2007 California Public Resources Code Chapter 3. Ocean Protection Council

CA Codes (prc:35600-35625)

35600.  (a) The Ocean Protection Council is established in state
government. The council consists of the Secretary of the Resources
Agency, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Chair of the
State Lands Commission, and two members of the public appointed by
the Governor.
   (b) The two public members shall each serve a term of four years,
and may each be reappointed to one additional term. The public
members of the board shall be appointed on the basis of their
educational and professional qualifications and their general
knowledge of, interest in, and experience in the protection and
conservation of coastal waters and ocean ecosystems. One of the
public members shall have a scientific professional background and
experience in coastal and ocean ecosystems.
   (c) Except as provided in this section, members of the council
shall serve without compensation. A member shall be reimbursed for
actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or
her duties, and in addition shall be compensated at one hundred
dollars (0) for each day during which the member is engaged in the
performance of official duties of the council. Payment for actual
and necessary expenses shall be paid only to the extent that those
expenses are not provided or payable by another public agency. The
total number of days for which a member shall be compensated may not
exceed 25 days in any one fiscal year.



35605.  At the council's first meeting in a calendar year, the
council shall elect a chair from among its voting members.



35610.  One Member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee
on Rules, and one Member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of
the Assembly, shall meet with the council as nonvoting, ex officio
members.


35612.  (a) The council's meetings shall be open to the public.
   (b) The council may sponsor conferences, symposia, and other
public forums, to seek a broad range of public advice when
establishing priorities for ocean resource protection, enhancement,
and restoration.



35615.  The council shall do all of the following:
   (a) (1) Coordinate activities of state agencies, that are related
to the protection and conservation of coastal waters and ocean
ecosystems, to improve the effectiveness of state efforts to protect
ocean resources within existing fiscal limitations, consistent with
Sections 35510 and 35515.
   (2) Establish policies to coordinate the collection, evaluation,
and sharing of scientific data related to coastal and ocean resources
among agencies.
   (3) (A) Establish a science advisory team of distinguished
scientists to assist the council in meeting the purposes of this
division.  At the request of the council, the science advisory team
may convene to identify, develop, and prioritize subjects and
questions for research or investigation, and review and evaluate
results of research or investigations to provide information for the
council's activities.
   (B) The science advisory team shall include scientists from a
range of disciplines that are a part of the council's purview.
   (C) The science advisory team shall provide an independent and
timely analysis of reports and studies, identifying areas of
scientific consensuses or uncertainty, using the best available
science by drawing on state, national, and international experts.
   (D) Scientists selected as members of the science advisory team
shall serve without compensation, except for reimbursement of
expenses and subject to the terms of an existing contract with the
state.
   (4) Contract with the California Ocean Science Trust and other
nonprofit organizations, ocean science institutes, academic
institutions, or others that have experience in conducting the
scientific and educational tasks that are required by the council.
   (5) Transmit the results of research and investigations to state
agencies to provide information for policy decisions.
   (6) Identify and recommend to the Legislature changes in law
needed to achieve the goals of this section.
   (b) (1) Identify changes in federal law and policy necessary to
achieve the goals of this division and to improve protection,
conservation, and restoration of ocean ecosystems in federal and
state waters off the state's coast.
   (2) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislature actions the
state should take to encourage those changes in federal law and
policy.


35625.  (a) Under the direction of the Secretary of the Resources
Agency, the executive officer of the State Coastal Conservancy shall
act as secretary to the council, administer its affairs, and provide
the staff services that the council needs to carry out this division,
including, but not limited to, both of the following:
   (1) Administering grants and expenditures authorized by the
council from the fund or other sources, including, but not limited
to, block grants from other state boards, commissions, or
departments.
   (2) Arranging meetings, agendas, and other administrative
functions in support of the council.
   (b) The Legislature may make appropriations to be used for the
purposes of this division directly to the State Coastal Conservancy,
for expenditures authorized by the council. If an expenditure has
been approved by the council for the purposes of this division,
approval of the State Coastal Conservancy is not required, except in
the case of block grants provided by the council to be administered
by the State Coastal Conservancy.