AB1567:v96#DOCUMENTBill Start
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 26, 2023
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Amended
IN
Assembly
April 26, 2023
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Amended
IN
Assembly
April 07, 2023
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1567
Introduced by Assembly Members Garcia, Wendy Carrillo, Connolly, Friedman, Papan, Reyes, and Luz Rivas (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Arambula, Lee, and McCarty) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Bryan, Calderon, Mike Fong, Haney, Holden, Kalra, Lowenthal, Muratsuchi, Ramos, Robert Rivas, Schiavo, and Wood)
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February 17, 2023 |
An act to add Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) to the Public Resources Code, relating to safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, clean energy, and workforce development programs, by providing the funds necessary therefor through an election of the issuance and sale of bonds of the State of California and for the handling and disposition of those funds.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1567, as amended, Garcia.
Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe
Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,105,000,000 $15,995,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, clean energy, and workforce development programs.
This bill would provide for the
submission of these provisions to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
Digest Key
Vote:
2/3
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
YES
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The people of California find and declare all of the following:(a) The climate crisis presents a significant threat to the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of California. The changing climate increases the risk of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, catastrophic wildfire, drought, rising temperatures and heat, and sea level rise, resulting in harm to California’s agricultural industry, water supply, unique ecosystems, and economy.
(b) According to the state’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, “[e]merging findings for California show that costs associated with direct
climate impacts by 2050 are dominated by human mortality, damages to coastal properties, and the potential for droughts and mega-floods,” and could lead to economic costs to the economy that exceed $100 billion by midcentury.
(c) Low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing disproportionate effects of climate change and will continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts going forward unless the state prioritizes investments in these communities. Investment in these communities can build resiliency, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership to withstand the shocks and stresses of future anticipated and unforeseen events, resulting in improved environmental conditions, better health outcomes, social cohesion, and increased economic opportunity.
(d) Improving climate resilience will require investments in planning and both capital and noncapital costs.
(e) Restoration and stewardship of California’s ecosystems and natural infrastructure will increase the state’s resilience to the changing climate and can prevent or reduce many of the forecasted impacts of climate change. Investment in improving California’s ecosystems and natural infrastructure substantially benefits food and water systems, community health, and livelihoods.
(f) Climate risks and impacts vary by region so state investments to improve climate resilience must reflect the varying type and severity of climate impacts across the state.
(g) Planning, investment, and action to address current and future climate change impacts must be guided by the best available science, including local and traditional knowledge.
(h) The investment of public funds pursuant to Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code will result in public benefits that will address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code should not fund programs or projects that exacerbate, perpetuate, or sustain environmental injustice through air pollution, water contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation in already
disproportionately affected communities or that will shift climate and environmental burdens to disadvantaged or otherwise disproportionately burdened communities.
(j) It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from this act ensure investments create high-wage, high-quality jobs that comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, including labor, training, safety, contracting, and environmental requirements and standards.
(k) It is the intent of the Legislature that, in the interest of people of color, vulnerable communities, and indigenous populations, in meeting the climate and conservation objectives to contemplate investments beyond those specific to traditional conservation and protections, to look towards objectives that are transformative in nature
in California’s urban settings through the establishment of new paradigms for conservation that puts forth proactive and strategic restoration of degraded lands, especially in communities where vulnerable populations and environmental burdens are concentrated by virtue of, among other things, the development of new definitions and programmatic parameters to inform entities, such as the Wildlife Conservation Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and others, when allocating funding, and to direct proportionate shares toward investments in urban landscape and ecosystem restoration.
SEC. 2.
Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:DIVISION 48. SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPARATION, FLOOD PROTECTION, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION, CLEAN ENERGY, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOND ACT of 2024
CHAPTER
1. General Provisions
80500.
This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.80501.
(a) In expending funds pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.(b) To the extent practicable, a project funded pursuant to this division shall include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
(c) Projects funded pursuant to this division shall include the planning, monitoring, and reporting necessary to ensure successful implementation of this division’s objectives.
(d) When disbursing funds available pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
(1) Reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience.
(2) Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations.
(3) Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another.
(4) Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property.
(5) Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
(e) To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant
to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable
populations or socially disadvantaged groups.
80503.
For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:(a) “Air board” means the State Air Resources Board.
(b) “Climate resilience” means the ability of an entity or system, including an individual, a community, an ecosystem, or a natural system, and its component parts, to absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a climate event in a timely and efficient manner, including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions. In the case of natural and working lands, climate resilience includes the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the
ability to sequester carbon.
(c) “Committee” means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 80602. 80612.
(d) “Critical community infrastructure” means infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems,
evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
(e) “Disadvantaged community” means a community with a median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide average.
(f) “Economically distressed area” means a municipality with a population of 20,000 persons or fewer, a rural county, or a reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality where the segment of the population is 20,000 persons or fewer, with an annual median household income that is less than 85 percent
of the statewide median household income and with one or more of the following conditions as determined by an agency administering funding under this division:
(1) Financial hardship.
(2) Unemployment rate at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average.
(3) Low population density.
(g) “Equity destination project” means a project located in a highly desired region of the state, including, but not limited to, coastal and mountainous park and nature settings that have a demonstrated history or, upon completion of the project, can demonstrate new or increased use and usership among California’s more marginalized populations through, among other things, the establishment
of low-cost or subsidized camping or free and reduced-rate entry.
(h) “Fund” means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Fund created pursuant to Section 80518.
(i) “Groundwater sustainability agency” has the same meaning as defined in Section 10721 of the Water Code.
(j) “Interpretation” includes, but is not limited to, a visitor-serving amenity that enhances the ability to understand and appreciate the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources and that may use educational materials in
multiple languages, digital information in multiple languages, and the expertise of a naturalist or other skilled specialist.
(k) “Local agency” means a city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, resource conservation district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(l) “Natural infrastructure” means a network of ecological areas, man-made systems, or practices that use or mimic natural processes to benefit people or wildlife. “Natural infrastructure” reduces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and includes, but is not limited to, permeable pavements, bioswales, wetlands, floodplains, forests, urban forests, beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks, rain gardens, and engineered systems, such as levees, that are
combined with restored natural systems, to provide a wide array of benefits to people or wildlife.
(m) “Nonprofit organization” means a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(n) “Preservation” means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, conservation, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities.
(o) “Protection” means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property, or natural, cultural, and historic resources, actions to improve access to public open-space areas, or actions to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural, cultural, and historic resources.
Protection includes site monitoring, acquisition, development, restoration, preservation, and interpretation.
(p) (1) “Restoration” means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A) The control of erosion.
(B) Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C) The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
(D) The planting of native species.
(E) The removal of waste and debris.
(F) Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures.
(G) Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources.
(H) Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions.
(I) Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property, or coastal or ocean resources.
(J) Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code.
(2) “Restoration” also includes
activities, such as the planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
(q) “Severely disadvantaged community” means a community with a median household income that is less than 60 percent of the statewide average.
(r) “Severely disadvantaged urbanized water supplier” means an urban water supplier, as defined in Section 10617 of the Water Code, in which the service area or a portion of the service area of the urban water supplier has an environmental California Healthy Places Index score of 25 percent of lower and median household income of 60 percent or less than the statewide median household income, as identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(r)
(s) “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1) African Americans.
(2) Alaskan Natives.
(3) Asian Americans.
(4) Hispanics.
(5) Native Americans.
(6) Native Hawaiians
and Pacific Islanders.
(7) Women.
(s)
(t) “Small- and medium-sized farms” means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.
(t)
(u) “Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers” has the same meaning as defined in Section 512 of
the Food and Agricultural Code.
(u)
(v)
“Structure hardening” means the installation, replacement, or retrofitting of building materials, systems, or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of existing nonconforming structures with features that are in compliance with Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, or any appropriate successor regulatory code with the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildfire or conforming to the low-cost retrofit list, and updates to that list, developed pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 51189 of the Government Code.
(v)
(w) “Tribe” means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(w)
(x)
“Under-resourced community” means
either any of the following:
(1) A community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) A low-income community as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) A severely disadvantaged urbanized water supplier.
(x)
(y) “Vulnerable population” means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts.
(y)
(z) “Water board” means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(z)
(aa) “Wildfire buffer” means greenspaces or open spaces that are managed to reduce the spread of wildfires, and are located between structures and wildlands in a community to reduce structure vulnerability to wildfire risks. Wildfire buffers shall be designed to provide additional benefits that may include shelter from natural disasters, recreation, habitat, stormwater capture, and active transportation.
80504.
An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a program funded pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.80505.
(a) The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the agency’s internet website in a downloadable spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet shall include information about the location and footprint of each funded project, the project’s objectives, the status of the project, anticipated outcomes, the public benefits to be derived from the project, any matching moneys provided for the project by the grant recipient or other partners, and the applicable
chapter of this division pursuant to which the grant recipient received moneys.(b) If an audit, required by law, of any entity that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct or arrange for a full audit of any or all of the activities funded pursuant to this division.
(c) The state agency issuing any grant with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant.
(d) The costs associated with the publications, audits, statewide bond tracking, cash management, and related oversight activities provided for in this section shall be
funded from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division. These costs shall be shared proportionally by each program through this division. Actual costs incurred to administer nongrant programs authorized by this division shall be paid from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division.
80506.
If any moneys allocated pursuant to this division are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.80507.
Funds provided pursuant to this division, and any appropriation or transfer of those funds, shall not be deemed to be a transfer of funds for the purposes of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2780) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.80508.
At least 35 percent of the funds available pursuant to this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or disadvantaged communities. At least 10 percent of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely disadvantaged communities.80509.
For grants awarded for projects under this division, the administering state agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering state agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.80510.
(a) Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to each chapter of this division may be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. The administering state agency shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for these purposes.(b) Funds used for providing technical assistance and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations may exceed 10 percent if the administering state agency determines that there is a need for the additional funding.
80511.
Projects funded under this division shall demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Up to 5 percent of project funds may be used for this purpose.80512.
Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the entities that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.80513.
Before disbursing grants through any new grant programs established pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a grant program under this division shall do all of the following:(a) Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the state agency may use those guidelines.
(b) Conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its internet website at least 30 days before the public meetings.
(c) Any public meetings held pursuant to this section shall allow for virtual attendance and public participation through any internet platform used to host the meeting.
(d) Guidelines shall be made available online and shall be consistent with all applicable statutes.
80514.
An apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant to this division shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.80515.
To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.80516.
An eligible applicant under this division is a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.80517.
The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division.80518.
(a) The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, exclusive of refunding bonds issued and sold pursuant to Section 80612, shall be deposited in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.(b) Proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be allocated according to the
following schedule:
(1) Two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($2,275,000,000) for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction, in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 80520).
(2) One billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) six hundred fifty-five million dollars ($1,655,000,000) for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans
from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80530).
(3) Five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) two hundred fifty-five million dollars ($5,255,000,000) for the protection of California’s water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 80540).
(4) One billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000)
five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) for the protection of California’s wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 80560).
(5) Eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) Five hundred twenty million dollars ($520,000,000) for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 80570).
(6) One billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000)
five hundred ninety million dollars ($1,590,000,000) for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 80580).
(7) One billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks, in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 80590).
(8) Two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) for clean energy projects in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 80600).
CHAPTER
2. Wildfire Prevention, Climate Risk Reduction, and Protection Against Power Shutoffs
80520.
The sum of two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($2,275,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.80521.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80520, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) three hundred twenty-five million dollars ($325,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services for a prehazard mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds
may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase community hardening. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:(1) Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2) Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, evacuation centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire
for entire neighborhoods and communities, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
(3) Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, and safeguard communities from disruption due to public safety power shutoffs, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(4) Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for
communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
(b) Not less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be allocated for each project described in subdivision (a).
(c) The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize prehazard mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the “Fire Risk Reduction Community” list, upon development of that list, pursuant to Section
4290.1.
(d) The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
80522.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80520, seven hundred seventy-five million dollars ($775,000,000) one billion seventy-five million dollars ($1,075,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by
the United States. The funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:(1) One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservation’s Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the findings of the review of the regional capacity required by Section 4123.7.
(2) Three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available to implement regional strategies, including, but not limited to, strategies developed by forest collaboratives as defined in Section 4810 or regional entities as defined in Section 4208 through block grants and direct appropriations by the Legislature.
(2)
(3)
Two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote
long-term carbon storage and sequestration; upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration; and prescribed burn.
(3)
(4)
One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests. Projects shall include the use of prescribed fire and improve water supply or water quality. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in high fire hazard areas and provide multiple
benefits, including, but not limited to,
environmentally sensitive vegetation management practices and project implementation, habitat protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health. The Natural Resources Agency shall give priority to projects with matching funds or in-kind work, as determined appropriate, from beneficiaries of the watershed, which may include, but are not limited to, water districts, public utilities, local agencies, or private users. The Natural Resources Agency shall ensure long-term benefits for projects funded pursuant to this
subdivision, including through an ongoing commitment to future maintenance and a commitment to long-term forest resilience that reduces fire risk and enhances carbon sequestration capacity.
(4)
(5)
Seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. At least 70 percent of the funds made available by this subdivision shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program created by Section 33345.1.
(5)
(6)
One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the administration of grants pursuant to the Wildfire Prevention Program.
(b) State entities receiving funds pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
(4), (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) may award grants pursuant to a competitive grant process or on a regional block grant basis to maximize landscape level wildfire resilience objectives.
80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the air board, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
80523.
Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the State Air Resources Board, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.80524.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80520, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for allocation pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), 50 percent shall be allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and 50 percent shall be allocated to regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities, and regional
land trusts on a competitive basis administered by the Natural Resources Agency to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration through, among other things, ecologically sensitive vegetation management practices, or reduce black carbon emissions. A project funded pursuant to this section shall include at least two of the following public cobenefits:
(1) Fire risk reduction.
(2) Improved wildlife corridors.
(3) Improved ability for wildlife species to adapt to climate change.
(4) Reduced forest fragmentation.
(5) Improved public access, including for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and outdoor recreation.
(6) Improved vegetation management associated with projects developed pursuant to Section 4123.5.
(7) Improved stormwater or groundwater benefits.
(c) Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be thirty-five
million dollars ($35,000,000) may be allocated for equity destination projects located on the lands of regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities.
80525.
(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($375,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that do any of the following:
to the Department of Parks and Recreation to be administered on a per capita block grant basis pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80060) of Division 46.(1)Reduce the risk of fire, flood, or drought in order to safeguard public lands and communities.
(2)Enhance water conservation or efficiencies for existing outdoor facilities.
(3)Promote access, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by
the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and facilitate social distancing, as needed, among park users.
(b)Minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for cities and districts and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for counties and regional entities.
80526.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, for demonstrated jobs projects, including either of the following:(1) Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure.
(2) Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared
emergencies, or climate-related impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, the following projects:
(A) Community greenspace improvements or restoration.
(B) Restoration of watersheds and riparian zones.
(C) Regional and community-level fuel load reduction.
(D) Development and maintenance of urban tree canopies.
(E) Post-wildfire restoration.
(F) Resource conservation and restoration projects.
(G) Construction of emergency housing.
(H) Construction of transition and affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of wildfire and other
climate threats.
(I) Identified community emergency response support, such as construction and support at temporary evacuation centers, hospitals, housing, and shelters needed during emergencies and disasters.
(J) Facility or equipment acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(b) Not less than 30 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for the construction of permanent California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps residential accommodations or day use facilities with not less than one established in northern California and
one in southern California.
(c) At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(d) Up to 5 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
80527.
Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Public Utilities Commission for activities that reduce ratepayer costs of utility operational expenses to enhance wildfire resilience, including utility vegetation management, workforce training, and public education and response.
CHAPTER
3. Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Risks
80530.
The sum of one billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) six hundred fifty-five million dollars ($1,655,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along California’s coast. Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide for public access to the shoreline and to inland and coastal waterways consistent with public safety needs.80531.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80530, one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), including land acquisition, or conservation easements on land with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or
agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, whose preservation and continued operation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas.(b) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act (Title 7.25 (commencing with Section 66700) of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration.
(c) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not less than two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
(d) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.
(e) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) shall be available for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
80532.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the development of, or updates to, relevant portions of a local hazard mitigation plan or local general plan to address sea level rise and coastal hazards pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the
Government Code.80533.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the state’s marine protected areas, kelp restoration, or habitat restoration and protection.80534.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.80535.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Natural Resource Agency and the Invasive Species Council of California to implement projects to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent and mitigate island invasive species.80536.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement climate-ready fisheries management approaches that expand opportunities for experimentation and adaptive cooperative management, and to implement modernized electronic fisheries data management systems and increase the use of electronic technologies to improve fisheries management responses and resiliency under changing ocean conditions.80537.
Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to support the management of kelp ecosystems. Funds shall be used for the ongoing monitoring of kelp ecosystems and for the implementation of an adaptive kelp management plan.80538.
Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with climate and sea level rise policies and guidelines established by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, if applicable.
CHAPTER
4. Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Enhancing the State’s Flood Protection
80540.
The sum of five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) two hundred fifty-five million dollars ($5,255,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.80541.
Grant guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 80513 for funding under this chapter shall encourage, where feasible, the inclusion of the following project components:(a) Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.
(b) The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduction of water pollution, or recharge of groundwater supplies, or a combination of those activities.
(c) Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors, and state fairgrounds that serve as emergency evacuation facilities.
(d) Support to groundwater sustainability agencies for regional groundwater sustainability.
(e) Increased climate resilience for wildlife and fish species.
80542.
Nothing in this chapter determines or alters water rights or water right priorities.80543.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the water board, for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Funds may be used for projects, including groundwater recharge or water banking projects, and management actions identified in a groundwater sustainability plan, an alternative plan submitted and approved pursuant to Section 10733.6 of the Water Code, or a judgment in an adjudication issued pursuant
to Section 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure.(b) Funding preference shall be given to either of the following projects:
(1) Projects that address water quality and quantity needs of disadvantaged communities, including well mitigation programs, short- and long-term drinking water quality and quantity projects, and projects that enhance drought and water shortage resiliency.
(2) Projects that provide multiple benefits or encourage local and regional coordination with land use planning agencies.
(c) At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly
benefit disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, and under-resourced communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization,
technical assistance provider, or tribe.
80543.5.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 of the Water Code and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.80544.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for the purposes described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 79720) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.(b) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage
contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 10609.40) of Part 2.55 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
80544.5.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the improvement of dam safety and resilience.(b) The Department of Water Resources shall develop and administer the Dam Safety and Climate Resilience Local Assistance Program, which is hereby established. The purpose of the program is to provide state funding for repairs, rehabilitation, enhancements, and other dam safety projects at existing state jurisdictional dams and associated facilities.
(c) Dam safety and enhancement projects eligible to receive funding under the program
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Dam repairs to allow water storage to full capacity.
(2) New spillway projects and spillway repair projects at existing dams.
(3) Dam and reservoir seismic retrofit projects.
(4) Enhancement of water supply and downstream flood risk reduction, such as the implementation of forecast-informed reservoir operations.
(5) One-time projects to remove sediment near and around dams and lakes resulting from wildfires or extraordinary storm events.
(d) The Department of Water Resources shall provide grants to owners of state jurisdictional dams for dam safety projects that
provide the following public benefits, in order of priority:
(1) Protection of public safety.
(2) Restoration of water storage.
(3) Flood risk reduction.
(4) Enhancement of water supply reliability.
(5) Enhancement, protection, or restoration of habitat for fish and wildlife.
(6) Protection of water quality.
(e) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) may be made available for dredging projects in urban areas that lead to reduced flood risk, enhanced water capacity and flow, and safer and more equitable
aquatic experiences.
80545.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for loans or, subject to subdivision (b), grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships agencies, public-private partnerships, or bilateral financial institutions
for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure. infrastructure or that will address water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers and coastal waters.(b) The water board may use grants or forgivable loans for projects that benefit vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c) The water board shall give preference in the allocation of these
grant or loan funds to one or both more of the following:
(1) Projects that include the abandonment of onsite wastewater systems through connections with local sewer systems. Funding for these projects may include, but is not limited to, the cost of extensions needed to connect with the local sewer system, the cost of expanding the local sewer system to meet the additional need for treatment, and the cost of decommissioning existing onsite wastewater systems.
(2) Complete projects rather than incrementally funding phases of a single project.
(3) Projects that focus on water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers and coastal waters, and water quality projects for the Tijuana River, as described in the Tijuana River Plan created pursuant to Section 71107.
(d) Grants or loans awarded under this section may be for any amount deemed appropriate by the water board, consistent with the purpose of providing safe and clean drinking water to all Californians.
(e) A public agency or a public-private partnership may receive more than one grant or loan for projects if the proposed projects meet the requirements of this section.
(f) Grants or loans awarded under this section for projects located outside of California shall have a documented water quality benefit to California and its residents.
(g) Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to water quality projects in the Tijuana River Valley Watershed, as described in the Tijuana River Plan created pursuant to Section 71107.
(h) Funding may be awarded to bilateral financial institutions as a state match pursuant to this section only after federally committed funds have been secured and are available for expenditure on a one-to-one basis.
80545.5.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community.(b) The water board shall prioritize project funding based on the following criteria:
(1) The threat posed by groundwater contamination to the affected community’s overall drinking water supplies, including the need for the use of alternative supplies if groundwater
is not available due to contamination.
(2) The potential for groundwater contamination to spread and reduce drinking water supply and water storage capacity for major population areas.
(3) The potential of the project, if fully implemented, to enhance local water supply reliability.
(4) The potential of the project to increase opportunities for groundwater recharge and optimization of groundwater supplies.
(5) The project is implemented pursuant to a comprehensive basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan or is necessary to develop a comprehensive groundwater plan.
(6) The
affected groundwater provides a local supply that, if contaminated or left untreated, will require the importation of additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Colorado River.
80546.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) six hundred twenty million dollars ($620,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. To the extent feasible, preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the following:(a) Multiple-benefit river and urban stream parkway projects that protect and restore riparian habitats, improve climate resilience, enhance natural drainages, protect and restore watersheds, and provide access, including for statewide obligations involving multistate agreements.
(b) Multiple-benefit watershed protection and climate resilience projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
(c) (1) At least two hundred forty million dollars ($240,000,000) four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall
be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.
(2) Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Salton Sea Authority for purposes consistent with this subdivision.
(3) Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. Projects shall be consistent with paragraph (1) and with priorities identified by the affected communities.
(d)At least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project.
(e)
(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000)
seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for projects that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries.
(3) Funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.
(f)
(e) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for multiple-benefit watershed protection,
restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5).
(g)
(f) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects in and around Clear Lake and its watershed that demonstrate a comprehensive local and regional approach to restoration, remediation, water quality research, and management of the lake and its surrounding resources.
(h)Five million dollars ($5,000,000)
(g) Seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects supporting a comprehensive regional use management plan for the Russian River to reduce conflict and promote water supply improvements, habitat restoration and protection, cooperative public recreation, and commercial activity.
(i)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects within the County of Placer to promote habitat restoration and protection and connect and expand trails and trail systems
along county rivers, lakes, and waterways.
(j)
(h) Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources to implement the Urban Streams Restoration Program, established pursuant to Section 7048 of the Water Code.
(i) Thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be made available for river, creek, and associated tributary and waterway improvements within the Pajaro River Watershed to enhance flood protection and public access and to promote water and habitat resilience.
80547.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.80548.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for flood management projects that are components of multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce risks to public safety and provide improvements to fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, projects connecting rivers with flood plains, enhancement of flood plains and bypasses, offstream groundwater recharge, and land acquisitions, easements, and improvements necessary for these project types to achieve both flood management and environmental benefits. To the
extent feasible, project selection shall be guided by approved local hazard mitigation plans and preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects may include any of the following:(1) Multiple-benefit flood management projects that reduce the impacts of climate change on inland or coastal infrastructure, communities, or ecosystems, and provide ecosystem, wildlife, or groundwater recharge benefits.
(2) Natural infrastructure projects to reduce flood intensity and slow watershed runoff.
(3) Projects that capture, clean, or otherwise productively use stormwater.
(4) Projects that provide matching grants for, or otherwise leverage
funding from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other federal mitigation and resilience funding.
(5) Projects that provide benefits to fish, waterfowl, wildlife, and anadromous and other native fish species along migratory corridors.
(6) Projects that restore streams to a more natural state by removing drainage obstructions, culverts, and paved channels to enable more stormwater to be absorbed and gradually released by soil and plants.
(b) Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be allocated for multiple-benefit flood management projects in urban coastal watersheds.
(c) (1) Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for projects in the delta to improve existing levees to increase flood protection and climate resilience consistent with the Legislature’s direction in Section 12981 of the Water Code. For purposes of this subdivision, “delta” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12980 of the Water Code.
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, “project levee” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805.
(B) The priority for projects that are not project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to preserve,
protect, and improve the levees to meet the agricultural levee standards as provided in Department of Water Resources’ Bulletin 192-82, and as may be adjusted by the Department of Water Resources to address increased flood risk due to sea level rise and climate change.
(C) The priority for project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to meet the operations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement standards established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
80549.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for all of the following:(a) Four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) for projects related to the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, expansion, or replacement of levees, weirs, bypasses, and facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(b) Two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for the Flood Control Subventions Program.
(c) One hundred fifty
million dollars ($150,000,000) for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency.
80550.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for grants or loans for water recycling projects, including all of the following:(1) Treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities for potable and nonpotable recycling projects.
(2) Dedicated distribution infrastructure to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial end-user retrofit projects to allow use of recycled water.
(3) Multiple-benefit recycled
water projects that improve water quality.
(b) At least a 50-percent local cost share shall be required for projects funded pursuant to this section. That cost share may be suspended or reduced for disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c) In allocating funding pursuant to this section, the water board shall prioritize all of the following:
(1) Cost effectiveness.
(2) Projects that serve a regional population.
(3) Projects that include one or more partnerships between a municipality, a regional sanitation district, or a regional water distribution agency.
(4) Projects that reduce the discharge of wastewater to the ocean and avoid or minimize adverse impacts to ocean resources.
(5) Projects that reduce reliance on water imports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Colorado River.
(6) Projects that advance innovation in recycled water technology.
(7) Projects that use energy efficiently, avoid using excessive amounts of energy in relation to the amount of water supplied, and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to competing technologies.
80551.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400) of Division 6 of the Water Code) to ensure data-informed water management decisions during climatic extremes and periods of scarcity. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to support ongoing cross-sector collaboration to advance open water data, identify critical water data gaps, develop pilot projects or case studies to support data-informed water management decisions, and develop best management practices for water
data collection and standards.80552.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance to address hexavalent chromium at drinking water systems with average annual systemwide residential customer charges for compliance exceeding 1.5 percent of the median household income for that jurisdiction.80553.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance for drinking water systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).80554.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources and the water board to implement Section 144 of the Water Code to reactivate existing stream gauges and deploy new gauges.80555.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants pursuant to the guidelines of the Stream Flow Enhancement Program for the purposes of protecting fish and wildlife from the impacts of drought, including for short-term acquisition and construction of transfer of water.80556.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for tribal water infrastructure projects.80557.
Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for the purposes of multibenefit projects in urbanized areas to address flooding. Eligible projects shall include, but are not limited to, stormwater capture and reuse, planning and implementation of low-impact development, restoration of urban streams and watersheds, and increasing permeable surfaces to help reduce flooding.80558.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for capital investments in brackish desalination, seawater desalination, contaminant and salt removal, and salinity management projects to improve California water and drought resilience. Priority shall be given to projects that use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their construction and operation.(b) For ocean desalination projects, priority shall be given to projects that do both of the following:
(1) Incorporate measures to minimize the intake of all forms of marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
(2) Incorporate measures to minimize the adverse impacts of outfalls on marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
CHAPTER
5. Protecting Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Areas from Climate Risks
80560.
The sum of one billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to protect and restore natural lands to better maintain biodiversity and ecosystem benefits as climate conditions change and enhance fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages to increase the ability of wildlife to adapt to changing climate conditions.80561.
To the extent feasible in implementing this chapter, a state agency receiving funding under this chapter shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands.80562.
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 80560, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for programs for the protection of California’s fish and wildlife resources in response to changing climate conditions, as well as for restoration and stewardship projects that restore or manage land or habitat to improve its resilience to climate impacts and natural disasters. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:(1) Land acquisition projects.
(2) Habitat enhancement and restoration
projects.
(3) Rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection projects.
(4) Inland wetland conservation projects.
(5) Ecosystem restoration on agricultural lands projects.
(6) Climate adaptation and resiliency projects.
(7) Monarch butterfly and pollinator rescue projects.
(8) Projects for purposes of reimbursing the General Fund pursuant to the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000)).
(9) Projects that protect, restore, and
enhance desert habitat consistent with the California Desert Conservation Program.
(b) Of the amount specified in subdivision (a), not less than eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for the Cascades and High Sierra Upper Watersheds Program.
(c) The Wildlife Conservation Board shall prioritize projects that address the impacts of climate change; provide public access or recreational amenities; or reduce the threats of wildfire, drought, flood, and other catastrophic events.
(d) Funding made available by subdivision (a) shall not be used to offset environmental mitigation or compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment
conservation efforts required by mitigation.
80563.
Of the funds made available by Section 80560, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat. Projects may support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:(a) Projects that create, protect, or restore permanent wildlife habitat.
(b) Projects that create,
protect, or restore seasonal wetland habitat that provides aquifer replenishment.
(c) Projects that improve groundwater supply, including groundwater recharge, improved baseflows in rivers and streams, and groundwater supply improvement for fish and wildlife habitat.
(d) Projects that convert land to less intensive water uses while maintaining natural and working lands.
80564.
Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the climate resilience of fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:(a) Projects on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the risks of fire, drought, flood, inundation, sea level rise, and other risks associated with climate change and for the protection and restoration of infrastructure and natural resources.
(b) Competitive grants for projects that enhance or
restore inland or anadromous native fish species habitat. Projects include, but are not limited to, enhanced stream flows, improved fish passage, reconnection of riverine and floodplain habitat, and other actions to help fish adapt to climate change.
(c) Projects for the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation and related activities.
(d) Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.
80565.
(a) Of the funds made available pursuant to Section 80560, five hundred forty million dollars ($540,000,000) eighty million dollars ($580,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for climate resilience and resilience, reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources
resources, and increasing public access allocated in accordance with the following schedule:(1) Baldwin Hills Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(2) State Coastal Conservancy, eighty million dollars ($80,000,000), of which at least forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available for the Coyote Valley Conservation Program. Program in the County of Santa Clara, and twenty-five million
dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the Southern Diablo and Central Coastal Mountain Range Conservation Program spanning multiple counties in California. The programs shall be implemented consistent with the purposes of Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000).
(3) California Tahoe Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(4) Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).
(5) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars
($35,000,000).
(6) San Diego River Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(7) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(8) San Joaquin River Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(9) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(10) Sierra Nevada Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(11) American River Conservancy, Lower
American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5), fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(12) (A) Santa Ana River Conservancy, forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000).
(B) Of the amount specified in subparagraph (A), not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available for expenditure through a city collaborative comprising the Cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana to promote projects of regional benefit.
(12)
(13)
Creation of new conservancies,
offices, or programs, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000), of which fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a Salton Sea
Conservancy and Conservancy, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a California Trails
Conservancy. Conservancy, and twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Equitable Access.(b) When issuing grants pursuant to this section, a conservancy identified in subdivision (a) shall give preference to one or more of the following:
(1) Projects that use natural infrastructure.
(2) Projects done jointly by more than one conservancy.
(3) Projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions.
(4) The provision of technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(c) Allocations made pursuant to subdivision (a) are predicated primarily on a land mass, population, and natural resource significance basis and the Legislature shall endeavor to ensure that conservancy allocations remain duly proportionate and find ways to allocate funding to areas of the state not currently served by state conservancies through other provisions of this division.