AB 2346

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law establishes the Natural Resources Agency, which consists of various departments, including the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law requires the Director of Parks and Recreation to establish the Outdoor Equity Grants Program to increase the ability of underserved and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor environmental educational experiences at state parks and other public lands where outdoor environmental education programs take place. This bill would establish in the Natural Resources Agency the Outdoors for All Program to support access to natural or cultural resources for at-risk youth, outdoor environmental educational experiences for underserved and at-risk populations, and equitable access to parks and outdoor spaces for all Californians. This program would encompass the existing Outdoor Equity Grants Program and Youth Community Access Program, as well as the Californians Outside Program, established by this bill, to provide grants to an eligible entity, as defined, for projects that provide transportation to outdoor spaces, outdoor-related recreation, outdoor physical activity programming, outdoor education, natural resources workforce development, and communications related to water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and other outdoor pursuits. The bill would establish the Outdoor Access for All Fund in the State Treasury, to be administered by the agency. The bill would require moneys in the fund to be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of implementing the Outdoors for All Program, including administrative costs, to support the Californians Outside Program and, after the exhaustion of any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, the Outdoor Equity Grants Program.