BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



          
           AB 291
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 291 (Saldana)
          As Amended  August 20, 2010
          Majority vote
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |ASSEMBLY:  |     |(May 28, 2009)  |SENATE: |32-0 |(August 27,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2010)          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
               (vote not relevant)

          Original Committee Reference:    NAT. RES.  

           SUMMARY  :  Revises the prescribed dimensions of wire lobster  
          traps, and adds provisions relating to the use of wire to hold  
          the escape gap in place.

           The Senate amendments  delete the Assembly version of this bill,  
          and instead:

          1)Modify the size requirements for the wire mesh that is used to  
            construct lobster traps and the measurements of the escape  
            gap.

          2)Allow wire to be used to hold the escape gap in place that  
            reduces the measurements of the escape gap if specified  
            requirements are met regarding the diameter, placement and  
            wrapping of the wire.

           EXISTING LAW  prescribes the construction and dimensions of a  
          wire lobster trap.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill prohibited the California  
          Coastal Commission from acting on a coastal development permit  
          application for development on any property subject to a  
          violation of the Coastal Act.

           FISCAL EFFECT :  None

           COMMENTS  :  This bill was substantially amended in the Senate and  
          the Assembly-approved provisions of this bill were deleted.   
          However, language virtually identical to the provisions of this  
          bill as now amended were previously contained in another  
          vehicle, AB 408 (Saldana), which was heard in the Assembly  








          
           AB 291
                                                                  Page  2

          Water, Parks & Wildlife and Assembly Appropriations Committees  
          earlier this year and passed by this Assembly on January 27,  
          2010.

          According to the author, this bill is necessary to bring state  
          law up to date with modern manufactured wire product used in  
          lobster traps.  Current law contains outdated requirements for  
          lobster traps, specifically for escape ports that allow  
          undersized lobsters to escape and the wire that is used to  
          construct traps.  This bill is needed to ensure that lobster  
          fishermen are not out of compliance, and was developed in  
          collaboration with the California Lobster & Trap Fisherman's  
          Association and the enforcement division of the Department of  
          Fish and Game.


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


                                                               FN: 0006603