This section of California law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy within the Resources Agency. It's made up of seven members, including the chairperson of the commission, the Secretary of the Resources Agency, the Director of Finance, and four public members. Two public members are appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one by the Speaker of the Assembly. Among the Governor's appointees, no more than one can be a locally elected official from a government area in the coastal zone. Except for those public members, conservancy members may have an employee attend on their behalf.

This section states that three members from the California Senate and three members from the Assembly are appointed to engage with the conservancy. Their involvement is conditional, as it should not conflict with their roles as legislators.

This law outlines the terms and compensation for certain appointed members of a conservancy. Members appointed under specific subdivisions serve four-year terms, but if they are locally elected officials, their membership ends 60 days after their elected term finishes, allowing the Governor to appoint someone new. However, if they are elected to local office after their appointment, they can still complete their term.

These members get paid $100 for each day they attend regular conservancy meetings, plus reimbursement for necessary expenses, including travel.

This law explains that the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency will pick one public member to lead the conservancy as chair. This chair member serves at the secretary's discretion. More than half of the conservancy's members need to be present to make official decisions, and the conservancy can set its own rules.

The conservancy is responsible for hiring an executive officer and setting their salary, and this role is not part of the civil service system. They can also hire additional staff needed to perform their duties. Wherever possible, the conservancy should use the commission's staff for planning and project evaluation, and rely on the Department of General Services' Real Estate Services Division for handling real estate transactions like acquisitions and leases.

This law says that a conservancy officer or employee doesn't have a financial conflict of interest in a contract if certain conditions are met. These conditions include the individual's financial interest being limited to their salary or expenses, they are doing their job for the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, and the contract involves grant funds from this Authority to the conservancy.

This section allows the conservancy to seek out and accept various forms of financial support, such as federal grants, gifts, donations, rents, and royalties, from both public and private entities.

This law designates the conservancy as a holder of land to fulfill goals set by the California Coastal Act, local coastal plans, or the San Francisco Bay Plan. The conservancy can accept land ownership, easements, or other land interests necessary for public access to coastal recreation and resource areas.

This law states that the conservancy is responsible for planning and coordinating the sale of federal surplus land in the coastal zone of the state.

Each year, or as needed, the conservancy's executive officer must report to the Director of General Services about privately owned lands that are important for preserving natural resources and could be traded with state-owned lands. Such trades aim to conserve natural resources and regulate coastal zones.

The land is considered special if it's valuable for public access, recreation, habitat conservation, open space, or agriculture. To be included in the report, the property owner must agree.

This law authorizes the conservancy to buy real estate or any interest in it following a specific property acquisition law. This can be done for any reason listed in their governing division.

This law allows the State Public Works Board in California to use eminent domain, which means they can take private property for public use, but only for the specific purposes outlined in the related regulations.

This law allows the Director of General Services to lease, rent, sell, exchange, or transfer land or property interests on behalf of the conservancy if requested. These transactions must follow a plan approved by the conservancy. Leases can't last more than 10 years. The money made from these transactions goes to the conservancy and can be used for their programs after being appropriated by the Legislature.

This law section mandates that the Department of General Services and the conservancy work together to create and follow procedures for handling property transactions such as buying, selling, leasing, and options to purchase land. These activities must be done fairly, efficiently, and with appropriate public notice.

Every three years, starting on January 2, the conservancy must report to the Governor and the Legislature about its progress in meeting objectives like preserving agricultural lands and restoring coastal habitats. This report should evaluate program effectiveness, identify needed resources such as funding or legislation, and discuss how it's addressing goals and distributing funds as outlined in a related section. Additionally, it must detail progress in implementing the Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations Program.

This law ensures that any fees the conservancy collects, according to Section 30526, can only be used for environmental restoration, replacement, or improvement projects that align with the approved local coastal program of the relevant local agency. Additionally, any such project requires full consultation and consent from the local agency involved.

This law allows the conservancy to take actions, including funding projects, before a local coastal plan or program is officially certified, as long as those actions are part of an approved local issue identification and work program by the California Coastal Commission. However, the conservancy must still comply with other project review and approval requirements before any certification occurs.

This section gives the conservancy the authority to do three main things. First, it can create plans and feasibility studies to help implement its goals. Second, it offers technical assistance to those involved. Lastly, it can give grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to support the planning and feasibility efforts mentioned.

This law suggests that when funds from Assembly Bill 74 are being allocated to address cross-border pollution issues in the Tijuana River Valley, preference should be given to projects highlighted in certain previous studies, as long as it's reasonably possible.

This law allows the conservancy to provide a grant to a for-profit company for removing or altering the San Clemente Dam if it's crucial for the region or state and if non-profit or public agencies wouldn't accomplish it. However, the state can only spend up to $30 million on the project and related activities.

This law allows the conservancy to accept money from subscriptions and nonpolitical ads related to its publications. The money collected is then put into the State Coastal Conservancy Fund and can be spent only if the Legislature approves it.

The Climate Ready Program focuses on addressing climate change impacts within its jurisdiction. It aims to implement projects that tackle greenhouse gas reduction, extreme weather, sea level rise, and other coastal hazards affecting communities and natural resources.

The program allows for grants to public agencies and nonprofits to fund projects that reduce emissions, enhance natural habitats, and offer recreational opportunities. It prioritizes natural infrastructure solutions, which use natural systems to manage climate-related challenges.

These projects are expected to provide multiple public benefits, such as protecting communities and enhancing biodiversity. The program also includes collaborating with the Office of Planning and Research to share climate adaptation project data.

This section explains that when a state agency identifies important natural features and decides what kind of development can occur in coastal zones, it can apply for grants from the conservancy. These grants help the agency purchase certain rights to use the land or water (less than full ownership) to protect these natural features. However, these grants cannot be used to buy land or water areas meant to become part of a larger public land network.

This law allows the conservancy to carry out projects in the City of San Juan Capistrano by following guidelines from two specific chapters of the law. Chapter 4 and Chapter 8 outline those guidelines.

This law allows nonprofit organizations to receive funds if they make a formal agreement with the conservancy. For land purchases, the price can't exceed fair market value, and the conservancy must approve the purchase conditions. The land bought with grant money can't be used as loan security unless approved by the conservancy. If the nonprofit dissolves, the state takes ownership of the land unless another qualified group agrees to take over. Any transfer of land requires the conservancy's consent, and if terms are breached, the state automatically gains the land title. The law mandates that the state’s interest in the land be clearly stated in deeds, and any improvements on funded projects protect public interests, documented in local records.

This law requires that any plan or project within the coastal area of the Santa Monica Mountains must be reviewed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy before the State Coastal Conservancy can approve it. Specifically, the executive officer must submit the plan or project at least 60 days before approval. If the conservancy doesn't reject the plan within those 60 days due to conflicts with their workplan, the plan can proceed.

This law allows the conservancy to request the repayment of funds that it has granted. The conservancy can set whatever terms and conditions it believes are necessary to achieve the goals of this division.

The law allows the conservancy to run educational programs for adults and K-12 students and to give grants to nonprofits, schools, and public agencies, including tribes, to support these programs. Grant recipients must increase student participation, reach underserved areas, and keep data for evaluations. State funds can't be used for grants to public colleges. Education programs must align with state standards. Projects can involve teaching about conserving coastal resources, enhance critical thinking, and support emotional learning. Grants can also be used for building and improving educational facilities, but only 10% of the funds can go toward administrative costs.

This law states that when giving grants or making agreements with a federally recognized Indian tribe, the conservancy must acknowledge and respect the tribe's limited sovereignty.

Starting January 1, 2020, unrestricted funds can be given as grants by the conservancy to nonprofit organizations. These organizations should offer programs related to the history and management of ocean and coastal resources, focusing on science, education, or heritage.

This California law allows a conservancy to make advance payments on contracts or grants, as long as it follows a specific government procedure. This rule will stay in place until the corresponding government procedure is repealed, at which point this rule will also end.