(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Community access agreement” means an agreement entered into pursuant to this section that allows eligible entities to use property within the state park system and department personnel services to provide interpretive services and visitor services at units of the state parks system to underserved park users.

(2) “Eligible entity” means any of the following:

(A) A qualified nonprofit public benefit corporation organized pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 5110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.

(B) A federally recognized Native American tribe.

(C) A California Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.

(3) “Interpretive services” means activities and programs that seek to help underserved park users to understand and connect with natural, cultural, and historic resources of the state park system and are not generally offered by the department.

(4) “Underserved park users” means populations who face barriers in accessing and using park services, and includes, but is not limited to, populations underserved because of geographic location, socioeconomic status, religion, special needs, such as language barriers, disabilities, immigration status, or age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and any other population determined to be underserved by the director.

(5) “Visitor services” means activities and programs that focus on facilitating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreational services for underserved park users within a unit or units of the state park system.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the department, as a means of furthering its mission to expand access to state parks and outdoor recreation to all, and contingent upon the availability of its resources, may enter into community access agreements with eligible entities to provide interpretive services and visitor services at units of the state parks system to underserved park users.

(2) An eligible entity that enters into a community access agreement with the department shall deliver interpretive services and visitor services to underserved park users consistent with the mission of the department and the resource values of the unit or units of the state park system where the interpretive services or visitor services are to be held.

(c) The department, at its discretion, may provide department personnel services and space, if available, for an eligible entity’s outdoor equipment, services, or both, within a unit or units of the state park system.

(d) A community access agreement may include free or reduced-cost access to the eligible entity and members of the public participating in interpretive services and visitor services offered by the eligible entity at a unit or units of the state park system in furtherance of the agreement.

(e) All moneys collected or received by an eligible entity from interpretive services and visitor services provided pursuant to a community access agreement at a unit or units of the state park system shall be retained by or returned to the eligible entity.

(f) A community access agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be a pilot project. The term of a community access agreement shall not exceed five years or the inoperative date of this section, whichever occurs first.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding § 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a report to the Legislature on the implementation of this section on or before December 31, 2028. The report shall include all of the following information:

(A) A list of units of the state park system with community access agreements.

(B) A discussion of public benefits derived from community access agreements.

(C) An accounting of the revenues and expenditures incurred pursuant to each community access agreement.

(D) An assessment of the benefit to the state from community access agreements.

(E) Any other relevant information or data collected during the operation of community access agreements.

(2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2029, deletes or extends that date.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 831, Sec. 2. (AB 1150) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions.)