Jurris.COM
Article 3. Shared Habitat Alliance For Recreational Enhancement Program of California Fish And Game Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.
In establishing the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational
Enhancement ("SHARE") program, it is the intent of the Legislature to
encourage private landowners to voluntarily make their land
available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreational
activities. The Legislature further encourages private landowners to
use any funds received from the SHARE program for wildlife
conservation purposes on their property. The SHARE program shall be a
collaborative effort by all participants to facilitate
wildlife-dependent recreational activities on private land at minimal
expense to the state. The Legislature declares that interested
nongovernmental organizations are the key to developing, planning,
and implementing the SHARE program.
For purposes of this article, the following definitions
apply:
(a) "Agreement" includes, but is not limited to, a contract, license, easement, memorandum of understanding, or lease.
(b) "Partnership" means a collaborative effort involving financial or in-kind contributions by nongovernmental organizations, the department, and other interested parties working in concert to achieve the goals of the program.
(c) "Private landowner" means an owner of any possessory interest in real property that is suitable for use for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
(d) "Program" means the SHARE program established under this article.
(e) "Wildlife-dependent recreational activities" means hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, conservation education, and related outdoor activities through means that are consistent with applicable law.
(a) "Agreement" includes, but is not limited to, a contract, license, easement, memorandum of understanding, or lease.
(b) "Partnership" means a collaborative effort involving financial or in-kind contributions by nongovernmental organizations, the department, and other interested parties working in concert to achieve the goals of the program.
(c) "Private landowner" means an owner of any possessory interest in real property that is suitable for use for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
(d) "Program" means the SHARE program established under this article.
(e) "Wildlife-dependent recreational activities" means hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, conservation education, and related outdoor activities through means that are consistent with applicable law.
(a) There is hereby established the Shared Habitat Alliance
for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program. The department, in
partnership with nonprofit conservation groups and other interested
nongovernmental organizations that seek to increase and enhance
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, shall work
cooperatively to implement the program in order to facilitate public
access to private lands in a voluntary and incentive-based manner.
(b) The department shall adopt regulations for the management and control of wildlife-dependent recreational activities on land that is subject to the program. The department shall report to the commission annually on the status of the program and maintain data on the types of wildlife-dependent recreational activities preferred by landowners and participants in the program.
(c) (1) The SHARE Account is hereby established in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. Money deposited in the account from the sources cited in this subdivision shall only be used for the purposes set forth in this article.
(2) Consistent with existing law, the department may establish and impose user fees, use existing hunting and fishing license stamp or tag fees from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, or apply for grants, federal funds, or other contributions from other sources to fund the program. General Fund moneys shall not be used for the program.
(3) All funding generated pursuant to paragraph (2) from grants, federal funds, or other sources, where the person or entity providing the funds specifically designates in writing prior to the time of transmittal of the funds to the department that the funds are intended solely for the purposes of the program, and any user fees assessed by the department specifically for the program, shall be deposited in the SHARE Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be available for expenditure by the department solely for programs and projects to benefit the program and for the direct costs and administrative overhead incurred solely in carrying out the department's program activities. Funds may also be used for wildlife conservation purposes on lands subject to an agreement under the program. Administrative overhead shall be limited to the reasonable costs associated with the direct administration of the program. The department shall maintain internal accountability necessary to ensure that all restrictions on the expenditure of these funds are met.
(d) The department may make grants to, or enter into agreements with, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, or any other entities for the use of the funds described in subdivision (c) when the department finds that the agreements are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article.
(e) The program is not subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, or Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(f) The department may reimburse a nonprofit organization, a private landowner, or other entity for its costs related to the implementation of the program.
(b) The department shall adopt regulations for the management and control of wildlife-dependent recreational activities on land that is subject to the program. The department shall report to the commission annually on the status of the program and maintain data on the types of wildlife-dependent recreational activities preferred by landowners and participants in the program.
(c) (1) The SHARE Account is hereby established in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. Money deposited in the account from the sources cited in this subdivision shall only be used for the purposes set forth in this article.
(2) Consistent with existing law, the department may establish and impose user fees, use existing hunting and fishing license stamp or tag fees from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, or apply for grants, federal funds, or other contributions from other sources to fund the program. General Fund moneys shall not be used for the program.
(3) All funding generated pursuant to paragraph (2) from grants, federal funds, or other sources, where the person or entity providing the funds specifically designates in writing prior to the time of transmittal of the funds to the department that the funds are intended solely for the purposes of the program, and any user fees assessed by the department specifically for the program, shall be deposited in the SHARE Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be available for expenditure by the department solely for programs and projects to benefit the program and for the direct costs and administrative overhead incurred solely in carrying out the department's program activities. Funds may also be used for wildlife conservation purposes on lands subject to an agreement under the program. Administrative overhead shall be limited to the reasonable costs associated with the direct administration of the program. The department shall maintain internal accountability necessary to ensure that all restrictions on the expenditure of these funds are met.
(d) The department may make grants to, or enter into agreements with, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, or any other entities for the use of the funds described in subdivision (c) when the department finds that the agreements are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article.
(e) The program is not subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, or Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(f) The department may reimburse a nonprofit organization, a private landowner, or other entity for its costs related to the implementation of the program.
(a) (1) The department may enter into a voluntary agreement
with a private landowner, including an agreement under which the
private landowner is compensated by the department for public use of
the land, to provide public access for wildlife-dependent
recreational activities. Any financial compensation offered to a
private landowner pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed thirty
dollars ($30) per acre, or fifty dollars ($50) per public participant
per day, and shall be commensurate with the quality of the
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities that are to be provided
on the property.
(2) The department also may enter into a voluntary agreement with a private landowner to facilitate access to adjacent public lands or waters, upon approval of the governmental entity that holds title to the land. This article does not authorize a private landowner to exclude persons not participating in the SHARE program from using public land for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
(3) The department may enter into a voluntary agreement with a governmental entity to provide wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities to the public on public lands or waters.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall keep confidential and not release to the public any personal identifying information received from a private landowner participating in the program, unless the director determines that release of that information is necessary for the administration of the program.
(c) Either the department or a private landowner may, in writing, modify or cancel an agreement executed under the program, at any time. Upon cancellation or modification of the agreement by either party, the other party shall be reimbursed for any lost revenues or expenses incurred pursuant to the terms of the original agreement.
(d) In addition to any other protection or remedy under law, the protections and remedies afforded to an owner of an estate or any other interest in real property under Section 846 of the Civil Code shall apply to a private landowner, nonprofit organization, or other entity participating in the program.
(e) The department shall require every person who wants to use land that is subject to an agreement pursuant to subdivision (a), prior to using that land, to sign a waiver that releases the department or any private group, nonprofit organization, governmental entity, or other organization involved in administering the program, and the private landowner, from liability for any injury or damage that arises from, or is connected with that person's use of the land. Upon request, the department shall provide a copy of the waiver to any of the parties to the waiver.
(f) An agreement executed pursuant to the program shall not authorize the take of nongame species by public participants in the program. An agreement may not authorize a private landowner to transfer a hunting or fishing license, stamp, or tag to another person, unless otherwise authorized by law.
(g) In determining which lands may be included in the program, the department shall give priority to those lands with the greatest wildlife habitat value. To the extent possible, the department shall also include in the program private lands that permit multiple wildlife-dependent recreational activities, in order to take into consideration the participation of the general public in the program.
(2) The department also may enter into a voluntary agreement with a private landowner to facilitate access to adjacent public lands or waters, upon approval of the governmental entity that holds title to the land. This article does not authorize a private landowner to exclude persons not participating in the SHARE program from using public land for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
(3) The department may enter into a voluntary agreement with a governmental entity to provide wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities to the public on public lands or waters.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall keep confidential and not release to the public any personal identifying information received from a private landowner participating in the program, unless the director determines that release of that information is necessary for the administration of the program.
(c) Either the department or a private landowner may, in writing, modify or cancel an agreement executed under the program, at any time. Upon cancellation or modification of the agreement by either party, the other party shall be reimbursed for any lost revenues or expenses incurred pursuant to the terms of the original agreement.
(d) In addition to any other protection or remedy under law, the protections and remedies afforded to an owner of an estate or any other interest in real property under Section 846 of the Civil Code shall apply to a private landowner, nonprofit organization, or other entity participating in the program.
(e) The department shall require every person who wants to use land that is subject to an agreement pursuant to subdivision (a), prior to using that land, to sign a waiver that releases the department or any private group, nonprofit organization, governmental entity, or other organization involved in administering the program, and the private landowner, from liability for any injury or damage that arises from, or is connected with that person's use of the land. Upon request, the department shall provide a copy of the waiver to any of the parties to the waiver.
(f) An agreement executed pursuant to the program shall not authorize the take of nongame species by public participants in the program. An agreement may not authorize a private landowner to transfer a hunting or fishing license, stamp, or tag to another person, unless otherwise authorized by law.
(g) In determining which lands may be included in the program, the department shall give priority to those lands with the greatest wildlife habitat value. To the extent possible, the department shall also include in the program private lands that permit multiple wildlife-dependent recreational activities, in order to take into consideration the participation of the general public in the program.
(a) The department may revoke, for up to three years, the
public access privilege granted pursuant to this article, of any
person who violates any provision of this code or regulation adopted
pursuant to this code while on any property that is subject to an
agreement under the program.
(b) The department shall enforce all applicable regulations established by the commission or the department on property that is subject to an agreement executed under the program.
(b) The department shall enforce all applicable regulations established by the commission or the department on property that is subject to an agreement executed under the program.
