BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2402 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 2402 (Buchanan) As Amended May 23, 2014 Majority vote AGRICULTURE 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Eggman, Olsen, Skinner, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow, | | |Dahle, Pan, Quirk, Yamada | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian | | | | |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, | | | | |Gomez, Holden, Jones, | | | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, | | | | |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner, | | | | |Weber | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Makes technical changes updating the legislative findings of the Noxious Weed Management (NWM) statutes; makes changes to the distribution of NWM account funds, increasing the percentage allocated to research, risk assessment, and control strategies; and, expands how some program funds may be used. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, insignificant costs to administer the fund allocation changes. COMMENTS : The NWM program began in 1999 with a $200,000 annual, three year appropriation. In 2000, another $5 million was appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to fund NWM project grants. Since its creation, $16.1 million in private funding and resources have matched the $5.6 million appropriated state dollars. No additional funds have been appropriated since 2000, and the grant funds having been spent several years ago, thereby causing the NWM program to be idled and California Department of Food and Agriculture to reduce staff levels. Noxious and invasive weeds disrupt native ecosystems, crops and pastures, costing not only private landowners but the public as well. With the program being idle, noxious and invasive weeds have been allowed to expand without needed controls. Farmers and ranchers see weeds as a plant in competition for water with their plantings and forage. In drought years, the elimination AB 2402 Page 2 of competitors for water is an even more important issue. The NWM program has had nearly a three to one private dollars match to state dollars, which is a very good return on a state investment. This NWM program has been beneficial to our ecology and economy by eliminating problem noxious and invasive weeds, and there are likely some long term cost savings if the program is funded, or contrarily, increased long term costs to the environment and taxpayers if the program remains idle. See policy committee analysis for more details and specifics. Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0003663