BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1528


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          Date of Hearing:  April 28, 2015


                  ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE


                                 Marc Levine, Chair


          AB 1528  
          (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife) - As Introduced March  
          18, 2015


          SUBJECT:  Public resources


          SUMMARY:  Makes conforming and other nonsubstantive changes to  
          the Public Resources Code, and names the lace lichen as the  
          official state lichen.  Specifically, this bill:


          1)Corrects several out-of-date references to the former  
            Department of Boating and Waterways and eliminates an obsolete  
            code provision relating to an expired concession contract at  
            the Columbia Historic State Park.


          2)Names the lace lichen as the official state lichen. 


          EXISTING LAW: 


          1)Establishes the Division of Boating and Waterways within the  
            Department of Parks & Recreation.  The Division assumed the  
            duties of the prior Department of Boating and Waterways which  
            was eliminated as a result of state reorganization.









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          2)Establishes and designates a number of official state emblems,  
            including but not limited to, a state flower, tree, butterfly,  
            reptile, amphibian, animal, fish, rock, grass, mineral,  
            gemstone, marine mammal, fossil, and prehistoric artifact.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  None; this bill is tagged non-fiscal.


          COMMENTS:  This bill would correct out-of-date references to the  
          prior Department of Boating and Waterways in the Public  
          Resources Code, and eliminate other obsolete code provisions.   
          The Public Resources Code establishes the Division of Boating  
          and Waterways within the Department of Parks & Recreation.  This  
          division used to be a separate stand-alone department, but a  
          state reorganization process eliminated the Department of  
          Boating and Waterways and transferred the responsibilities of  
          the prior department to the new Division of boating and  
          waterways within the Department of Parks & Recreation.


          This bill also names the Lace Lichen, Ramalina menziesii, as the  
          official state lichen.  Currently, the state does not designate  
          a state lichen, but does have a number of other official state  
          emblems, as described above.  Lichens are unique organisms that  
          consist of both a fungus and an algae living together in a  
          symbiotic relationship.  Lichens are important for both wildlife  
          and people.  Lichens are a food source for many animals.  They  
          also have antibacterial properties and have been used  
          medicinally for thousands of years.  The lace lichen is being  
          recommended as the official state lichen because it is a native  
          lichen that is commonly found throughout much of California.  


          Support Arguments:  The California Lichen Society supports the  
          provision in this bill which would designate the lace lichen as  
          the official state lichen.  They note that doing so will help to  
          promote appreciation, education and study of lichens, and the  








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          important role they play in our natural environment.  The  
          Society indicates that the lace lichen is a good representative  
          of the lichen family to be named the state lichen, because it is  
          a beautiful native lichen that is commonly found throughout much  
          of California.  Lichens are excellent examples of symbiosis, in  
          which two organisms are dependent on each other.  Lichens are  
          tough and adaptable, and occur in diverse areas of both moderate  
          and extreme climate.  They are also actively being used as  
          biological indicators of air quality and climate change around  
          the world including in California.  


          Opposition Arguments:  None received.


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          California Lichen Society




          Opposition


          None on file.




          Analysis Prepared by:Diane Colborn / W., P., & W. / (916)  
          319-2096









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