“Our parks are our heritage and they belong to every Californian,” said Chair of the California Assembly Budget Committee Bob Blumenfield (D-San, Fernando Valley). Blumenfield is the author of legislation signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown that places a moratorium on state park closures, provides new funds to keep state parks open, and reforms state park management.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1478 places a two-year moratorium on the closure of state parks; provides $10 million to match private and local donations raised to keep parks open; earmarks another $10 million to aid parks at risk of closure; allows another $10 million in bond funds to be used to prevent state park closures caused by overdue maintenance needs; and increases State Park and Recreation Commission oversight over the Department of Parks and Recreation. “By signing this bill, the governor has ensured that all our parks will stay open to be enjoyed,” Blumenfield said.
The bill was crafted in response to the discovery in mid-July that now-former officials at the Department of Parks and Recreation concealed a $54 million surplus over a period of 12 years. News of the surplus was reported by the Los Angeles Times and lead to the resignation of California Parks Department director Ruth Coleman. Independent audits have been commissioned by the State Legislature for more answers about the concealment of these funds. AB 1478 was shaped by oversight hearings conducted by the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees after the hidden park funds were discovered.
