BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 300 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 300 (Alejo) As Amended May 28, 2015 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------- |Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------| |Natural |8-0 |Williams, Cristina | | |Resources | |Garcia, Hadley, | | | | |Harper, Mark Stone, | | | | |McCarty, Rendon, | | | | |Wood | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------| |Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | | | | |Bonta, Calderon, | | | | |Chang, Daly, | | | | |Eggman, Gallagher, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Eduardo Garcia, | | | | |Gordon, Holden, | | | | |Jones, Quirk, | | | | |Rendon, Wagner, | | | | |Weber, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- AB 300 Page 2 SUMMARY: Establishes an Algal Bloom Task Force to review the risks and negative impacts of toxic algal blooms and make recommendations on funding, prevention, and long-term mitigation. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires the SWRCB, until January 1, 2019, to establish the Algal Bloom Task Force or augment an existing task force comprised of a representative of the following: a) State Department of Public Health (DPH); b) Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW); c) Food and Agriculture; d) State Coastal Conservancy (SCC); e) Other relevant agency representatives. 2)Requires the Task Force to: a) Assess and prioritize the actions and research necessary to develop measures that prevent or mitigate toxic algal blooms in the waters of the state; b) consider linked impacts of toxic algal blooms; c) Provide funding recommendations from proposals submitted by universities, local governments and nonprofits organizations for applied research, projects, and programs that will contribute to the development of prevention strategies and sustainable mitigation actions to address toxic blooms of cyanotoxins and microcystin pollution in the waters of the state; AB 300 Page 3 d) Review the risks and negative impacts of toxic algal blooms on humans, wildlife, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems and develop recommendations for prevention and long-term mitigation; e) Develop and submit recommendations by January 1, 2017, to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency that provide guidance on what type of programs or state resources will be required to prevent damaging toxic algal blooms in the waters of the state over time. 3)Authorizes SCC, DFW, Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), or any of them, to provide grants, upon appropriation, for applied research, projects, and programs recommended by the Task Force from the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account, Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1), or from other appropriate funds. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee: 1)Unknown cost pressures potentially in the millions of dollars to implement the task force recommendations. 2)Increased administrative costs in the range of $200,000 for SWRCB to convene the task force, conduct research and public outreach, and finalize recommendations (General Fund or special fund). One-time costs in the $150,000 range to meet the reporting requirements. AB 300 Page 4 3)Increased administrative costs for DFW to participate in the task force. 4)Minor, absorbable costs for DPH, SCC, and CDFA. 5)Unknown, likely minor, costs for any other agencies included on the task force. COMMENTS: 1)Harmful Algal Blooms. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are a form of bacteria. These algae are thought to be among the first life forms on Earth. The majority of freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) reported in the United States and worldwide are due to one group of algae, cyanobacteria. HABs have been detected in many water bodies throughout the state. Elevated nutrients in water bodies can contribute to HABs. Significant sources of nutrient loads include urban runoff, wastewater treatment plants, fertilizer/manure applications, livestock, septic systems, natural background and atmospheric deposition, and groundwater inflow into streams and lakes. DPH and various county health departments have documented cases of dog fatalities throughout the state from HABs. In addition, HABs have been implicated in the deaths of southern sea otters in central California. Humans have also experienced illness from exposure. 2)CyanoHAB Network (CCHAB). CCHAB, formally known as the statewide Blue Green Algae Public Working Group, has a diverse membership including the SWRCB, regional water quality boards, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, DFW, DPH, and the Department of Water Resources. It also includes federal agencies, tribal governments, county agencies, cities, academics, researchers, and utilities. CCHAB has conducted AB 300 Page 5 investigations, supported research, and funded planning and pilot projects to address HABs. This bill allows the SWRCB to augment this or any other existing task force or network to accomplish the requirements of the bill. Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0000821