(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the acquisition of real property or interests in real property under this division is subject to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(b) Any acquisition of real property or any interest in real property within the territory of the conservancy that is located in an area designated as a National Scenic Area and that has a value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), is not subject to the Property Acquisition Law.

(c) Any acquisition of real property from the County of Riverside that was acquired by the county as a result of the nonpayment of taxes, and that has a value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), is not subject to the Property Acquisition Law if the Administrative Secretary of the State Public Works Board has received written notice that the conservancy has adopted a resolution requesting that the real property be removed from public sale and the Director of Finance has not, within 60 days from the date that the written notice was received, notified the executive director of the conservancy that the real property must be acquired under the Property Acquisition Law.

(d)  The committee that is responsible for developing the Coachella Valley natural community conservation plan as of December 31, 1999, or any subsequent committee that is responsible for overseeing the implementation of any state-approved Coachella Valley natural community conservation plan, habitat conservation plan, or similar program, shall be the advisory committee to the conservancy in its implementation of any aspect of the plan or program. Prior to the acquisition of property or the taking of other actions in furtherance of the plan or program, the conservancy shall consult with the advisory committee.

(e)  Except as provided in Section 33701, and subject to Section 33507, the conservancy may acquire any property, and any interest in property, on behalf of itself or a state agency represented on the governing board, within its territory if acquisition of the property is in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes, as set forth in Section 33501. The conservancy may initiate, negotiate, and participate in agreements with local, state, and federal public agencies or nonprofit entities for the management of land under the conservancy’s ownership or control, in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes. The conservancy may also hold, manage, maintain, administer, occupy, and care for that property in the event that no appropriate public or private entity is available to undertake that responsibility without cost to the conservancy.

(f)  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the conservancy shall not sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any mountainous lands or natural community conservation lands unless authorized by a four-fifths vote of the governing board or a two-thirds vote of the electors residing within the conservancy.

(2) The conservancy may transfer any mountainous lands or natural community conservation lands to another public agency or to any nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose the preservation, protection, or enhancement of land in its natural, scenic, historic, agricultural, forested, or open-space condition or use, if the transfer is authorized in the presence of a quorum and upon the recorded votes of a majority of the voting members of the governing board, and if the transferee agrees to hold, manage, maintain, administer, occupy, and care for the property in perpetuity and in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes, as set forth in Section 33501.

(3) Any lease entered into pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed five years and shall include the express provision that the lease may be terminated at any time that the governing board determines that the land is needed for conservancy purposes.

(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) and the requirements specified in subdivision (f), the conservancy may sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of or encumber, property that is not mountainous land or natural community conservation land on any terms that are in the best interests of the conservancy.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 419, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2000.)