Back in Sacramento

We finally made it back to Sacramento together for the first time since 2019 for our annual Sacramento Summit! While we convened for our annual Sacramento Summit virtually throughout the pandemic, it felt really good to be back in-person together to advocate for the outdoor industry, equitable access, sustainability, climate resiliency, and funding for outdoor recreation infrastructure. We had about 50 participants from our membership. While many folks stayed at our Outdoor Industry Expo in Capitol State Park to showcase to government staff want the outdoor industry means, the rest of us split into 5 teams and participated in just under 30 lobby meetings throughout the day.

We were lucky to receive many visitors and speakers out to our Outdoor Industry Expo including California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Secretary for Access Katherine Toy, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, & Wildlife Principal Consultant Keith Cialino, Gracie Amezcua from Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s Office, Doug Houston of Houston Magnani, and more.

So, what did we advocate for and what was the result?

AB 267 – No Toxics Tent Act
Status: Passed Assembly Floor and will be heard in Senate Governmental Organization Committee on June 13, 2023!
Author: Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda)

• Currently under an outdated code overseen by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, tent manufacturers are required to add flame retardants, known to be toxic to humans. This code was created 45 years ago.
• For our industry, we care that it includes children’s play, backpacking, and camping tents.
• AB 267 seeks to address this issue by changing this standard so flame retardants are not needed in tents with an occupancy of 10 or fewer.
• AB 267 is necessary to ensure a healthy outdoor recreation community and protect the environment from harmful man-made chemicals.

AB 618 – Campsite Reservation Cancellations
Status: Assembly Appropriations – Passed Out & Heading to Assembly Floor!
Author: Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda)

• This bill is aimed at equitable access to our State Park and Beaches.
• This bill would establish a credit program for California State campgrounds where if a cancellation is made within 7 calendar days of the reservation start date, it shall result in credit that can be used for future reservations within 5 years of the original reservation start date. Current law: If you cancel a reservation, a cancellation fee of $7.99 will be assessed per reservation.
• The bill would require the department to, on or before January 1, 2025, and until January 1, 2029, implement a reservation lottery system for up to 5 of the most popular units of the state park system, as provided.
• This bill would require the department to grant a 25% discount for campsite or lodging reservations to the bearer of a “Golden Bear Pass.”

AB 1150 – California State Parks Community Access Agreements
Status: Assembly Appropriations – Passed Out & Heading to Assembly Floor!
Author: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
• Provides an avenue for all types of nonprofit organizations, including California native tribes, to offer educational programs and visitor services that have a specific focus on equitable access for underserved communities. This will likely increase the visitorship of our parks from communities that have historically been excluded from these spaces.
• The current permitting system was created to regulate one-time large-scale special events that are not aligned with the type of ongoing educational programs that nonprofits want to offer for underserved communities.
• For example, Outdoor Outreach runs up to 50 surf programs during the summer each year on average. A Special Event Permit for a four-hour beach event for a group of 12 youths can run as high as $240 per event, for a total cost of up to $12,000 annually.

SB 620 – Low Impact Camping
Status: Senate Appropriations – Passed Out & Heading to Senate Floor!
Author: Senator Mike McGuire (D-North Coast)

• Outdoor recreation hit a record high in 2021 with more than 19 million Californians getting outside. California’s outdoor recreation economy – one of the state’s largest economic drivers – is worth an estimated $54 billion. However, nearly half of all campers report difficulty finding available campsites.
• SB 620 would create additional access to camping by streamline the permitting process for small, more affordable low impact campsites. All the while establishing a needed framework, guardrails and regulations governing these new sites.
• Low impact camping will help California meet its goals to provide affordable access to the outdoors, conserve land and biodiversity, expand rural economies, and supplement incomes for farmers and ranchers.
• SB 620 will usher in greater and more affordable access to the outdoors and expanded camping opportunities.

SB 668 – State Parks Special Agreements
Status: Passed Senate Floor & referred to Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, & Wildlife
Author: Senator Dodd

• This bill would indefinitely authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into operating agreements with a qualified nonprofit organization, as provided.
• An example of an operating agreement would be a docent or naturalist provided by Friends of China Camp.

AB 401 – 4th Grade California State Parks Fee Waiver
Status: Assembly Appropriations – Held Under Submission on Suspense File
Author: Assembly Members Mathis and Garcia

• This bill, commencing on July 1, 2024, would require the Department of State Parks to waive the day use entrance fees to a unit of the state park system for any child in the 4th grade, or the 4th grade equivalent, who holds a valid federally issued “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, as provided.
• The bill would require the department to post on its internet website information on how to obtain the federal “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, including a hyperlink to the federal program establishing the pass.
This is in alignment with National Park waivers. This bill is a follow-up to AB 148 (2021), which establishes the California State Park Adventure Pass, a three-year pilot program that waives day-use entrance fees to 19 state parks for fourth graders and their families for a full year.

AB 411 – Surface Trail Funding
Status: Assembly Appropriations – Held Under Submission on Suspense File
Author: Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura)

• Bumps the allocation of $7 million annually up to $10 million annually for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program Fund. The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEM) was established by the Legislature in 1989 to fund environmental enhancement and mitigation projects directly or indirectly related to transportation projects.
• Trail use, be it for hiking, cycling, back-country skiing and equestrian purposes, is the most popular outdoor activity in California. Yet California does not dedicate a state single dollars toward non-motorized, natural surface trails improvements through competitive programming (Recreational Trails Program is a Federal Program).

SB 560 – Propane Canister Recycling Program
Status: Senate Appropriations Committee – Held Under Submission on Suspense File
Author: Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz)

• Establishes a stewardship or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for gas cylinder products and would authorize producers of those products to establish one more producer stewardship organizations for that purpose.
• Requires each producer or producer stewardship organization to submit a gas cylinder stewardship plan to the department that details, among other things, convenient and accessible opportunities for the recovery of gas cylinders used by consumers.

We are currently forming our support letters and campaigns around AB 267, AB 618, AB 1150, SB 620, and SB 668 for floor votes and 2nd house. We will be counting on our membership for sign-on letters and to help amplify our message.

In the intermediary, California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Access Katherine Toy released the full draft Strategy for California’s Outdoors For All Plan and she is asking for your input!

The Outdoors for All initiative aims to ensure that all Californians have access to the outdoors, regardless of their background or location. This strategy maps out how government, public and private partners can collectively build a movement to achieve equitable outdoor access. The full draft strategy, as well as other background information on this initiative, is available for review on CNRA’s website at: https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Access-for-All

Championed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and supported by Legislative investments and policies, the Outdoors for All initiative emphasizes how state government can build on current efforts to increase parks and outdoor space for frontline communities, cultivate an outdoor culture and workforce that reflects California’s diversity, and continue to build strong community partnerships. In 2021, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature committed an unprecedented amount – more than $1 billion – toward Outdoors for All, including $500 million in grants to local communities for parks infrastructure and transportation and education programs, and $500 million to expand access to State Parks and other state facilities through infrastructure and improvements to existing programs.

“California is one of the most beautiful places in the world and outdoor recreation is part of our identity,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Yet today, not all Californians can get outside and into nature safely, affordably and comfortably. Outdoors for All is all about expanding this opportunity to all Californians, with great benefits to families and communities across the state.”

CNRA encourages public feedback on the draft strategy during the 60-day public comment period. Comments and feedback must be received by 5 p.m. on July 10, and can be submitted in the following ways:

Email: outdoors@resources.ca.gov
(Please write “Outdoors for All – Public Comment” in the subject line)

U.S. Mail:
California Natural Resources Agency
Attn: Outdoors for All
715 P Street, 20th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

During the public comment period, CNRA will host a virtual panel, where stakeholders can learn more about the Outdoors for All initiative and provide feedback. Speakers will include CNRA Deputy Director for Access Katherine Toy, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, and other public and private partners who share the goals of the Outdoors for All initiative. The date for the virtual panel is yet to be determined. #AccessForAll

Read it here: https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Access-for-All

Watch the announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDoE7Zhcy-U