BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: AB 751 Hearing Date: 6/30/15 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Cooper | |-----------+-----------------------------------------------------| |Version: |2/25/15 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No | Fiscal: |Yes | ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:|Anne Megaro | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Vertebrate pest control research: repeal extension SUMMARY : This bill would extend the repeal date for provisions relating to vertebrate pest control from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2026. BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW : The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is required to establish a vertebrate pest control research program to investigate effective and economical alternative methods for the control of vertebrate pests. The program cooperates with the United States Department of Agriculture to fund research programs to maintain, develop, and register vertebrate pest control products used in California. Vertebrate pest control materials registered by CDFA may only be sold or distributed by a county agricultural commissioner (Food and Agricultural Code § 6025 et seq.). Rodents and other vertebrate pests cause millions of dollars of damage to California agricultural crops every year, and these pests are known to carry diseases that may be spread to livestock, other animals, or humans. Pest control efforts help to mitigate crop damage and the spread of diseases, and new controls are continuously researched to find alternative methods and materials that are humane, effective, and economical. Existing law: AB 751 (Cooper) Page 2 of ? 1) Requires CDFA to establish a research program on the control of vertebrate pests that pose a significant threat to the welfare of the state's agricultural economy, infrastructure, and the public. (Food and Agricultural Code §6025.5). 2) Requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) to annually recommend priorities and costs for conducting various vertebrate pest control research projects. 3) Requires county agricultural commissioners to pay to CDFA a maximum assessment fee of $0.50 per pound of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied by the county. The maximum may be increased to $1 after consultation with VPCRAC. 4) Limits expenditure of funds to reasonable administrative and operational expenses, federal and state regulatory fees for material registration, basic and applied research, and educational outreach. 5) Repeals provisions relating to vertebrate pest control on January 1, 2016. 6) Authorizes the use of carbon monoxide (CO) for the control of burrowing rodent pests, provided that proper warning labels are visible, permanently affixed, and compliant with existing laws and regulations. This code section has a sunset date of January 1, 2018, which is different than the sunset date for the remaining provisions in this article (Food and Agricultural Code §6025.4). PROPOSED LAW : This bill: 1) Extends the repeal date for provisions relating to vertebrate pest control from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2026. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, "Each year rodents such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and rats along with coyotes, birds AB 751 (Cooper) Page 3 of ? and other animals cause millions of dollars of damage to California's agriculture, infrastructure, and public health. Farmers, park managers, foresters, and others, including homeowners, use an integrated approach to deal with these important and frequently devastating pest problems. To address serious vertebrate pest problems in the State, rodenticide baits are sold by county agricultural commissioner's offices. These materials are essential for farmers, resource managers, public health agents and others to deal with the many vertebrate pest problems throughout the state." COMMENTS : Sunset Date. The sunset dates for these provisions have been extended several times since their enactment in 1990, and this bill marks the third extension within 15 years. Given that these provisions fund research projects, the committee may wish to consider if the sunset date should be repealed and provisions made permanent, thus providing stability to multi-year research projects. RELATED LEGISLATION : SB 1332 (Wolk), Chapter 257, Statutes of 2014. Authorizes the director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to adopt and enforce regulations that provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of carbon monoxide pest control devices. AB 634 (Huber), Chapter 407, Statutes of 2011. Allows the use of carbon monoxide to control burrowing vertebrate pests. SB 872 (Denham/Florez), Chapter 176, Statutes of 2005. Extends the repeal date for provisions relating to vertebrate pest control from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2016. This bill also defines "research," limits fund expenditures as specified, and makes other technical changes. AB 2071 (Briggs), Chapter 338, Statutes of 2000. Among other provisions, extends the repeal date for provisions relating to vertebrate pest control from January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2006. PRIOR ACTIONS : AB 751 (Cooper) Page 4 of ? ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Assembly Floor: |80 - 0 | |--------------------------------------+---------------------------| |Assembly Appropriations Committee: |17 - 0 | |--------------------------------------+---------------------------| |Assembly Agriculture Committee: |10 - 0 | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUPPORT : California Alfalfa & Forage Association California Citrus Mutual California Farm Bureau Federation California Fresh Fruit Association OPPOSITION : None received -- END --