BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2555 Page 1 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Water, Parks and Wildlife |Vote:|13 - 1 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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