BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 300
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
300 (Alejo)
As Amended May 28, 2015
Majority vote
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|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 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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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
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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
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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
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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