(a) On or before January 1, 2025, the department shall implement a reservation drawing for up to five of the most popular units of the state park system. The department shall determine the top units for purposes of this section based on units that have the most booking interest six months before the reservation date.

(b) At any unit of the state park system described in subdivision (a), the department may continue to use the reservation system authorized pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 5010.1 and as described in Section 5010.1.5 for a subset of camping or lodging sites within the state park unit for purposes of providing an analysis between the reservation drawing process established by this section and existing reservation system processes.

(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2028, the department shall provide a report to the Legislature on the outcomes of the reservation drawing established pursuant to subdivision (a), including, if pursued by the department, any analysis obtained pursuant to subdivision (b).

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

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 536, Sec. 2. (AB 618) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions.)