BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                AB 1540
                                                                Page  1

        CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
        AB 1540 (Buchanan)
        As Amended  July 5, 2012
        Majority vote
         
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        |ASSEMBLY:  |73-0 |(April 30,      |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 6,     |
        |           |     |2012)           |        |     |2012)          |
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         Original Committee Reference:    W., P. & W.

        SUMMARY  :  Designates the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) 
        as the lead agency in treating and controlling South American 
        spongeplant (Limnobium laevigatum).  

        The Senate amendments make minor, technical changes to the bill.
         
        EXISTING LAW  :
         
         1)Designates DBW as the lead agency for the state in controlling 
          water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Brazilian elodea (Egeria 
          densa) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, its tributaries and 
          the Suisun Marsh.


        2)Requires up to $5,000 per year of the funds available for 
          expenditure by the Department of Fish and Game to implement 
          invasive plant control activities to be paid from the Harbors and 
          Watercraft Revolving Fund.


        3)Establishes that whenever any control program is proposed to occur 
          in Rock Slough, DBW and the Contra Costa Water District shall 
          develop a memorandum of understanding establishing the parameters 
          of the control program, with certain exceptions. 


         AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill:

        1)Added the South American spongeplant (spongeplant) to the list of 
          invasive plant species for which DBW serves as the state lead 
          agency in treatment and control in the Delta, its tributaries, and 
          the Suisun marsh.









                                                                AB 1540
                                                                Page  2


        2)Authorized DBW, other state agencies, cities, counties and 
          districts to cooperate with one another and with agencies of the 
          United States in controlling spongeplant and to furnish money, 
          services, equipment and other property for that purpose.
         
        FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, 
        pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.  

        COMMENTS  :  The Senate amendments delete a finding that water 
        hyacinth and Brazilian elodea are the only aquatic invasive weeds 
        that are authorized for treatment in the Delta. 
         

        Analysis prepared by  :  Mandy Arens / W., P. & W. / (916) 319-2096    
                                                          


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