary to safeguard life and property. Under existing law, the department operates the State Water Resources Development System, also known as the State Water Project, composed of the state water facilities, including Oroville Dam. This bill would create the Citizens Advisory Commission for Oroville Dam within the Natural Resources Agency. The bill would require the commission to consist of specified members of state agencies or their designees, including the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or his or her designee serving as chairperson. The bill would require the chairperson to invite persons appointed by specified local agencies to serve as members of the commission, as prescribed. This bill would require the department to, among other things, provide the commission with onsite tours of the dam and its grounds and provide the commission with all information reasonably requested by the commission regarding the construction, rehabilitation or reconstruction, operation, maintenance, and management of the dam. The bill would set forth the organization and duties of the commission and would require the commission to meet as necessary to carry out the purposes and duties of the commission. The bill would require the commission to publish a report at least once every 3 years that provides, among other things, an overview of ongoing maintenance and improvements made at the dam and its site. The bill would prohibit the commission from making regulations or rules to bind operations at the dam.
Existing law requires the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation to keep up to date a comprehensive plan for the development of the outdoor recreation resources of the state for purposes of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, for the purposes of discussion, reviewing research, planning, and providing oversight regarding the health of Clear Lake. This bill would establish in the agency the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation. The bill would require the office to undertake certain activities, including supporting the outdoor recreation economy of the state by engaging in specified activities. The bill would also require the office to create an advisory committee to provide advice, expertise, support, and service to the office. The bill would authorize the office to receive assistance and funds from public and private sources, and would require that the moneys received by the office pursuant to this provision or appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the bill be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account, which the bill would create within the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources. The bill would require, before the office could commence any program development activities pursuant to the bill, that an amount sufficient to administer at least 50% of the first fiscal year of the office's activities be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account.
This measure would recognize the impact opioid-related deaths have had on California communities and would support groups and organizations working in California to combat the epidemic.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a list of reportable communicable and noncommunicable diseases and conditions and specify the timeliness requirements related to the reporting of each disease and condition. Existing law requires the department to develop information about various communicable diseases, including hepatitis C and meningococcal disease, and to make the information available to the public. Existing law also supports research into the development of a vaccine to protect against valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) . This bill would establish the Valley Fever Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act. This bill would, among other things, require the department to conduct a valley fever awareness campaign to communicate with local health jurisdictions, providers, and the public about valley fever, as described. The bill would authorize the department to award grants or enter into contracts to perform activities related to the awareness campaign, as specified. Those provisions would become inoperative on January 1, 2021.
This measure would urge the federal government and the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to take immediate action to adequately address cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
This measure would express the support of the Legislature for the 23 Asilomar AI Principles as guiding values for the development of artificial intelligence and of related public policy.
This measure would proclaim the week of September 9, 2018, through September 15, 2018, as Suicide Prevention Week in California.
This measure would proclaim November 2018 as Epilepsy Awareness Month and call for a recommitment to increasing awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy.