BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Adopt Recommended Positions on State Legislation: AB 252 (R. Rivas and Salas) Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program; AB 652 (Friedman) Juvenile Product Safety: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; *AB 897 (Mullin) Office of Planning and Research: Regional Climate Networks, Climate Adaptation Action Plans; and Other Legislation Which May Require Urgent Consideration for a Position by the Board.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Adopt a Position of "Support" on: AB 252 (R. Rivas and Salas) Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program; and
B. Adopt a Position of "Support" on: AB 652 (Friedman) Juvenile Product Safety: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
C. *Adopt a Position of "Support" on: AB 897 (Mullin) Office of Planning and Research: Regional Climate Networks, Climate Adaptation Action Plans.
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SUMMARY:
AB 252 (R. Rivas and Salas) Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program.
Position Recommendation: Support
Priority: 3
Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) must ensure the proper management of groundwater basins, including that farmland irrigation or other uses do not pump water faster than the local groundwater basin can refill. To do this, it has been suggested that significant amounts of farmland could be taken out of production in key areas to reduce water demand. This bill seeks to provide financial incentives to farmers to convert some farmland to other less water intensive uses.
AB 252 would require the Department of Conservation (DOC) to establish the Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program to fund local programs on multi-benefit land repurposing in critically over drafted basins. Local GSAs or counties would provide per-acre payments and grants to farmers to incentivize land conversion towards less water-intensive uses while maximizing public benefits on repurposed land.
Importance to S...
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