This section of the law defines specific terms used in a California chapter about heritage conservation. It clarifies that 'Department' refers to the Department of Parks and Recreation, 'Fund' is the Heritage Network Decal Fund, 'Heritage corridor' has a definition in another related section, 'Program' stands for the State Heritage Network Plan and Grants Program, and 'Trust' refers to a specific State Heritage Network Trust.

This law establishes a program called the State Heritage Network Plan and Grants Program within the department. The goal of the program is to improve how the state protects, preserves, and shares natural, agricultural, archaeological, and historical resources. These resources are located within areas known as heritage corridors, which may also be part of a state byways system.

The program will be created with input from various public and private groups, including nonprofits that support state heritage networks. These nonprofits will help by offering volunteer services to assist the department in running the program.

This law section states that funds, once approved by the Legislature, can be used by the department for certain purposes. These include covering administrative costs related to a program and for acquiring, developing, using, and improving heritage corridor sites. These sites can be either within the state park system or outside of it. For sites outside the state park system, funds can be given as matching grants that cover up to 60% of costs, and these grants can be provided to local, state, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

This law states that no single grant from the program can exceed $50,000. Each year, up to 50% of the fund's total money can be used for the state park system, while at least 25% must be granted to nonprofits, including those working with state parks.

Funds allocated for developing heritage corridors in the state heritage network should support projects like improving disability access, building interpretive facilities, supporting educational programs, preserving historical sites, acquiring and developing trails, and purchasing land and easements, all from willing sellers.

This law section lays out the process for selecting and evaluating heritage corridors in California. The department is tasked with setting criteria to determine which heritage corridors will be included on the North Central California Heritage Corridors Access Map. Several corridor routes are given provisional status for possible inclusion, such as routes through the East California Mountains and Deserts, Yosemite Pacific, Missions and Adobes, and Great Valley Rivers.

Additionally, the law suggests several other candidate corridors for future study and potential adoption, including routes like Redwoods and Cascades, California Contrast, Palm and Pine, Rim of the World, and Southern Borderlands.

Every year, organizations can send in their grant proposals to a specific department for evaluation. This department, possibly with help from a trust, examines these proposals based on its established rules and standards. After evaluating, the department compiles a list of recommended projects which it then submits to the state legislature to consider funding.

This section allows the department to create a $20 window decal in collaboration with heritage corridor groups. Both residents and nonresidents can purchase these decals to participate in the heritage network program.

The money made from selling these decals, after covering the costs of selling them, goes into the Heritage Network Decal Fund, as outlined in a related section of the Vehicle Code.