Politics & Government

Huffman's State Parks Partnership Bill Passes Assembly

Legislation now in governor's hands.

The office of Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) sent out this release on Tuesday:

The California Assembly on Tuesday gave final approval to Assembly Bill 42, by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), which will help reduce the number of state parks that are threatened with closure due to budget cuts. Passed with bipartisan support, the bill now proceeds to the governor’s desk for his consideration.

Earlier this year, as a result of state budget cuts, the state announced its intent to close 70 of the 278 state parks in California’s world renowned state park system. Many of California’s state parks have already suffered partial closures and service reductions, but complete closure of state parks is unprecedented in the state. Parks on the closure list include, for example, popular redwood parks in Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties, and numerous historical parks, including China Camp State Park in Marin County and Jack London State Park in Sonoma County.

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AB 42 authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into operating agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations to operate a state park unit if the agreement will enable the state to keep open a state park that would otherwise be subject to closure.

“I have been fighting and will continue to fight to keep our state parks open. AB 42 is a creative solution that will allow the state to secure partnerships that will enable some of the state parks on the closure list to stay open,” said Assemblymember Huffman. “It is not a panacea for all of the parks at risk, but it will certainly help. Particularly in these tough economic times, creative public/private partnerships are an essential tool in providing ongoing protection of, and continued access to, these treasured public assets.”

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“Nonprofit organizations have been supporting the state park system throughout its more than 100 year history, and AB 42 provides another venue for that critical support,” said Traci Verardo-Torres, Vice President of Government Affairs for the California State Parks Foundation, the organizational sponsor of the bill. “Across the state, park advocates and concerned Californians are coming together to identify creative, collaborative solutions to keep our parks protected and open for public access. Allowing nonprofits to help keep state parks open will help parks that would otherwise close, and will engage Californians in safeguarding the resources that belong to all of us.”


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