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Bills Aim To Keep California State Parks Open Despite Budget Woes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- With budget cuts continuing to threaten California's state parks, two bills up for consideration this week would open the door for local governments or private contractors to keep parks open if the state shuts them.

   State Sen. Sam Blakeslee is supporting a bill to give counties and cities a chance to take over operations of a closed state park for one to five years.

   A California State University study has pegged annual spending related to state park visits at an average of $6.9 billion a year, said Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo. Communities in his district, such as Morro Bay, rely on the economic boost from nearby parks.

   His SB356 would require the state to give counties and cities a chance to take over operations of closed parks and encourage the use of local workers and volunteers.

   While Blakeslee is looking to local governments, another bill would encourage working with the private sector to keep the gates open.

   SB386 by state Sen. Tom Harman, R- Huntington Beach, would require the state to post a notice if it planned to close a park, list contact information for outside parties interested in taking over its operations and respond in writing to inquiries it received.

   "Our goal is to keep the parks open," said Eileen Ricker, spokeswoman for Harman.

   The bill does not require the state to make deals for private operation, only consider them and respond, Ricker said.

   "We're hearing that people now will make these inquiries and never hear back," she said.

   Both proposals, Blakeslee said, have revived concerns among critics in conservation circles and public employee unions about whether Republicans seek to privatize state parks.

   He said his bill concentrates on local government and volunteer involvement in part to allay fears about the profit motive.

   "There's a lot of opportunity to expand volunteerism," he said.

   Budget deficits have threatened California's state parks for several years.

   In 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut about $14 million, which would have forced about 100 of the state's 279 parks, beaches and other attractions to close. A one-time budget move prevented the shutdown, but 60 parks were partially closed and 90 more were hit with service reductions.

   That led supporters of the state parks to propose an $18 increase to the state's vehicle license fee, dedicated to park operations. In exchange, vehicles with California license plates would have been given free access. But voters rejected Proposition 21 last November, leaving park funding in jeopardy.

   The remaining state deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $15.4 billion, but Democrats and Republicans are at odds over how to address it. Gov. Jerry Brown's budget calls for $11 million in cuts to the state park system for the 2011-12 fiscal year. The administration says that would force partial or full closing of an unspecified number of parks.

   SB356 and SB386 are scheduled for review Tuesday by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

   Here are other bills lawmakers are considering as they face an upcoming deadline to pass legislation out of its house of origin:

   -- Law enforcement officers would have to get a warrant before they could search the contents of a cell phone or other portable electronic device during an arrest, under SB914. The bill by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would change current law, which allows investigators to search the device without getting a judge's permission. The bill is scheduled before the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

   -- Members of state boards and commissions could not be paid salaries for three fiscal years starting in 2012 under a bill by Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks. His SB153 would let them receive per diem payments for each day they meet during the three-year period. The bill is set for a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

   -- A landlord could outlaw smoking on his or her property, including inside rental units, under a bill by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles. The bill, SB332, is before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

   -- Sports teams would be prohibited from relocating within California unless they have paid off their debts in their existing city, under a bill by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. His SB652 would require the owners of the Sacramento Kings to repay a $77 million loan to the city of Sacramento before they can move the team to Anaheim. The bill is scheduled before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

   -- Budget bills would have to be made public 72 hours before the Legislature could vote to send them to the governor, under SB17. The bill by Blakeslee is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

   -- Public agencies would have to disclose public officials' salaries on their web sites under a bill drafted in response to the pay scandal in the Los Angeles County city of Bell. SB46 by Sen. Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, would require public officials to annually file compensation disclosure forms. It is up for consideration Wednesday by the Senate Governance and Finance Committees.

   -- Lawmakers are considering a bill to cut state funding for corn-based ethanol weeks after the governor signed a law requiring the state to receive one-third of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Only fuel that is not derived from corn would remain eligible for state grants or loans under AB523 by David Valadao, R-Hanford. Republicans question the environmental benefits of ethanol made from corn and say it hurts food supplies and price. The bill will be heard Monday in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

   -- A so-called soda tax in AB669 would extract an extra penny per ounce of sweet drinks and bring the state $1.7 billion annually. Of that, $1.4 billion, or $233 per student, would go to counties to support education and children's health. The bill from Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, allocates the majority of the money for classes. But physical education, healthful school meals, sports and after-school programs also would get a boost. The bill will be heard Monday in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

   -- A bill to require Amazon.com and other online retailers to collect taxes gets a major test Monday when the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee votes on AB155. The state estimates it loses $1.1 billion a year through uncollected "use taxes" from online sales. The bill, by Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, could force Amazon alone to collect an estimated $83 million in taxes. Supporters said the bill would level the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers that already collect the tax. Internet retailers contend that, because they don't have a store or other physical business, the tax is an unconstitutional restraint on interstate trade. After a similar law was passed in North Carolina and Rhode Island, Amazon cut off its affiliate relationships in both states.

   -- A bill by Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee, would put the brakes on high-speed rail in California by withholding money until environmental studies are complete. Jones wants a UC Berkeley institute to conduct a ridership study before nearly $10 billion could be spent on the train system. The ridership findings would contribute to a later environmental analysis. The bill, AB953, will be heard Monday in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

   --The initial spending cuts to close the state budget gap lowered the number of months that adults can remain on welfare to 48 months from 60 months. Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Solana Beach, is trying to halve that number to 24 months, saving the state $487 million. That's on top of the $156 million in savings from the first-time cap already signed by the governor. Children, who are eligible for aid until age 18, would not be affected by AB373, which will be heard Tuesday in the Assembly Human Services Committee.

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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