(a) The Clean California State Beautification Program of 2021 is hereby established, to be administered by the department, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of beautifying and cleaning up state highways.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the program established pursuant to subdivision (a) achieves all of the following goals:

Terms Used In California Streets and Highways Code 91.42

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Department: means the Department of Transportation of this state. See California Streets and Highways Code 20

(1) Reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-way, tribal lands, pathways, parks, transit centers, and other public spaces.

(2) Enhance, rehabilitate, restore, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces.

(3) Enhance public health, cultural connection, and community placemaking by improving public spaces for walking and recreation.

(4) Advance equity for underserved communities.

(c) (1) Within six months of the effective date of this section, the department shall develop project selection criteria and program evaluation metrics and identify eligible projects.

(2) The project selection criteria shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The demonstrated need of the applicant to address the goals of the program as described in subdivision (b).

(B) The potential for the project to enhance and beautify a public space or spaces.

(C) The potential for greening to provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, and use native, low-water plants.

(D) The potential for abatement of litter and debris that improves access to use of a public space or spaces.

(E) Identification of the local public engagement process that culminated in the project proposal and reflects community priorities.

(F) The benefit to underserved communities. The department shall establish a definition for underserved communities that may include, but need not be limited to, disadvantaged communities, as identified pursuant to § 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, and low-income communities, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of § 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.

(G) Project types eligible for funding pursuant to the program that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Greening and landscaping projects.

(ii) Gateway community identification projects.

(iii) Enhanced infrastructure safety measures.

(d) Consistent with applicable department policies and guidelines, program funds shall not be used to displace persons experiencing homelessness.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 151. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)

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