BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 896
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 896 (Eggman)
As Amended August 18, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(January 29, |SENATE: |28-3 |(August 22, |
| | |2014) | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: W., P. & W.
SUMMARY : Requires mosquito abatement and vector control
districts whose boundaries include wildlife management areas to
notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) of those areas
that are of concern due to the potential for high mosquito
populations, and requires the DFW to consult with local mosquito
abatement and vector control districts to identify those areas
within wildlife management areas having the highest need for
additional mosquito reduction through implementation of best
management practices.
The Senate amendments :
1)Move the legislative intent and findings and declarations to
uncodified language.
2)Require a mosquito abatement and vector control district to
notify DFW of those areas that are of concern due to the
potential for high mosquito populations that may incur
associated mosquito control costs, and strike language
regarding mosquito population thresholds.
3)Require DFW to consult with local mosquito abatement districts
to identify those areas within wildlife management areas
having the highest need for additional mosquito reduction
through implementation of best management practices. Delete
references to specific best management practices and mosquito
control plans, and existing DFW resources.
4)Delete requirements for mosquito abatement control districts
to consult with DFW on development of monitoring procedures
for mosquito surveillance in wildlife management and wetland
areas, to conduct posttreatment monitoring of wildlife
management areas, and to provide an annual report to DFW.
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5)Delete references in this bill to nonecological control of
mosquitos.
6)Expand the mosquito abatement and vector control districts to
which this bill applies to include, in addition to those
districts whose boundaries include a wildlife management area,
those districts in which vectors and vector borne diseases
from a wildlife management area may enter the district.
7)State that this bill does not affect existing authority of a
mosquito abatement and vector control district under Health
and Safety Code (HSC) Section 2040. HSC Section 2040
authorizes a district within its boundaries or in territory
that is located outside the district from which vectors and
vector borne diseases may enter the district, to conduct
surveillance and take necessary or proper actions to prevent
or abate vectors or vector borne diseases.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the formation of local mosquito abatement and
vector control districts, and authorizes the districts to
conduct programs for the surveillance, prevention, abatement
and control of mosquitos and other vectors. States the
Legislature's intent that the districts cooperate with other
public agencies to protect the public health, safety and
welfare, and to protect the public from vectors and pathogens
such as West Nile virus.
2)Authorizes DFW to protect, restore, rehabilitate, and improve
fish and wildlife habitats, and to manage wetlands and other
wildlife management areas under DFW's jurisdiction.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required DFW, in
consultation with local mosquito abatement and vector control
districts, to prioritize for funding those wildlife management
areas having the highest need for additional mosquito reduction
through best management practices that will result in mosquito
populations being reduced below the locally established
threshold, while maintaining and enhancing waterfowl and other
wildlife values of the habitat. A mosquito abatement and vector
control district whose boundaries include a wildlife management
AB 896
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area would be required, in consultation with DFW, to develop
standardized monitoring procedures for mosquito surveillance for
each managed wetland habitat at each wildlife management area,
and provide a copy of the procedures to DFW. The Department of
Public Health would be authorized to review the procedures for
conformity with generally accepted mosquito control standards.
The mosquito abatement and vector control district would be
required to conduct post-treatment monitoring of wildlife
management areas, develop performance criteria to document
mosquito control effectiveness, and provide an annual report to
DFW specifying the types and quantities of pesticides used,
types of habitats sprayed, and the total number of acres treated
in a wildlife management area. The annual report would also be
required to include recommendations for the refinement of best
management practices to reduce the need for any chemical
treatment or other non-ecological control.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, minor and absorbable costs to the Fish and Game
Preservation Fund (special) to communicate with the mosquito
abatement and vector control districts.
COMMENTS : This bill would require DFW and local mosquito
abatement and vector control districts to consult regarding
areas within managed wetlands that are in need of additional
mosquito reduction through implementation of best management
practices. Prior law, which sunset in 2010 and was enacted
through AB 1982 (Wolk), Chapter 553, Statutes of 2004, required
DFW to identify best management practices for wildlife
management areas that will reduce mosquito populations while
also protecting waterfowl and other wildlife values of the
habitat. This bill states legislative intent that mosquitos on
wetland habitat owned or managed by the DFW be controlled in a
manner that maintains or enhances wildlife, minimizes financial
cost to the DFW and local mosquito abatement and vector control
districts, reduces the need for chemical control of mosquitos,
increases coordination between DFW, local mosquito abatement and
vector control districts, and the State Department of Public
Health, and protects humans, domestic animals and wildlife from
diseases like West Nile virus. This bill also states
legislative findings and declarations that implementation of
best management practices on managed wetland habitat is critical
to the DFW's effort to reduce mosquito production in wildlife
management areas.
The Senate amendments clarify the mosquito abatement and vector
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control districts to which this bill applies, reduce the
mosquito abatement and vector control districts'
responsibilities under this bill to a notification requirement,
and clarify the DFW's responsibility to consult with mosquito
abatement and vector control districts to identify those areas
having the highest need for additional mosquito abatement
through best management practices. The Senate amendments also
clarify that this bill does not affect a mosquito abatement and
vector control district's existing authority to take actions as
necessary to prevent or abate vectors such as mosquitos and
vector borne diseases.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN:
0004924