(a) Funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (t) of Section 5096.310 shall be available to the Department of Conservation for grants, on a competitive basis, to state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations for farmland protection and administration of the Agricultural Land Stewardship Program Act of 1995 (Division 10.2 (commencing with Section 10200)), or its successor program. This purpose shall include, but not be limited to, the placement of improvements and acquisition of agricultural conservation easements and other interests in land pursuant to the Agricultural Land Stewardship Program.
(b) At least 20 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (t) of Section 5096.310 shall be available for projects that preserve agricultural lands and protect water quality in the counties that serve the San Pablo Bay.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 638, Sec. 12. Approved in Proposition 12 at the March 7, 2000, election. Note: Pursuant to Stats. 1999, Ch. 638, Sec. 17, this section was submitted in Prop. 12 in place of the section proposed by Stats. 1999, Ch. 461.)