BILL NUMBER: AB 2185	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eggman
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Wolk)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add Section  29046.5   29001.5
 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to bees.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2185, as amended, Eggman. Bees: foraging:  public
  state-owned  lands.
   Existing law prohibits a person from locating or maintaining an
apiary on any public land without the expressed oral or written
approval of the entity  which   that  owns,
leases, controls, or occupies the land, as specified.
   This bill would  require a public entity, on public lands
it owns, leases, controls, or occupies, to designate areas that may
be used for a person to locate or maintain an apiary for purposes of
bee foraging. The bill would also make findings and declarations
related to bee foraging. By requiring local public entities to
designate these areas, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program   declare it a policy of the state that the
Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Transportation
shall encourage apiculture on the lands that those departments
respectively manage. The bill would require those departments, if
developing or amending land use plans or with respect to lands that
are idle or through which a right-of-way has been granted, to take
certain actions relating to the use of the lands for apiculture. The
bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to the
extent possible, to assist in these efforts  . 
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes   no  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:  
   (a) The honeybee industry is under tremendous pressures due to
multiple challenges, including, but not limited to, parasitic mites,
poor nutrition, lack of diverse forage, changing environments due to
long distance hauls, and native and manmade toxins.  
   (b) A viable and productive honeybee industry is dependent on
access to private and public lands to secure nectar and pollen
resources for nutritional foraging opportunities.  
   (c) There is a need for a streamlined and efficient administrative
method to provide access to public lands for California beekeepers
to ensure that they have adequate foraging grounds for their bees.
 
   (d) The Legislature recognizes the importance of the honeybee
industry in helping to ensure food security, boost regional jobs, and
support the state's multibillion dollar agricultural industry.
Accordingly, the Legislature seeks to encourage and support bee
foraging on public lands. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 29001.5 is added to the  
Food and Agricultural Code   , to read:  
   29001.5.  (a) It is the policy of the state that the Department of
Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Transportation shall
encourage apiculture on the lands that those departments respectively
manage. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of
Transportation, if developing or amending land use plans or with
respect to lands that are idle or through which a right-of-way has
been granted, shall do all of the following:
   (1) Maximize the coexistence and minimize the conflict between
apiculture and other public land uses, values, and public safety.
   (2) Establish an efficient, effective, and uniform system for the
management and administration of apiculture on public lands.
   (3) Ensure that the state receives an appropriate financial return
from the use of a public resource.
   (b) The secretary shall assist, to the extent possible, in the
efforts of these departments to accomplish apiculture access on their
respective state-owned lands.  
  SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares
all of the following:
   (a) Bee foraging on public lands is an important element for the
increase of native plants.
   (b) Bee foraging can enhance the goals of a public agency's land
management plans.
   (c) Bee foraging will enhance existing plant communities.
 
  SEC. 2.    Section 29046.5 is added to the Food
and Agricultural Code, to read:
   29046.5.  A public entity, on public lands it owns, leases,
controls, or occupies, shall designate areas that may be used for a
person to locate or maintain an apiary for purposes of bee foraging.
 
  SEC. 3.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.