Key bills creating Sierra License Plate, Conservancy Funding Scheduled
Sacramento — The California State Legislature will spend the coming weeks debating legislation that could affect the Sierra Nevada for years to come:
Assembly Bill 84 proposes to create a Sierra Nevada License Plate to provide non-tax revenues for the newly formed Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Authored by Assemblymembers Leslie and Laird and sponsored by The Sierra Fund. The bill will be heard on Monday, April 4 at 1:30 in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Senate Bill 153 — the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Act of 2005 — will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday March 29 at 9:00 AM. The proposed $3 billion bond contains $445 million for the state's Conservancies and more than $300 million for watershed restoration activities.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3 will evaluate the budget for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the Sierra Nevada Cascade Grant Program proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:30 AM.
The Senate Budget Subcommittee #2 has held open the budget for the Conservancy and the funding for the Sierra Nevada Cascade Grant Program pending answers to some key questions. The item will be heard again on Monday, April 11 at 2:00 PM.
