Sacramento – The California State Assembly today voted 59-14 to approve AB 2600, bipartisan legislation by Assemblymen Tim Leslie (R-Tahoe City) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) to establish a Sierra Nevada Conservancy. The bill, which has been crafted with the help of the Schwarzenegger Administration, will now go to Governor for his signature. Said bill author, Assemblyman Tim Leslie, “The design of this conservancy is a tremendous victory for the people of the Sierra. Not only will the Conservancy bring more money to our region, but it will give local residents unprecedented influence in how those funds are used.” Assemblyman Leslie has represented large portions of the Sierra for nearly two decades. “This is an historic step forward for the Sierra Nevada,” said Elizabeth Martin of The Sierra Fund, the Sponsor of the legislation cretating the Conservancy. “The Sierra’s resources are threatened as never before and this bipartisan bill will help us protect one of California’s most important treasures.” Said Assemblyman John Laird, the original bill author: “This is a great day for the Sierra. The Conservancy will be a forum to work together to protect this jewel for future generations.” Laird’s family has owned a cabin in the southern part of Alpine County for years. “Today’s action puts us one step away from creating one of the most important conservancies in California and new opportunities for the state’s number one natural resource region,” said Jim Sayer, President of the Sierra Business Council, which has worked for five years to establish a conservancy. “This is a victory for the Sierra and for every Californian who depends on the region for water, recreation or even inspiration,” Sayer said. For additional information, please call Elizabeth Martin at 530.265.8454 x 12 or 530.913.1844.