Update on Carnegie legislation

Here is a quick update on both the bills regarding Carnegie SVRA.

AB 2551- Alameda/Tesla Carnegie SVRA Expansion – As of April 30, 2020 the bill had been cancelled at the request of the author.

SB 1147- Carnegie SVRA – The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee on March 5 and no action scheduled.

We have heard that if the legislation isn’t about the coronavirus or wildfires, it will not be heard in this next session. Good news, but will probably be back in 2021.

Below is a brief synopsis of each bill:

AB 2551 – Alameda/Tesla Carnegie SVRA Expansion

AB 2551 was introduced by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan and co-authored by Senator Glazer.
This bill would authorize the department to dispose of the portion of the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area known as the “Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area” to permanently preserve that land for conservation purposes, as specified, if the department determines that disposing of the land is in the public interest. The bill would require that the land only be sold to a local agency or nonprofit organization for use as a park or other open-space purpose, as specified. The bill would require any revenue from the disposition of the land to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, first be used to reimburse the Department of General Services for any cost or expense incurred in the disposition of the land, and then would require any remaining revenue to be deposited in the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund.

SB 1147- Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area

SB1147 was introduced by Senator Steve Glazer (D) on February 20, 2020. The bill reads:
“Existing law designates all parks, public campgrounds, monument sites, landmark sites, and sites of historical interest established or acquired by the state, or that are under its control, as the state park system, except as specified. Under existing law, the Department of Parks and Recreation controls the state park system, which is made up of units, one of which is the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would preserve the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area for conservation purposes.”