BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2185 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 2185 (Eggman) As Amended August 19, 2014 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 27, 2014) |SENATE: |32-0 |(August 21, | | | | | | |2014) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: AGRI. SUMMARY : Directs the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to encourage apiculture (beekeeping) on wildlife lands the department manages when developing or amending wildlife lands use plans; requires DFW to maximize the coexistence and minimize the conflict between beekeeping and other public land uses and ensure the state receives appropriate compensation for the use of state-owned lands. The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version, insert similar language into a different code, and make the following changes: 1)Rewrites Assembly language into a new section in the Fish and Game Code, deleting the Food and Agricultural Code. 2)Deletes requirement to have the California Department of Transportation make available lands for beekeeping. 3)Limits beekeeping to DFW's managed wildlife lands. 4)Makes technical and clarifying changes. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill has minor and absorbable costs from the Wildlife Restoration Fund (special) to DFW to consider and potentially permit apiculture use on wildlife areas; has unknown, but likely minor, revenue increases to the special fund for private use of a public lands; and, unknown liability costs to the state. COMMENTS : The Assembly Agriculture Committee and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, held a joint informational hearing on bees in October 2013. Bees are essential for the AB 2185 Page 2 pollination of many native plants, as well as commercial crops. Testimony presented at that hearing emphasized that additional foraging lands is a principal need for bees, to assist in keeping a healthy colony population in California. This bill is an effort to create more foraging opportunities for California beekeepers by requiring DFW to consider permitting beekeeping on their managed wildlife lands. The author's objective is to provide beekeepers access to state lands for the purpose of bee foraging. Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0005029