Ed. Code, § 20080

The endowment shall undertake a comprehensive survey of the state of cultural and historical preservation, accessibility, and interpretation in California. In conducting the survey, the endowment shall coordinate with existing state agencies, including the California Arts Council and the Secretary of State. The report shall include all of the following:

(a) A survey of elements in California’s existing assemblage of buildings, sites, artifacts, museums, cultural landscapes, trails, illustrations, the arts and artistic expressions, written materials, and displays and interpretive centers that are missing or underrepresented, such as if current facilities, materials, and services leave out, misrepresent, or inadequately present some important thread of the story of California as a unified society or of the many groups of people that together comprise historic and modern California.

(b) Recommendations for steps that should be taken to fill in the missing or underrepresented elements identified in subdivision (a).

(c) Recommendations for the manner of transferring the Office of Historic Preservation in the Department of Parks and Recreation to the endowment, consistent with the Legislature’s intent expressed in Section 20052.5.

(d) Recommendations for additional steps that should be taken to better preserve and administer cultural and historic resources efficiently and effectively, including additional actions that should be taken to improve the governmental structures responsible for historic and cultural preservation in California, including oversight and support of museums. In particular, the endowment shall examine the feasibility and desirability of establishing the endowment as a separate institution in state government, without ties to any existing agency or department, although under the general authority of the Governor. The endowment shall also identify the most appropriate chair, or the most appropriate method for selecting the chair, of its board.

(e) A survey of the capacities and fiscal conditions of public, nonprofit, and other private entities in California that provide cultural and historical facilities and services, including museums.

(f) Recommendations for the future financing of cultural and historical programs provided by public agencies and nonprofit agencies in California, including museums.

(g) Recommendations for programs to encourage the historic maintenance and restoration of properties in private ownership, including, but not limited to, a state tax credit for restoration of historic properties that maintain historic integrity, property tax deferral as long as a property’s historic integrity is maintained, and low interest loans.

(h) A study of the economic impact of the preservation and interpretation of cultural and historic resources in the state. This should include the economic benefits resulting from the preservation of historic commercial and residential properties and sites, and from historic and cultural tourism activities.