Policies and Guidelines
NEW Cooperating Association Volunteer Pass
Cooperating associations provide a benefit to California State Parks and, with recent legislative intent, State Parks may now extend the same benefits offered to its volunteers, to cooperating association volunteers whose work supports the mission of California State Parks. Volunteers who work under the direction of a State Park Cooperating Association may be eligible to receive a statewide pass or district pass for service they completed in the prior year. A statewide pass may be earned by serving 200 hours or more per year, and a district pass may be earned based on the individual district’s minimum hours worked criteria. For more information, read the implementation memo and guidelines and view the DN 2019-01 Cooperating Association Volunteer Pass.
REVISED Annual Report Form for Cooperating Associations
The annual report form for cooperating associations (DPR 973) has been revised and is now available for online submission. Cooperating associations must submit the report to their Cooperating Association Liaison (CAL) within 15 days of closing the books and submitting reports to the IRS and FTB.
- DPR 973 Instructions (Revised May 2019)
- Register an association for online report submission (note, only one login per organization is allowed)
- Sample Annual Plan
- Examples of Revenue and Expenditure Classification
Department Operations Manual - Interpretation and Education Chapter
In March 2010, Interpretation and Education, (Chapter 9) of the Department Operations Manual was officially approved. This compendium of policies and guidelines provides direction for interpretation and related activities in California State Parks. The last section of the chapter, Cooperating Associations pages 58-69 details policies that Department employees will follow in relationships with cooperating associations. The Interpretation and Education chapter of DOM is available (along with other policy and guideline documents) at Program, Policies, and Handbooks.
Interim Guidelines
513 Implementation Guidelines 9-10-09.pdf
In 2008, SB 1127 amended Public Resources Code 513 to define cooperating association sales activity and expand such activities to include non-interpretive and non-educational sales and services typically provided by concessionaires. These guidelines have been formally approved will eventually be incorporated into policy and contract language.
Guidelines and Handbooks
Cooperating Association Program Manual (457 KB) (1992)
Intellectual Property Guidelines (2010)
Donor And Sponsorship Guidelines (10.07)
Brand Standards Handbook 01-07.pdf
Museum Collections Management (DOM 2000)
Cash Handling Handbook
Collections and Operations (Section A)
Accountability and Reconciliation (Section B)
Security and Audits (Section C)
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Department notices (DN), and forms:
Complimentary Passes
DN2019-01, Complimentary Passes.DOC
DPR employees may order passes via an
Accountable Documents Requisition form DPR145.xls
Special Events
DN90-05, Special Event Permit.DOC
Forms: Special Events Permit DPR246.xls and DPR246a.xls