BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2555
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Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2555 (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife) - As Introduced
February 19, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This omnibus committee bill extends the operative date on
several Fish and Game Code sections that will otherwise sunset
AB 2555
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at the end of this year. Specifically, this bill:
1)Extends provisions, until January 1, 2020, authorizing the
Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to develop and implement
a recovery strategy pilot program for coho salmon.
2)Extends provisions, until January 1, 2020, authorizing DFW to
conduct inspections and take other necessary actions to
prevent the spread of invasive dreissenid mussels in state
waters.
3)Repeals the sunset date on certain procedural provisions of
the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) enacted in 2013.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Any costs are absorbable within existing resources.
COMMENTS:
Purpose and Background. This noncontroversial committee bill
extends the sunset date on several sections of the Fish and Game
Code and repeals the sunset date on procedural provisions of
CESA.
Coho salmon are listed under CESA and continue to be threatened
with extinction, thus the need for continued recovery
strategies. This bill continues DFW's authority to develop and
implement recovery strategies.
AB 2555
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Dreissenid mussels are commonly referred to as Quagga and zebra
mussels and are highly invasive. Because these mussels
reproduce rapidly and feed on plankton, native fish are deprived
from their food source. Additionally, the mussels promote the
spread of toxic algae blooms. This bill extends DFW's existing
authority to conduct inspections and take other actions to
prevent the spread of this highly invasive species.
SB 749 (Wolk), Chapter 387, Statutes of 2013 made several
changes to clarify administrative procedural processes under
CESA. Although the changes were noncontroversial, a sunset
clause to ensure there were no unintended consequences. This
bill repeals the sunset.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081