BILL NUMBER: AB 2185	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2014

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

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add Section  29001.5 to the Food and
Agricultural   1745.2 to the Fish and Game  Code,
relating to bees.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2185, as amended, Eggman. Bees:  foraging: 
 apiculture:  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 that owns, leases, controls, or occupies the
land, as specified.
   This bill would  declare it a policy of the state that
  require  the Department of Fish and Wildlife
 and the Department of Transportation shall encourage
  to consider permitting  apiculture on 
the lands that those departments respectively manage.  
department-managed wildlife areas.  The bill would 
require those departments, if   require the department,
when  developing or amending  its  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  
management plans, to make certain determinations  relating to
the use of the  lands   department-managed
wildlife areas  for apiculture. The bill would  require
the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to the extent possible, to
assist in these efforts.   authorize the department to
consult with specified entities for permitting apiculture on
department-managed wildlife areas consistent with the respective
management goals and objectives for those areas, and would provide
for the deposit of use or permit fees for apiculture on
department-managed wildlife areas. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 1745.2 is added to the 
 Fish and Game Code   , to read:  
   1745.2.  (a) The department shall do both of the following:
   (1) Consider permitting apiculture on department-managed wildlife
areas, where deemed appropriate by the department.
   (2) Determine, when developing or amending its land management
plans, the following:
   (A) If the department-managed wildlife areas, or any portion of
the those areas, are suitable for apiculture and whether apiculture
is consistent with the management goals and objectives for those
areas on a temporary, seasonal, or long-term basis.
   (B) If the administration of apiculture on department-managed
wildlife areas, where deemed appropriate by the department, is
meeting the management goals and objectives for those areas.
   (C) The appropriate use or permit fee to be assessed for
conducting apiculture on department-managed wildlife areas.
   (b) The department, in implementing this section, may consult with
apiculture experts, including, but not limited to, the Department of
Food and Agriculture, the University of California, other academic
or professional experts, and interested stakeholders, for permitting
apiculture on department-managed wildlife areas consistent with the
respective management goals and objectives for those areas.
   (c) Moneys collected for conducting apiculture on
department-managed wildlife areas pursuant to subparagraph (C) of
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be deposited by the department
into the Wildlife Restoration Fund and, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, be used to support the management, maintenance,
restoration, and operation of department-managed wildlife areas.
 
  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.