The sum of one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for wildfire prevention, including reducing community wildfire risk and restoring the health and resilience of forests and landscapes.
Chapter 3Wildfire and Forest Resilience
Section § 91500
This law section states that $1.5 billion is allocated for wildfire prevention efforts. The funds will be used to lower the risk of wildfires in communities and to improve the health and resilience of forests and landscapes. The money will be available once the California Legislature approves its use.
wildfire prevention funding community wildfire risk reduction forest health landscape resilience fund allocation forest restoration community safety natural disaster prevention forest and landscape management environmental resilience California Legislature appropriation wildfire risk management wildfire prevention budget ecosystem restoration public safety funding
Section § 91510
This law allocates $135 million, upon legislative approval, for a grant program aimed at wildfire mitigation. Managed by the Office of Emergency Services and in coordination with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the program provides support through loans, rebates, and direct funding for projects that prevent or minimize wildfire risks. These projects focus on helping disadvantaged areas and support includes strengthening infrastructures, smoke mitigation, and creating firebreaks. Grants can be given to various organizations and tribes for purposes like protecting critical infrastructure, home fireproofing, and handling clean energy solutions to maintain services during emergencies. Priority is given to applications from high fire risk areas, and technical help is offered to communities most in need to ensure they benefit from the funds.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(a) Of the funds made available by Section 91500, one hundred thirty-five million dollars ($135,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services for a wildfire mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, maintain existing wildfire risk reduction projects, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase home or community hardening. Projects shall benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the
following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(a)(1) Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities,
nonprofit organizations, resource conservation districts, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(a)(2) Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, wildfire smoke mitigation, evacuation centers, including community clean air centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, water delivery system
improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in very high or high fire hazard areas, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly
increase hazard risk.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(a)(3) Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, reduced wildfire ignitions, and to safeguard communities from disruption due to deenergization events, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(a)(4) Grants under the Home Hardening Program to retrofit, harden, or create defensible space for homes at high risk of wildfire in order to protect California communities.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(b) The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize
wildfire mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list, pursuant to Section 4290.1.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 91510(c) The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
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Section § 91520
This section allocates $1.205 billion for projects aimed at enhancing fire prevention, forest health, and wildfire risk reduction in California. The funds are distributed among various agencies and initiatives. Key allocations include funding for the Department of Conservation to prioritize and implement forest health projects, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for local fire prevention and workforce development, and multiple conservancies for watershed and forest restoration projects.
Specific projects include creating fire training centers, supporting workforce development in disadvantaged communities, and promoting fire resiliency in vulnerable ecosystems and populated areas. These efforts involve enhancing firefighter health and safety, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing carbon sequestration.
Of the funds made available by Section 91500, one billion two hundred five million dollars ($1,205,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by the United States. The
funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(a) One hundred eighty-five million dollars ($185,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to
prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(b) One hundred seventy million dollars ($170,000,000) shall be available to implement regional projects, including, but not limited to, landscape-scale projects developed by forest collaboratives as defined in Section 4810, projects developed by regional entities as defined
in Section
4208, and projects that implement strategies developed by state conservancies through block grants and direct appropriations by the Legislature.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(c) One hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Forest Health Program
for long-term forest health projects, including improved forest management, prescribed fire, prescribed grazing, cultural fire, forest watershed restoration, reforestation, upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration, and activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration. Funds may be used for tribal wildfire resilience grants.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(d) One hundred eighty-five million dollars ($185,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for local fire prevention grants consistent with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 4124) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 and for grants to conduct workforce development for fire prevention and wildfire resiliency work. Workforce development grants may include, but are not limited to, the construction of designated housing for wildfire prevention workers.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(e) Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the creation or expansion of a fire training center.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(f) Two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available to the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Parks and Recreation for forest health and watershed improvement projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands,
mountain meadows, chaparral, and coastal forests. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in very high, high, and moderate fire hazard areas and may include prescribed fire, cultural fire, environmentally sensitive vegetation management, land protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health.
(g)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(g) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for grants to conduct fuel reduction, structure hardening, create defensible space, reforestation, or targeted acquisitions
to improve forest health and fire resilience.
(h)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(h) Thirty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($33,500,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization,
chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.
(i)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(i) Twenty-five million five hundred thousand dollars ($25,500,000) shall be available to the California Tahoe Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable
populations.
(j)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(j) Thirty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($33,500,000) shall be available to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience, chaparral and forest restoration, and
workforce
development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.
(k)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(k) Thirty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($33,500,000) shall be available to the State Coastal Conservancy for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience,
chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.
(l)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(l) Thirty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($33,500,000) shall be available to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.
(m)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(m) Twenty-five
million five hundred thousand dollars ($25,500,000) shall be available to the San Diego Rivers Conservancy for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.
(n)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(n) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available to the Wildfire Conservancy to improve firefighter health and safety, advance fire attack effectiveness, and promote community resilience and awareness.
(o)CA Public Resources Code § 91520(o) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available to the California Fire Foundation to support vegetation mitigation and fuels reduction projects, public education and outreach, personal protective equipment, specialized firefighting equipment, and
firefighter health and safety.
fire prevention forest health wildfire risk reduction Department of Conservation Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regional capacity building forest resilience community fire preparedness greenhouse gas emissions carbon sequestration tribal wildfire resilience wildfire training center ecosystem restoration workforce development disadvantaged communities vegetation mitigation fuels reduction
Section § 91530
This law states that $50 million from specific funds will be available to certain California agencies, once approved by the Legislature. The money is to be used for projects that turn forest and plant waste removed for wildfire prevention into non-burning uses. These projects should focus on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving local air quality, and helping communities become more resilient to climate change.
Of the funds made available by Section 91500, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation or State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission for projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to use forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation for noncombustible uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
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Section § 91535
This law sets aside twenty-five million dollars from a larger fund specifically for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The money is intended for developing and implementing new technologies that help detect and assess fires when they start.
Of the funds made available by Section 91500, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for technologies that improve detection and assessment of new fire ignitions.
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Section § 91540
This law specifies that $35 million from a certain fund is allocated to reduce wildfire risks associated with electricity transmission, but only if the Legislature approves it. Projects paid for with this money must be structured so that shareholders don’t earn profits from these specific investments, and the cost of these projects cannot be passed on to consumers through their utility bills.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 91540(a) Of the funds made available by Section 91500, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for uses to reduce wildfire risk related to electricity transmission.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 91540(b) The proportion of any asset funded pursuant to this section shall be funded without return on equity for the lifetime of the proportion of that asset that would have otherwise been borne by ratepayers.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 91540(c) The proportion of any projects funded pursuant to this section shall be excluded from the ratebase, and no costs may be collected from ratepayers.
wildfire risk reduction electricity transmission fund allocation Legislature appropriation return on equity ratepayers project funding exclusion ratebase exclusion no cost to ratepayers electric utility projects wildfire safety funding
Section § 91545
This California law specifies that $50 million, as provided by another section, is designated for the California Conservation Corps, certified community conservation corps, and nonprofit workforce organizations. These funds, once approved by the Legislature, are to be used for projects that address unemployment and aid the state in building infrastructure to support climate resilience or address natural disaster preparedness and recovery.
At least 60% of this money must go to certified community conservation corps. Eligible recipients include nonprofits and local agencies that offer employment training related to parks and conservation.
The California Conservation Corps can also distribute funds as grants to certified community conservation corps for these projects.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(a) Of the funds made available by Section 91500, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, and nonprofit workforce organizations for demonstrated jobs projects, including either of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(a)(1) Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure to promote climate resilience.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(a)(2) Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared emergencies, or
climate-related impacts to communities.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(b) At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(c) Eligible workforce organizations include nonprofits, local agencies, and joint powers authorities that have programs that provide park and conservation employment training.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 91545(d) The California Conservation Corps may expend the funds made available as grants to certified community conservation corps for purposes specified in this section.
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Section § 91550
This law states that any project funded under this chapter must align with the policies set by the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. Additionally, projects must also comply with guidelines from the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, when relevant.
Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with the policies and guidelines established by the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, and by the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, if applicable.
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