(a) (1) To ensure public access to Hollister Ranch in the County of Santa Barbara, the commission shall, in collaboration with the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Lands Commission, by April 1, 2021, develop a contemporary public access program for Hollister Ranch that will replace the existing coastal access program for Hollister Ranch that the commission adopted in 1982.

(2) The public access program for Hollister Ranch shall be informed by a public outreach and stakeholder engagement process and shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(A) A list of public access options to the state-owned tidelands at Hollister Ranch. Each option shall, at a minimum, include options for public access by land and shall include a description of the scope of access as well as an assessment of implementation costs and ongoing operation.

(B) A description of the physical environment at Hollister Ranch, including the shoreline, beach areas, coastal and marine habitat, existing land uses, and cultural and historical resources.

(C) A description of the current level of public access to the state-owned tidelands at Hollister Ranch.

(D) Educational and scientific research opportunities along the Hollister Ranch coast associated with the natural, cultural, and historical resources.

(E) Provisions to protect and preserve sensitive natural, cultural, and historical resources.

(3) In addition to the components required by paragraph (2), the public access program shall include all of the following:

(A) A summary of permits needed to implement the program.

(B) An implementation strategy.

(C) A program that implements specified portions of the program providing land access that includes a first phase of public access to the beach by land controlled by the Hollister Ranch Owners Association. On or before April 1, 2022, the State Coastal Conservancy shall fully implement the first phase of the public access to the beach. Implementation of this subparagraph is subject to appropriation of funding to provide for the specified land access.

(4) An action by a private person or entity to impede, delay, or otherwise obstruct the implementation of the public access pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) or other provisions of the public access program constitutes a violation of the public access provisions of this division.

(b) The commission, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Lands Commission, or their designated representatives, shall have access to the common areas within Hollister Ranch in order to evaluate resources and determine appropriate public access opportunities and to fulfill implementation of the public access program identified in this section.

(c) If a public access program deadline required under subdivision (a) is not met for any reason, the commission, in collaboration with the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Lands Commission, shall submit a report to the Legislature within 30 days of missing the deadline. The report shall include an explanation for why the public access program has been delayed, a proposed completion date, and any other relevant information pertinent to the completion of the full implementation of the public access program for Hollister Ranch. A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) Notwithstanding provision 2 of category (2) of Item 3760-490-721 of the Budget Act of 1984, all in-lieu fees received pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 30610.8 before, on, or after January 1, 2020, as well as other moneys received by the State Coastal Conservancy for providing public access at Hollister Ranch from other public or private sources, including nonprofit sources, shall be deposited in the Hollister Ranch Access Management Subaccount, which is hereby created in the State Coastal Conservancy Fund. Moneys in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be used for any action necessary to implement the public access program for Hollister Ranch.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 692, Sec. 3. (AB 1680) Effective January 1, 2020.)