State parks: real property: acquisitions and leases.

Senator Allen's proposal to modify California's state park property management processes would grant the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) greater autonomy in acquiring and leasing parkland while maintaining oversight safeguards. The legislation allows the Director of General Services to waive approval requirements for DPR property transactions and raises the threshold for exempt acquisitions from $150,000 to $500,000.

Under the bill, DPR could directly acquire properties valued up to $1 million without State Public Works Board approval if the acquisition does not create a new park unit, require additional resources, or exceed existing departmental capacity. These streamlined procedures would remain in effect until January 2031. The department must conduct property appraisals, subject to Department of General Services review, and provide public notice before finalizing transactions.

The measure also revises leasing procedures, enabling DPR to enter agreements up to 10 years with fair market rent requirements. For acquisitions exceeding $5 million, the department must hold public meetings in the affected county and notify local governments and legislators at least 90 days before purchase. Properties adjacent to existing state lands would be exempt from certain public notice requirements.

To maintain fiscal oversight, the legislation requires written notification to the State Controller for exempt transactions and mandates that all contracts comply with existing state property acquisition laws. The Department of General Services retains authority to review departmental appraisals and may waive this review requirement on a case-by-case basis.