65965
. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
apply:
(a) "Endowment" means the funds that are conveyed solely for the
long-term stewardship of a mitigation property. Endowment funds are
held as charitable trusts that are permanently restricted to paying
the costs of long-term management and stewardship of the mitigation
property for which the funds were set aside. Endowments shall be
governed by the underlying laws, regulations, and specific
governmental approvals under those laws and regulations pursuant to
which the endowments were exacted, consistent with subdivision (b) of
Section 65966 and with the Uniform Prudent Management of
Institutional Funds Act (Part 7 (commencing with Section 18501) of
Division 9 of the Probate Code). Endowments do not include funds
conveyed for meeting short-term performance objectives of a project.
(b) "Community foundation" means any community foundation that
meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Meets the requirements of a community trust under Section
1.170A-9(f)(10)-(11) of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) Is exempt from taxation as an organization described in
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(3) Is qualified to do business in this state.
(4) Is a "qualified organization" as defined in Section 170(h)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code.
(5) Has complied with National Standards for U.S. Community
Foundations as determined by the Community Foundations National
Standards Board, a supporting organization of the Council on
Foundations.
(6) Is registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts
maintained by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 12584.
(c) "Conservation easement" means a conservation easement created
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 815) of Title 2 of
Part 2 of Division 2 of the Civil Code.
(d) "Direct protection" means the permanent protection,
conservation, and preservation of lands, waters, or natural
resources, including, but not limited to, agricultural lands,
wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered species habitat, open-space
areas, or outdoor recreational areas.
(e) "Governmental entity" means any state agency, office, officer,
department, division, bureau, board, commission, public
postsecondary educational institution, city, county, or city and
county, or a joint powers authority formed pursuant to the Joint
Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of
Division 7 of Title 1) that meets either of the following
requirements:
(1) The joint powers authority was created for the principal
purpose and activity of the direct protection or stewardship of land,
water, or natural resources, including, but not limited to,
agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered species
habitat, open-space areas, and outdoor recreational areas.
(2) The joint powers authority was created for the purpose of
constructing, maintaining, managing, controlling, and operating
transportation infrastructure, such as major thoroughfares and
bridges.
(f) (1) "Mitigation agreement" means either of the following:
(A) A written agreement between the project proponent and the
entity qualified to hold the property and the endowment pursuant to
this chapter, which is submitted to the state or local agency for the
purpose of obtaining any permit, clearance, or mitigation approval
from that state or local agency.
(B) A written agreement between the project proponent and the
entity qualified to hold the property pursuant to this chapter,
including any agreement with an entity qualified to hold the
endowment pursuant to this chapter, which is submitted to the state
or local agency for the purpose of obtaining any permit, clearance,
or mitigation approval from that state or local agency.
(2) A mitigation agreement shall govern the long-term stewardship
of the property and the endowment.
(g) "Congressionally chartered foundation" means a nonprofit
organization that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Is chartered by the United States Congress.
(2) Is exempt from taxation as an organization described in
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(3) Is qualified to do business in this state.
(4) Is registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts
maintained by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 12584.
(5) Has as a purpose the conservation and management of fish,
wildlife, plants, and other natural resources, which includes, but is
not limited to, the direct protection or stewardship of land, water,
or natural wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered species habitat,
open-space areas, and outdoor recreational areas.
(h) "Nonprofit organization" means any nonprofit organization that
meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Is exempt from taxation as an organization described in
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) Is qualified to do business in this state.
(3) Is a "qualified organization" as defined in Section 170(h)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code.
(4) Is registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts
maintained by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 12584.
(5) Has as its principal purpose and activity the direct
protection or stewardship of land, water, or natural resources,
including, but not limited to, agricultural lands, wildlife habitat,
wetlands, endangered species habitat, open-space areas, and outdoor
recreational areas.
(i) "Project proponent" means an individual, business entity,
agency, or other entity that is developing a project or facility and
is required to mitigate any adverse impact upon natural resources.
(j) "Property" means fee title land or any partial interest in
real property, including a conservation easement, that may be
conveyed pursuant to a mitigation requirement by a state or local
agency.
(k) "Special district" means any of the following special
districts:
(1) A special district formed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing
with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division 5 or Division 26
(commencing with Section 35100) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) A resource conservation district organized pursuant to
Division 9 (commencing with Section 9001) of the Public Resources
Code.
(3) A district organized or formed pursuant to the Metropolitan
Water District Act (Chapter 209 of the Statutes of 1969).
(4) A county water district organized under Division 12
(commencing with Section 30000) of the Water Code, that has more than
5,000 acres of mitigation lands.
(5) A special district formed pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing
with Section 11561) of Division 6 of the Public Utilities Code that
provides water and wastewater treatment services.
(6) A district organized or formed pursuant to the County Water
Authority Act (Chapter 545 of the Statutes of 1943).
(7) A local flood control district formed pursuant to any law.
(l) "Stewardship" encompasses the range of activities involved in
controlling, monitoring, and managing for conservation purposes a
property, or a conservation or open-space easement, as defined by the
terms of the easement, and its attendant resources.