The California Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to make it easier for nonprofit groups to take over operation of state parks that may have to close due to budget cuts, the Associated Press says.

State parks officials said last week that a $33-million cut in their agency’s budget would force the shutdown of 70 of California’s 278 state parks, beaches, and historic areas next year.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would ease legislative and bureaucratic hurdles that complicate the process of collaborating with a nonprofit to run a state park.

Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, said partnerships with nonprofits “would be an important short-term step” in preserving threatened parks and that the foundation has “been hearing from organizations that are very interested” in running various facilities.