California Passes Bill To Establish Office Of Outdoor Recreation

Sep 6, 2018 RV Industry Association Staff

The RV Industry Association, along with other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, have called for governors in all 50 states to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation, and with the passage of Assembly Bill 1918, California will become the 12th state with an official office or task force to support outdoor recreation. Other states who have established outdoor recreation offices or task forces include: Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

AB 1918 establishes the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation (OREC). The OREC is tasked with fostering a positive outdoor recreation environment in California by promoting economic development and job growth; developing vital data on the impacts of outdoor recreation; recommending and coordinating policies to increase and enhance recreational activities and experiences; and serving as a central point of coordination for the growing outdoor recreation industry.

Outdoor recreation is a significant part of our American heritage but is also a pillar of our nation’s economy. As such, the RV Industry Association applauds the creation of OREC and the commitment California is making to support the continued growth of the outdoor recreation economy. RVers participate in many outdoor activities including, camping, hiking, biking, fishing, climbing, surfing, boating and snowsports. These same Californians depend on outdoor recreational opportunities for a happy and healthy lifestyle.

In 2018 the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported for the first time ever that outdoor recreation represents more than 2% of the domestic GDP and contributes $673 billion to the US economy. Even more significant, during the period of 2012 to 2016, outdoor recreation grew faster than the U.S. economy overall. In California, the RV industry has an economic impact of $4.7 billion and accounts for approximately 27,000 jobs. California is also the third biggest market for RVs.