State parks: Off-highway Motor Vehicle Recreation: grants: eligible applicants.

Senator Valladares proposes expanding eligibility for Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) grants to include special districts that employ sworn personnel, modifying California's existing framework for funding trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and enforcement activities.

The OHMVR grant program allocates funds across four categories: operation and maintenance (50%), restoration projects (25%), law enforcement (20%), and safety education (5%). Currently, cities, counties, federal agencies, Native American tribes, and certain nonprofits may apply for these grants. The addition of special districts with sworn personnel would allow these entities to compete for funding alongside existing eligible applicants.

Grant recipients must meet specific requirements, including environmental review compliance, matching fund contributions ranging from 10-25% of project costs, and participation in regular financial and performance audits. The program maintains an administrative appeal process for applicants to contest funding decisions, first through the division's deputy director and then through the director or appointee, before pursuing other legal remedies.

The Division of Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation oversees grant distribution through a competitive process, incorporating public input and requiring alignment with local, federal, and strategic recreation plans. All grants require final approval from the division director, with annual audits examining both financial compliance and performance metrics for at least 20% of recipients.