BILL NUMBER: AB 149INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jeffries JANUARY 22, 2009 An act to add Section 720 to the Public Resources Code, relating to state government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 149, as introduced, Jeffries. State government: board of forestry and fire protection: abolishment. Existing law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to represent the state's interest in the acquisition and management of state forests as provided by law and in federal land matters pertaining to forestry, and the protection of the state's interests in forest resources on private lands. The board is required to determine, establish, and maintain an adequate forest policy. General policies for guidance of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are determined by the board. This bill would abolish the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and transfer its duties, responsibilities, powers, jurisdiction, liabilities, and functions to the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 720 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 720. (a) The director succeeds to and is vested with all duties, responsibilities, powers, jurisdiction, liabilities, and functions of the board, which is hereby abolished. Any reference in any law to the duties, responsibilities, powers, and functions of the board, shall be considered a reference to the director unless the context otherwise requires. The director shall have possession and control of all records, books, papers, and other property, real, personal and mixed, now or hereafter held for the benefit or use of the board. (b) All employees of the board who are serving in the state civil service, other than as temporary employees when this section becomes effective, shall continue to be employees of the department pursuant to Section 19050.9 of the Government Code. The status, position, and rights of any employee of the board shall not be affected by the transfer and shall be retained by the person as an employee of the department, as the case may be, pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except as to a position that is exempt from civil service. (c) All money available, including money that becomes available after the effective date of this section, for expenditure by the board to be used in the administration of any function, the exercise of any right, or performance of any duty, which function, right, or duty is transferred by this section, shall be transferred to the director who is to administer the function, exercise the right, or perform the duty.