Under existing law, various general obligation bond acts have been approved by the voters to provide funds for water projects, facilities, and programs. The Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006, a bond act approved by the voters at the November 7, 2006, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,090,000,000 for the purposes of financing disaster preparedness and flood prevention projects. This bill, with regard to those bond funds, would appropriate $30,000,000 to the Department of Water Resources for flood protection projects that either improve the sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, implement specified flood management actions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, or do both.
Sponsored bills
(1) Existing law, for purposes of a contract pursuant to the Williamson Act, requires the landowner to furnish the city or county with information that the city or county requires to determine the eligibility of the land involved in the contract. This bill would, on either an initial or ongoing basis, instead require the landowner to furnish the city or county with information that is directly related to the landowner's compliance with the act that the city or county requires to determine the eligibility of the land involved in the contract. (2) Existing law requires the legislative body of a city or county to deny approval of a tentative map, or a parcel map for which a tentative map was not required, if it finds that either the resulting parcels following a subdivision of that land would be too small to sustain their agricultural use, or the subdivision will result in residential development not incidental to the commercial agricultural use of the land, where the land is subject to, among others, a contract entered into pursuant to the Williamson Act.This bill would require the legislative body of a city or county to deny approval of a tentative map, or parcel map for which a tentative map is not required, for the proposed subdivision of land that is subject to a contract entered into pursuant to the Williamson Act, unless the legislative body finds, among other things, that each resulting parcel of land will be consistent with the local rules relating to that act, and each resulting parcel of land has an existing commercial agricultural use, an open-space use, or both, the agricultural improvements necessary to sustain a commercial agricultural use, an open-space use, or both, or a feasible plan exists for achieving those improvements, if necessary, as specified. The bill would also authorize the legislative body to impose any reasonable and necessary restrictions on the residential use of any resulting parcel. (3) Under existing law, if a city, county, or nonprofit organization serves written notice of nonrenewal of an open-space easement contract, a Williamson Act contract, or a farmland security zone contract, and the landowner fails to provide written notice of protest, the board of supervisors or the assessor is required to follow specified steps in assessing the annual value of the land immediately. This bill would instead provide that if a city, county, or nonprofit organization serves written notice of nonrenewal for cause, as defined, of an open-space easement contract, a Williamson Act contract, or a farmland security zone contract, or the city or county serves notice of nonrenewal and the landowner fails to provide written notice of protest, the board of supervisors or the assessor is required to follow specified steps in assessing the annual value of the land immediately.
This measure would recognize the importance of celebrating the birth and independence of Mexico and honoring and invigorating the spirit of friendship, understanding, and cooperation that characterizes the California-Mexico relationship.
Existing law sets forth various powers and duties of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Food and Agriculture. Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the department to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and requires the secretary to convene a Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020, and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. This bill would require the secretary to establish and convene the California Agricultural Climate Benefits Advisory Committee to advise the state board on strategies to support agricultural activities that reduce global warming impacts that may negatively impact agriculture and the rest of the state. The provisions of this bill would become inoperative on July 1, 2013, and would be repealed on January 1, 2014.
This measure would designate May 2009 as Foster Care Month.
Existing law requires various state agencies to carry out programs, projects, and activities on behalf of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Johnston-Baker-Andal-Boatwright Delta Protection Act of 1992 creates the 23-member Delta Protection Commission and requires the commission to prepare and adopt a comprehensive long-term resource management plan for specified lands within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. That act establishes a primary zone where further development is barred and a secondary zone surrounding the Delta where development may proceed under certain conditions. This bill would revise and recast the provisions of the act to, among other things, reduce the number of members to 15 members, as specified. The bill would require the commission to conduct its meetings in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. The bill would require the commission to appoint at least one advisory committee consisting of representatives from specified entities to provide input regarding the diverse interests within the delta. The bill would require the commission to adopt, not later than July 1, 2011, a comprehensive resources management plan containing specified elements and would require the commission to update the plan every 5 years. The bill would require the Delta Stewardship Council, when developing a delta plan, to take into consideration recommendations made by the commission. The bill would require all general plans of cities and counties within the delta to be consistent with the resources management plan that would be created and adopted by the commission, and the delta plan created and adopted by the Delta Stewardship Council, and thereby impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would revise and recast the process by which local government is to submit proposed general plan amendments and land use elements to ensure that the general plan is consistent with the resource management plan. The bill would require the commission to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2012, recommendations on the potential expansion of the primary zone. The bill would require the commission to develop a regional economic development plan for the delta region that is consistent with the delta plan. This bill would establish the Delta Investment Fund within the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would be used by the commission for the purposes of enhancing delta communities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Existing law defines and regulates reverse mortgage loans. This bill would provide that a lender, broker, person, or entity that recommends the purchase of a reverse mortgage in anticipation of financial gain owes the prospective borrower a duty of honesty, good faith, and fair dealing, as defined. This bill would provide that a person or entity shall not attempt to avoid the application of these provisions, as specified.
The California Constitution conditions the imposition of a special tax by a city, county, or special district upon the approval of 23 of the voters of the city, county, or special district voting on that tax, and prohibits these entities from imposing an ad valorem tax on real property or a transactions or sales tax on the sale of real property. This measure would alternatively condition the imposition, extension, or increase of a parcel tax, as defined, by a school district, community college district, or county office of education upon the approval of 55% of its voters voting on the proposition, if the proposition meets specified requirements. This measure would also make conforming changes to related provisions.
The Natural Community Conservation Planning Act authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to enter into agreements with any person or public entity for the purpose of preparing a natural community conservation plan, in cooperation with a local agency that has land use permit authority over the activities proposed to be addressed in the plan, to provide comprehensive management and conservation of multiple wildlife species. The act requires the department to approve a natural community conservation plan for implementation after making specified findings based upon substantial evidence in the record, including a finding that the plan has been developed consistent with the planning agreement process. This bill would include in the required finding that the plan has been developed consistent with the planning agreement process an additional finding of cooperation with a local agency that has land use permit authority over the activities proposed to be addressed in the plan.
Existing law requires various state agencies to administer programs relating to water supply, water quality, and flood management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This bill would prohibit the construction of a peripheral canal, as defined, that conveys water from a diversion point in the Sacramento River to a location south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, unless expressly authorized by the Legislature. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to complete an economic feasibility analysis prior to the enactment of a statute authorizing the construction of a peripheral canal. The bill would prohibit the construction and operation of a peripheral canal from diminishing or negatively affecting the water supplies, water rights, or quality of water for water users within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed, or imposing any new burdens on infrastructure within, or financial burdens on persons residing in, the Delta or the Delta watershed.