Luz Rivas Co-Sponsors AB 618, Enacted into Law to Regulate State Park Reservations
Assembly Bill 618 (AB 618), co-sponsored by Luz Rivas, has been enacted into law in California. The bill, introduced on February 9, 2023, and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 5, 2024, focuses on regulating state park reservations. It mandates that any contract entered into by the Department of Parks and Recreation for managing its reservation system, starting January 1, 2024, must adhere to specific rules and requirements. A key provision of AB 618 states that a reservation holder who cancels within 2 to 6 calendar days before the reservation start date may forfeit the cost of the first night's reservation plus any associated fees. Furthermore, the bill requires the department to implement a reservation drawing for up to five of the most popular state park units by January 1, 2025. The department is also tasked with reporting on the outcomes of this reservation drawing to the Legislature by January 1, 2028, with these specific provisions regarding the drawing set to be repealed on January 1, 2029.