(a) The people of California find and declare all of the following:

(1) From California’s beautiful rivers, streams, coastal shorelines, and other waterways, to our federal, state, local, and regional parks and outdoor settings, to our vast network of trails connecting people with natural landscapes, Californians value the rich diversity of outdoor experiences afforded to this state and its citizens.

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(2) Demand for local parks has exceeded available funding by a factor of 8 to 1, with particularly high demand in urban, disadvantaged communities.

(3) Many Californians across the state lack access to safe parks, wildlife, trails, and recreation areas, which limits their ability to experience the outdoors, improve their physical and emotional health, exercise, and connect with their communities.

(4) Investments to create and improve parks and recreation areas, and to create trail networks that provide access from neighborhoods to parks, wildlife, and recreational opportunities, will help ensure all Californians have access to safe places to exercise and enjoy recreational activities.

(5) The California Center for Public Health Advocacy estimates that inactivity and obesity cost California over forty billion dollars ($40,000,000,000) annually, through increased health care costs and lost productivity due to obesity-related illnesses, and that even modest increases in physical activity would result in significant savings. Investments in infrastructure improvements such as biking and walking trails and pathways, whether in urban or natural areas, are cost-effective ways to promote physical activity.

(6) Continued investments in the state’s parks, wildlife and ecological areas, trails, and natural resources, and greening urban areas will help mitigate the effects of climate change, making cities more livable, and will protect California’s natural resources for future generations.

(7) California’s outdoor recreation economy represents an eighty-seven-billion-dollar ($87,000,000,000) industry, providing over 700,000 jobs and billions of dollars in local and state revenues.

(8) California’s state, local, and regional park system infrastructure and national park system infrastructure are aging, and a significant infusion of capital is required to protect this investment.

(9) There has been a historic underinvestment in parks, trails, and outdoor infrastructure in disadvantaged areas and many communities throughout California.

(10) Tourism is a growing industry in California and remains an economic driver for the more rural parts of the state.

(11) California’s highly variable hydrology puts at risk the state’s supply of clean and safe water. In recent years, California has experienced both the state’s worst drought and also the wettest winter in recorded history.

(12) Extreme weather changes such as prolonged drought, intense heat events, and a changing snowpack are real climate impacts happening right now in California, and these changes increase the need to safeguard water supply for the quality of life for all Californians.

(13) Every Californian should have access to clean, safe, and reliable drinking water.

(14) California’s water infrastructure continues to age and deteriorate.

(15) Encouraging water conservation and recycling are commonsense actions to improve California’s water future.

(16) Successfully implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in collaboration with local government and communities is a key state priority.

(17) Flooding can devastate communities and infrastructure.

(18) Protecting and restoring lakes, rivers, streams, and the state’s diverse ecosystems is a critical part of the state’s water future and ensures the quality of life for all Californians.

(19) This division provides funding to implement the California Water Action Plan.

(20) Periodic investments are needed to protect, restore, and enhance our natural resources and parks to ensure all Californians have safe, clean, and reliable drinking water, prevent pollution and disruption of our water supplies, prepare for future droughts and floods, and protect and restore our natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of our children and future generations.

(b) It is the intent of the people of California that all of the following shall occur in the implementation of this division:

(1) The investment of public funds pursuant to this division will result in public benefits that address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.

(2) In the appropriation and expenditure of funding authorized by this division, priority will be given to projects that leverage private, federal, or local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.

(3) To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division will include signage informing the public that the project received funds from the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018.

(4) To the extent practicable, when developing program guidelines for urban recreation projects and habitat protection or restoration projects, administering entities are encouraged to give favorable consideration to projects that provide urban recreation and protect or restore natural resources. Additionally, the entities may pool funding for these projects.

(5) To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division will provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

(6) To the extent practicable, priority for funding pursuant to this division will be given to local parks projects that have obtained all required permits and entitlements and a commitment of matching funds, if required.

(7) To the extent practicable, administering entities should measure or require measurement of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and carbon sequestrations associated with projects that receive moneys pursuant to this division.

(8) To the extent practicable, as identified in the “Presidential Memorandum–Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters,” dated January 12, 2017, the public agencies that receive funds pursuant to this division will consider a range of actions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Conducting active outreach to diverse populations, particularly minority, low-income, and disabled populations and tribal communities, to increase awareness within those communities and the public generally about specific programs and opportunities.

(B) Mentoring new environmental, outdoor recreation, and conservation leaders to increase diverse representation across these areas.

(C) Creating new partnerships with state, local, tribal, private, and nonprofit organizations to expand access for diverse populations.

(D) Identifying and implementing improvements to existing programs to increase visitation and access by diverse populations, particularly minority, low-income, and disabled populations and tribal communities.

(E) Expanding the use of multilingual and culturally appropriate materials in public communications and educational strategies, including through social media strategies, as appropriate, that target diverse populations.

(F) Developing or expanding coordinated efforts to promote youth engagement and empowerment, including fostering new partnerships with diversity-serving and youth-serving organizations, urban areas, and programs.

(G) Identifying possible staff liaisons to diverse populations.

(9) To the extent practicable, priority for grant funding under this division will be given to a project that advances solutions to prevent displacement if a potential unintended consequence associated with park creation pursuant to the project is an increase in the cost of housing.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)