BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 215 (Huff)
Hearing Date: 05/26/2011 Amended: 04/26/2011
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: NR&W 8-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 215 extends the sunset of existing provisions
that prohibit the possession or importation to the state of
dreissenid mussels and give the Department of Fish and Game
authority to enforce the prohibition.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Dept. of Fish and Game $1,150 $2,300 $2,300 Special
*
Enforcement
Dept. of Food and $1,000 $2,000 $2,000 Special
*
Agriculture Enforcement
* Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
Dreissenid mussels (including zebra and quagga mussels) are
non-native species that have unintentionally been brought to
California from the Great Lakes region. These mussels breed very
quickly, have no predators in California waters, and can rapidly
colonize new areas. Once dreissenid mussels enter a water body,
they can quickly cover piers, boat launches, and water intake
facilities. There is no effective eradication method and the
cost to remove dreissenid mussels from water intake screens and
pipes could cost millions of dollars per year to the state's
water system operators.
Current law authorizes the Department of Fish and Game (or its
designee) to conduct inspections of vehicles and water bodies
SB 215 (Huff)
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and to order quarantines of infected water bodies. Current law
also requires water system operators to cooperate with the
Department to implement measures to prevent and eradicate
infestations. Water system operators are required to prepare and
implement control plans if mussels are detected. Current law
protects state agencies from liability for their efforts to
control dreissenid mussels and exempts the operators of water
delivery and storage facilities from liability from the spread
of dreissenid mussels, provided that they are in compliance with
a plan approved by the Department. These provisions of law
sunset on January 1, 2012.
SB 215 extends the sunset of these code sections until January
1, 2017.
The Department of Fish and Game currently spends $2.3 million
per year on activities relating to the control and eradication
of dreissenid mussels, including enforcement costs.
The Department of Food and Agriculture, under authority
designated by the Department of Fish and Game, spends $2 million
per year on enforcement activity relating to dreissenid mussels,
primarily inspecting boats at agricultural inspection stations.
By extending the Department of Fish and Game's authority, this
bill will authorize the continuation of those expenditures.
Staff notes that several other departments, including the
Departments of Boating and Waterways, Parks and Recreation, and
Water Resources are also spending money to prevent or address
existing dreissenid mussel infestations. Those costs are not
attributable to this bill, since they could continue under
separate authorities for each of those departments whether or
not this bill is enacted.