BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 875
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 24, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 875 (Chesbro) - As Amended:  April 22, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              Natural  
          ResourcesVote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY
           
          This bill creates two watershed pilot projects with the primary  
          goal of improving the state's collection, organization,  
          management, use, and distribution of vital forestry-related  
          information.  

          This bill also gives funding priority to the existing coastal  
          salmon and steelhead fishery protection grant program.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Increased Costs to the Department of Conservation of up to  
            $250,000 for staff geologists.

          2)Minor costs to Calfire of up to $50,000 to administer the  
            pilot programs.

          3)Potential redirection of grant funds in the coastal salmon and  
            steelhead fishery protection grant program. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose and Background.   According to the author, the pilot  
            projects will determine ways to centralize vital forestry data  
            and standardize information.  The pilot projects will inform  
            the state on how to develop a centralized forest database that  
            will help evaluate cumulative environmental impacts and  
            determine appropriate post-harvest monitoring procedures.

            Last year, AB 1492 (Blumenfield, 2012) established a one  
            percent assessment on lumber products sold in the state.  The  








                                                                  AB 875
                                                                  Page  2

            primary purpose of this assessment is to ensure sustainable  
            funding for the state's forest practice program.  In addition,  
            AB 1492 allows a portion of the additional revenues from the  
            lumber assessment to go toward existing restoration grants.     


            This bill gives priority to the existing coastal salmon and  
            steelhead fishery protection program 

           2)Stakeholder Group.  In December 2011, the author and  
            Assemblymember Dickinson convened a  multi-stakeholder timber  
            harvest working group to discuss various ways to address  
            timber harvesting issues in the state.  The working group held  
            18 meetings.  This bill   includes provisions suggested by  
            members of the working group.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081