BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1789 (Williams) - Pesticides: neonicotinoids: reevaluation:
determination: control measures.
Amended: April 22, 2014 Policy Vote: EQ 6-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: June 30, 2014 Consultant:
Marie Liu
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1789 would require the Department of Pesticide
Regulation (DPR) to issue a determination regarding its
reevaluation of neonicotinoids and within two years after making
the determination, adopt control measures necessary to protect
pollinator health.
Fiscal Impact:
On-going cost pressures in the mid to high hundreds of
thousands of dollars from the Department of Pesticide
Regulation Fund (special) for the required determination and
adoption of control measures.
Background: Chapter 2 of Division 7 of the Food and Agricultural
Code (Commencing with �12751) establishes the state's pesticide
regulatory program and requires that DPR, among other things,
provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of pesticides;
protection of public health and safety; and protection of the
environment from environmentally harmful pesticides by
prohibiting, regulating, or ensuring proper stewardship of those
pesticides. Specifically, �12824 requires the director to
eliminate from use any pesticide that endangers the agricultural
or nonagricultural environment.
Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that affect the
central nervous system of insects causing paralysis and death.
Concerns have been raised since the initial registration of
neonicotinoids regarding their potential environmental fate and
effects, particularly as the relate to pollinators. In 2009, DPR
began reevaluating a class of neonicotinoids in response to its
evaluation of data that found that foraging bees may be exposed
to levels of the insecticide well above the lethal
AB 1789 (Williams)
Page 1
concentration.
Proposed Law: This bill would require DPR to make a
determination regarding the registration of neonicotinoids by
July 1, 2018. Within two years of making this determination, DPR
would be required to adopt any measures that might be necessary
to protect pollinator health.
If DPR is not able to adopt control measures within two years of
making its determination, DPR would be required to annually
report to the Legislature regarding the delay.
Staff Comments: DPR is currently undertaking the reevaluation
that is required to make the determination that would be
required by this bill. As this is a high priority for DPR, the
costs of the reevaluation and future determination are currently
being absorbed within their current budget. DPR further
estimates that developing the control measures required by the
bill once the determination is made will also be absorbable.
However, this bill would make these activities mandatory instead
of discretionary. In the event that DPR's priorities change,
they would still be required to take the actions required by the
bill. As such, this bill imposes cost pressures equivalent to
DPR's current efforts. Staff estimates these costs to be, at a
minimum, in the mid to high hundreds of thousands of dollars
annually.