BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1867 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 1867 (Patterson) - As Amended: April 22, 2014 Policy Committee: Natural ResourcesVote:7-1 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill authorizes the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) to exempt some or all requirements of the Forest Practices Act to allow the cutting or removal of trees to reduce flammable materials and create defensible space. Specifically, this bill extends the exemption that allows vegetation clearing from a radius of 150 feet to 300 feet of habitable structures. FISCAL EFFECT Negligible, if any state costs for the Board to provide COMMENTS 1)Background and Rationale. The Forest Practices Act prohibits timber operations unless a timber harvest plan (THP) is prepared by a registered professional forester and approved by the Director of CALFIRE or the Board. The Board allows an exemption from the Act for defensible space timber operations conducted not more than 150 feet on each side from an approved and legally permitted structure under specified conditions and protections. The vegetation surrounding a building or structure can fuel fires. Defensible space increases the likelihood of a structure surviving a wildfire and allows firefighters to protect buildings without unacceptable risks to their safety. This bill extends the 150 foot defensible space THP exemption for habitable structures from 150 to 300 feet. AB 1867 Page 2 Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081