BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1867
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 30, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                  AB 1867 (Patterson) - As Amended:  April 22, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Natural  
          ResourcesVote:7-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection  
          (Board) to exempt some or all requirements of the Forest  
          Practices Act to allow the cutting or removal of trees to reduce  
          flammable materials and create defensible space.  Specifically,  
          this bill extends the exemption that allows vegetation clearing  
          from a radius of 150 feet to 300 feet of habitable structures.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible, if any state costs for the Board to provide 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background and Rationale.   The Forest Practices Act prohibits  
            timber operations unless a timber harvest plan (THP) is  
            prepared by a registered professional forester and approved by  
            the Director of CALFIRE or the Board.   

            The Board allows an exemption from the Act for defensible  
            space timber operations conducted not more than 150 feet on  
            each side from an approved and legally permitted structure  
            under specified conditions and protections.

            The vegetation surrounding a building or structure can fuel  
            fires.  Defensible space increases the likelihood of a  
            structure surviving a wildfire and allows firefighters to  
            protect buildings without unacceptable risks to their safety.   
            This bill extends the 150 foot defensible space THP exemption  
            for habitable structures from 150 to 300 feet. 









                                                                  AB 1867
                                                                  Page  2



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081