Amended  IN  Assembly  May 25, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 04, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 2470

Introduced by Assembly Members Grayson and Gonzalez Fletcher

February 14, 2018

An act to add Division 37.5 (commencing with Section 72000) to the Public Resources Code, relating to invasive species.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2470, as amended, Grayson. Invasive species.
Existing law regulates the discharge of nonindigenous species into the waters of the state or into waters that may impact waters of the state, through ballast water management requirements.
This bill would establish the Invasive Species Council of California, composed as prescribed, to help coordinate a comprehensive effort to exclude prevent the introduction of invasive species in the state and to provide for the control or eradication of invasive species already established in the state. The bill would establish a California Invasive Species Advisory Committee to advise the council on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control or eradication, as well as minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. The bill would establish the Invasive Species Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the fund would be available for the purposes of funding invasive species projects. The bill would provide that upon appropriation by the Legislature, funding would be available to the University of California for invasive species research and outreach activities that are coordinated with the council and recommended by the committee.
Existing law designates the Department of Food and Agriculture as the lead department in noxious weed management and provides for the formation of a weed management area. Under existing law, a weed management area is a local organization that brings together all interested landowners, land managers, special districts, and the public in a county or other geographical area for the purpose of coordinating and combining their action and expertise to deal with their common weed control problems.
This bill would provide that, upon appropriation by the Legislature, funding would be available to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to be allocated to the Noxious Weed Management Account for projects for the control and abatement of noxious and invasive weeds.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Division 37.5 (commencing with Section 72000) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

DIVISION 37.5.  Invasive Species Council of California

72000.
 (a) There is in state government the Invasive Species Council of California. The purpose of the council is to help coordinate a comprehensive effort to exclude prevent the introduction of invasive species in California and to provide for the control or eradication of invasive species already established in the state. The council shall address nonnative organisms that cause economic or environmental harm. Invasive species within the scope of the council’s duties do not include humans, domestic livestock, or nonharmful exotic organisms.
(b) The council shall consist of the following six eight members:
(1) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture or his or her designated representative.
(2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or his or her designated representative.
(3) The Secretary for Environmental Protection or his or her designated representative.
(4) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designated representative.
(5) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services or his or her designated representative.
(6) The Director of Emergency Services or his or her designated representative.
(7) The Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or his or her designated representative.
(8) The Chair of the State Lands Commission or his or her designated representative.
(c) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designated representative, and the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, or his or her designee, shall serve as cochairpersons of the council.
(d) The council shall meet annually and as needed as determined by the cochairpersons.
(e) The council shall select an executive director and a liaison to further the purposes of this division.
(f) (1) The council shall review and approve a yearly progress report submitted by the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The council shall develop a final approved report in coordination with the committee through a public process. Once approved by the council, the final report shall be sent to the Legislature and available for public review. review and comment.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

72005.
 (a) There is in state government the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Invasive Species Council of California on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control or eradication, as well as minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause.
(b) The committee shall consist of the following 12 13 members:
(1) One appointee designated by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(2) One appointee designated by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
(3) One appointee designated by the Secretary for Environmental Protection.
(4) One appointee designated by the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designated representative.
(5) One appointee designated by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services or his or her designated representative.
(6) One appointee designated by the Director of Emergency Services or his or her designated representative.
(7) One appointee designated by the Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or his or her designated representative.
(8) One appointee designated by the Chair of the State Lands Commission or his or her designated representative.

(7)Five

(9) Four appointees selected by the Invasive Species Council of California cochairpersons to create a diverse makeup of federal, with demonstrated expertise on invasive species that shall include one representative each from a federal agency, nonprofit organization, tribal, industry, and other representatives. tribal government, and industry.

(8)

(10) One appointee designated by the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association.
(c) The committee shall meet quarterly and as needed as determined by the cochairpersons of the Invasive Species Council of California. The committee shall submit a yearly progress report to the council for review and approval.
(d) The committee may hold an annual California Invasive Species Summit to develop new recommendations and to coordinate invasive species activities.

72010.
 The Invasive Species Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Invasive Species Council of California for the purposes of funding invasive species projects that may include, but are not limited to, the following projects:
(a) Emergency and nonemergency rapid response and dedication activities, including, but not limited to, activities relating to invasive shot hole borer activity.
(b) Conducting comprehensive reports on the ecological, agricultural, and economic impacts of invasive species.
(c) Developing and maintaining statewide surveys and mapping of high-risk areas.
(d) Developing statewide education, outreach, and branding of invasive species.
(e) Increasing border inspections.
(f) Increasing coordination and collaboration amongst invasive species partners.
(g) Other invasive species activities recommended by the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee.

SEC. 2.

 (a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, funding shall be available to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to be allocated to the Noxious Weed Management Account established in Section 7271 of the Food and Agriculture Code for projects for the control and abatement of noxious and invasive weeds.
(b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, funding shall be available to the University of California for invasive species research and outreach activities that are coordinated with the Invasive Species Council of California and recommended by the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee. These funds shall be used to complement the research and outreach needs of the council and committee. For the purposes of this subdivision, research and outreach activities include, but are not limited to, trainings, events, educational materials, and online resources.