Outdoor public recreation spaces: equitable access.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about funding, actions required from state entities, or consequences for non-compliance. These points were removed as they are speculative without supporting evidence in the official source material.

Outdoors for All Initiative

This legislation establishes an Outdoors for All initiative within the Natural Resources Agency to improve access to outdoor public recreation spaces for disadvantaged and low-income communities in California.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes an Outdoors for All initiative under the Natural Resources Agency.
• Requires the initiative to work towards equitable access to outdoor public recreation spaces, especially for disadvantaged and low-income Californians.
• Aligns the goals of the initiative with the state's conservation efforts (30x30 goal) to protect at least 30% of California’s lands by 2030.
• Requires annual reports on progress towards achieving the initiative's objectives.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Natural Resources Agency and other state entities involved in managing public land and resources.
• Disadvantaged and low-income communities in California who will benefit from improved access to outdoor spaces.

Terms To Know

30x30 goal

A target set by the state of California to conserve at least 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.

Equitable Outdoor Access Act

Existing law that aims to ensure all Californians have equal opportunities for safe and affordable access to nature and outdoor spaces.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the initiative will be funded.
• It is unclear what specific actions state entities must take to achieve the goals of the Outdoors for All initiative.
• There are no penalties or consequences outlined if the goals are not met.

Official Summary Text

SB 1268, as amended, Gonzalez.
Outdoor public recreation spaces: equitable access.
Existing law establishes the Natural Resources Agency, which consists of various departments, including the Department of Conservation, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law vests in the Natural Resources Agency various powers, including those related to conservation of lands.
By Executive Order No. N-82-20, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the Natural Resources Agency to combat the biodiversity and climate crises by, among other things, establishing the California Biodiversity Collaborative and conserving at least 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward
achieving the goal to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law provides that it is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal.
Existing law establishes the Equitable Outdoor Access
Act,
Act (act),
which sets forth the state’s commitment to ensuring all Californians can benefit from, and have meaningful access to, the state’s rich cultural and natural resources. Existing law declares that it is state policy, among other things, to ensure that all Californians have equitable opportunities to safe and affordable access to nature and access to the benefits of nature, and to prevent and minimize the intentional and unwarranted limitation of sustainable public access to
public lands, where appropriate, including, but not limited to, local, regional, state, and federal parks, rivers, lakes, beaches, forests, mountain ranges, deserts, and other natural landscapes. Existing law requires specified state agencies to consider and incorporate, as appropriate, the state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, or grant criteria, or making expenditures, as specified. Existing law requires all state agencies implementing the above-described state policy to do so in a manner consistent with the mission of their agency and that protects the health and safety of the public and conserves natural and cultural resources.
This bill would establish
an
the Outdoors for All
initiative, to be administered by the
agency,
Natural Resources Agency,
in consultation with
specified
state entities, to advance
specified goals,
the objectives of the act and to implement and update specified priorities,
including, among other related
goals, achieving equitable access to outdoor public recreation spaces, as defined, and aligning these goals with the state’s outdoor equity goals and the above-described 30x30 goal to ensure conservation strategies enhance public access and benefits for disadvantaged and low-income communities, as defined.
priorities, establishing outdoor public recreation spaces, as defined, connecting people and the outdoors, and aligning funding to achieve the initiative’s goals, as specified.
The bill would require the agency to report, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the initiative’s goals, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF