(a) The Legislature declares that innovative public access programs, such as agreements with public land trusts, can provide effective and responsible alternatives to costly public acquisition programs. The Legislature therefore declares that it is beneficial to the people of this state to encourage private nonprofit entities such as public land trusts to carry out programs that preserve open space or increase opportunities for the public to enjoy access to and use of natural resources if the programs are consistent (1) with public safety, (2) with the protection of the resources, and (3) with public and private rights.

(b) For the purposes of Sections 831.2, 831.25, 831.4, and 831.7, “public entity” includes a public land trust which meets all of the following conditions:

(1)  It is a nonprofit organization existing under the provisions of Section 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(2)  It has specifically set forth in its articles of incorporation, as among its principal charitable purposes, the conservation of land for public access, agricultural, scientific, historical, educational, recreational, scenic, or open-space opportunities.

(3)  It has entered into an agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy for lands located within the coastal zone, as defined in Section 31006 of the Public Resources Code, with the California Tahoe Conservancy or its designee for lands located within the Lake Tahoe region, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 66953 of the Government Code, or with the State Public Works Board or its designee for lands not located within the coastal zone or the Lake Tahoe region, on such terms and conditions as are mutually agreeable, requiring the public land trust to hold the lands or, where appropriate, to provide nondiscriminatory public access consistent with the protection and conservation of either coastal or other natural resources, or both. The conservancy or the board, as appropriate, shall periodically review the agreement and determine whether the public land trust is in compliance with the terms and conditions. In the event the conservancy or the board determines that the public land trust is not in substantial compliance with the agreement, the conservancy or the board shall cancel the agreement, and the provisions of Sections 831.2, 831.25, 831.4, and 831.7 shall no longer apply with regard to that public land trust.

(c) For the purposes of Sections 831.2, 831.25, 831.4, and 831.7, “public employee” includes an officer, authorized agent, or employee of any public land trust which is a public entity.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 934, Sec. 2.)