State Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) on Thursday applauded a key committee’s approval of AB 1478, a trailer bill on state park operations that will direct funding to parks previously slated for closure, provide a moratorium on park closures and strengthen the oversight of the department through the Parks and Recreation Commission.  

The bill was introduced in the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and co-authored by Senators Evans, Leno, Pavley and Simitian and Assemblymembers Gordon and Huffman.

“The public cherishes our state parks and wants a funding commitment and management structure that keeps them open,” said Evans whose district includes 20 parks that where slated for closure. “This bill amounts to a renewed social contract with the people of California and the parks we are obligated and impassioned to protect.”

AB 1478 provides assurances that money intended for parks goes to keep parks open, that parks will not face closures for at least the next two years and that the Parks and Recreation Commission will be empowered to provide needed oversight to guide parks decisions and regain public trust.  

Through this bill, the commission would be provided the authority to review all issues relating to parks, with specific authority to review the departments’ budget and infrastructure projects.

The bill provides for $30 million to keep all parks open and operating. Of that amount $20 million comes from the “found” money in the Parks and Recreation Fund which will allocate $10 million to keeping parks open and $10 million to match private and nonprofit donations.  

Another $10 million will come from the Proposition 84 fund to be allocated towards the $1.2 billion in differed maintenance projects that have stymied the operations of parks throughout the state for decades.

“This is a plan to “right” a “wrong”,” continued Evans. “As a representative of this government, it’s my job to find a solution to the problems that have plagued parks. The issues that have surrounded parks for the last few months have hurt a lot of people and broken a lot of promises. This is our opportunity to begin to rectify a bad situation and prevent any future reoccurrence.”

Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma. She chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Committee on Judiciary.