BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2483


                                                                    Page  1





          Date of Hearing:   April 27, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                               Lorena Gonzalez, Chair


          AB  
          2483 (Committee on Agriculture) - As Introduced February 19,  
          2016


           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Policy       |Agriculture                    |Vote:|10 - 0       |
          |Committee:   |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
          |             |                               |     |             |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 


          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill changes the number of meetings required for the  
          Livestock Identification Advisory Board (LIAB) from at least  
          once every three months to at least twice in every calendar  
          year. 


          FISCAL EFFECT:








                                                                    AB 2483


                                                                    Page  2







          Possible minor cost savings to the Bureau of Livestock  
          Identification (BLI) due to reduced reimbursable travel expenses  
          for board members (Department of Food and Agriculture Fund). 


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose and background. BLI is a division within the  
            California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) that is  
            responsible for the state's brand registration and inspection  
            program. This program aims to protect cattle owners in  
            California against the loss of animals by theft, straying, or  
            misappropriation. The program is financed through brand  
            registration and inspection fees paid by the cattle owners.  
            The LIAB makes recommendation to the Secretary of CDFA and to  
            the Chief of BLI on a number of matters, including: 


             a)   Ways to improve and change the administration and  
               enforcement of hide and brand laws and regulations;


             b)   BLI procedures;


             c)   Curbing livestock thefts;


             d)   The annual BLI budget;


             e)   Legislation that affects BLI. 


            LIAB members adopted a resolution at their January 7, 2016  
            meeting requesting a change be made to the frequency of  








                                                                    AB 2483


                                                                    Page  3





            meetings. Members believe two meetings each calendar year are  
            sufficient to address LIAB business.





          Analysis Prepared by:Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081