BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2755
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2755 (Gallagher)
As Amended April 11, 2016
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Agriculture |9-0 |Dodd, Mathis, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Gray, | |
| | |Irwin, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Quirk, | |
| | |Salas | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Judiciary |10-0 |Mark Stone, Wagner, | |
| | |Alejo, Chau, Chiu, | |
| | |Gallagher, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Cristina Garcia, | |
| | |Holden, Maienschein, | |
| | |Ting | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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AB 2755
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SUMMARY: Would provide increased civil penalties for the
knowing and willful destruction or thefts of beehives of three
times the value of the beehives and bees, plus compensation for
time and money replacing the bees.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Creates the Apiary Protection Act, which regulates bee
management and beekeepers and provides various enforcement and
penalty provisions for violating the act.
2)Allows for specific civil penalties for loss or damage to
property in numerous instances.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: California has the largest beekeeping industry of any
state in the nation. Nearly three-quarters of the country's
documented commercial honeybee crop pollination is conducted in
California, adding over $6 billion to the value of California
agricultural products. Nearly 500,000 colonies of bees are
operated by 400 commercial and semi-commercial beekeepers. The
state is also the leader in honey production.
The bee population has been decreasing due to Colony Collapse
Disorder and other factors associated with a lack of adequate
bee forage. This decline has increased the costs of
pollination. At the peak of the California pollination season
beehive rental can reach almost $200 per hive, which is five
time the cost of beehive rentals from a decade ago.
AB 2755
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Recent news articles report the tightening of supply coincides
with an increased incidence of beehive thefts that is occurring
across the state. One beekeeper in Yuba City reported a loss of
beehives valued at $100,000, which includes both foregone
pollination income and the value of the hives. Since January 1,
2016, 1,734 hive thefts have been reported to the California
State Beekeepers Association.
This bill will provide for increased civil damages of three
times the value of bees that are stolen or damaged. Supporters
believe the increased civil penalties will dis-incentivize the
theft of bees and assist in restoring the losses of bee keepers.
Furthermore, supporters explain that this bill is not without
precedent, pointing out that current law provides cattle owners
with damages in the amount of four times the value of their
cattle in addition to money expended in pursuit of the cattle,
and livestock owners are eligible to receive twice the value of
livestock killed by dogs from the dog's owner.
There is no opposition on file.
Related Legislation: AB 2849 (Evans) of 2008 would have
provided for triple damages recoverable by a plaintiff in a
civil action for the wrongful taking, possessing, harboring, or
transporting of a beehive, for the wrongful removal of bees from
their beehive, or for the wrongful killing or destroying of
bees. AB 2849 was vetoed by the Governor.
Analysis Prepared by:
Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN:
0002795
AB 2755
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