(a) The department, with the consent of the Department of Finance, and subject to Section 15853 of the Government Code, may acquire title to or any interest in real property, including personal property incidental to the purchase of real property and options to purchase property, which the department deems necessary or proper for the extension, improvement, or development of the state park system. All real and personal property acquired by the department for the state park system shall be under the jurisdiction of the department immediately upon transfer of title to the state.

(b) (1) The department, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 15853 of the Government Code, may appraise and select real property for the purpose of acquiring an option to purchase the real property for the state park system. The department may utilize the services of the Real Estate Services Division of the Department of General Services or may contract with independent appraisers appropriately certified by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers, to assist in appraising property.

(2) The department, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 15853 of the Government Code, may appraise and select real property for potential acquisition of, and addition to, the state park system. The department may utilize the services of the Real Estate Services Division of the Department of General Services or may contract with independent appraisers appropriately certified by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers, to assist in appraising the property. Prior to appraising the property, the Department of Parks and Recreation shall notify the owners of the real property that the department is considering the real property for acquisition, and may have it appraised. The department shall determine the form and manner of giving the notice.

(3) The department, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 15853 of the Government Code, may select real property it has appraised and submit purchase offers and negotiate a purchase agreement with the owner or owners of the property. The department shall be responsible for implementing and processing the purchase agreement and conveyance of title to the state. The department may utilize the services of the Real Estate Services Division of the Department of General Services, or may contract with other state agencies with real estate and right-of-way acquisition programs, to assist in negotiating purchase agreements and conveyance of title.

(c) Upon acquisition of real property for the state park system, the department shall be responsible for providing relocation assistance to displaced persons as provided under Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. The department may utilize the services of the Real Estate Services Division of the Department of General Services, or may contract with other state agencies or private consultants with real estate and right-of-way acquisition programs, to assist in relocation planning and implementation.

(d) (1) Requests for funding to administer the department’s acquisition program shall be submitted by the department for inclusion in the Governor’s Budget for each fiscal year.

(2) Requests for funding to acquire options to purchase real and personal property for the state park system shall be submitted by the department for inclusion in the Governor’s Budget for each fiscal year based upon its estimate of the amount needed for that purpose. If an option to purchase real property for the state park system has been acquired, the funding proposed by the department shall be the appraised value of the property less the sum expended for the purchase of the option. The expenditure of the moneys shall be subject to the limitation specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 15853 of the Government Code unless otherwise provided by the Legislature.

(3) Requests for funding to acquire real property or any interest in real property shall be submitted by the department for inclusion in the Governor’s Budget for each fiscal year. The projects shall have been selected and appraised by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) prior to inclusion. The Governor’s Budget shall contain a separate description of each project, or acquisition program and its appraised value, or funding allocation.

(e) The requirements imposed by subdivision (d) are in addition to any other provisions of law requiring the inclusion of state park system acquisition projects in the Governor’s Budget.

(f) The department shall not enter into any purchase agreements for the acquisition of real property if the consideration to be paid by the department is in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), unless Section 5006.1 has been complied with.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all appraisals conducted by the department pursuant to this section shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of General Services or, at the discretion of the Department of General Services, a competent professional appraiser approved by the Department of General Services. Real property shall be appraised and appraisal review completed before commencement of purchasing negotiations. All contracts related to the acquisition of real property shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of General Services pursuant to Section 11005 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 344, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1999.)