BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1886
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Date of Hearing: April 25, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1886 (Chesbro) - As Amended: April 11, 2012
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 8-4
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill adds to the duties of the aquaculture coordinator and
temporarily increases regulatory fees on the state's aquaculture
operators. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) aquaculture
coordinator to coordinate with the Aquaculture Development
Committee-an existing committee of industry representatives,
state regulators and other stakeholders.
2)Increases, from $549 to $800, the base fee for registering an
aquaculture operation, and from $275 to $500, the base fee for
renewing such registration. (The current registration fee is
$736 and the current renewal fee is $372.25, after adjusting
both fees for inflation.)
3)Increases, from $412 to $600, the base registration surcharge
paid by aquaculture facilities with gross annual sales
exceeding $25,000. (The current surcharge is $554.25, after
adjusting for inflation.)
4)Increases, from $50 to $150, the base penalty for engaging in
aquaculture with paying registration or renewal fees. (The
current penalty fee is $67.47, after adjusting for inflation.)
5)Sunsets all fee, surcharge and penalty base increases as of
January 1, 2018, reverting them to their current bases.
6)Limits the use of revenue from aquaculture charges to the cost
to administer and enforce DFG's aquaculture program.
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7)Requires DFG to report, on or before February 1, 2017, to the
Legislature on the use of aquaculture program revenues and on
recommendations for the program.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Annual revenue increase of approximately $25,000 resulting
from increased fee and surcharge amounts paid by the state's
approximately 145 aquaculture operators with gross annual
sales greater than $25,000. (Fish and Game Preservation Fund
(FGPF).)
2)Absorbable annual costs to DFG for its aquaculture coordinator
to coordinate with the Aquaculture Development Committee.
(FGPF.)
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The California Aquaculture Association (sponsor)
intends this bill to increase funding available to DFG's
aquaculture coordinator so that the coordinator may better
regulate and permit the aquaculture industry.
2)Background. DFG regulates aquaculture operations and issues
permits for them. Existing law requires aquaculture operators
to register annually with DFG and provides for registration
fees to cover DFG's regulatory and permitting costs.
DFG's aquaculture coordinator works with industry to help
ensure industry participants comply with regulatory
compliance. The coordinator position currently is vacant.
Industry has complained that DFG has not used aquaculture fee
revenue efficiently or effectively; as a result, permitting
and other administrative duties critical to aquaculture
operations have lagged. DFG describes its aquaculture program
as chronically underfunded. While the department views as
beneficial the increased revenue that would result from this
bill, it concludes the amount would, nonetheless, be
insufficient to provide adequate program funding.
DFG notes that the bill limits the department's use of revenue
from aquaculture charges to the cost to administer and enforce
DFG's aquaculture program. DFG complains this restriction
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would prevent the department from funding important
aquaculture-related activities, such as research and
educational outreach.
3)Support. This bill is supported by the California Aquaculture
Association and other industry organizations.
4)There is no registered opposition to this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081