AB 2444 Summary

• Authorizes issuance of $3,497,500,000 in state general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval at the June 5, 2018 primary election, to fund parks, water, climate, and coastal protection projects statewide.

• Allocates bond funds across multiple programs including $995 million for neighborhood parks in disadvantaged communities, $450 million for local park rehabilitation, $370 million for state park restoration, and $722.5 million for climate adaptation and wildlife habitat projects.

• Requires at least 20 percent of funds (or 15 percent for certain articles) to serve severely disadvantaged communities, with provisions for advanced grant payments to accelerate project implementation in underserved areas.

• Establishes funding for urban creek restoration ($115 million), rural recreation ($45 million), trails and greenways ($50 million), state conservancies ($165 million), and ocean/coastal protection ($200 million).

• Creates reporting requirements for project expenditures, independent audits, and public accountability through downloadable spreadsheets tracking project locations, objectives, status, and outcomes.