BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 862 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 862 (Committee on Agriculture) - As Amended April 21, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Agriculture |Vote:|9 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill makes various technical, conforming, and minor changes to the Food and Agriculture Code relating to the Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA). FISCAL EFFECT: Minor and absorbable administrative costs to DFA. COMMENTS: AB 862 Page 2 Purpose. This bill makes the following changes: 1)Specifies DFA may not reproduce or distribute biological control organisms without determining there is no detrimental impact to the "environment," as well as public health and safety, as currently required. The authors believe that while natural predatory insects are valuable, it is imperative the introduction of those insects does not harm native plants and animals, human health and safety, or the environment. 2)Clarifies DFA may provide for the issuance and renewal of licenses, certificates of registration, or other indicia of authority by any division, office, or other entity within DFA. 3)Clarifies DFA may develop nonstate funding to augment budget programs for county sealers in addition to county agricultural commissioners and weights and measures. The authors assert that while the commissioner and sealer are the same in many counties, there are two distinct licenses, and therefore both licenses need to be identified in the statute. Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 862 Page 3