Amended in Senate August 19, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 23, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2185

Introduced by Assembly Member Eggman

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(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Alejo)

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(Principal coauthor: Senator Wolk)

February 20, 2014

An act to add Section begin delete 29001.5 to the Food and Agricultural end delete begin insert 1745.2 to the Fish and Game end insert Code, relating to bees.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2185, as amended, Eggman. Bees: begin delete foraging: end delete begin insert apiculture: end insert state-owned lands.

Existing law prohibits a person from locating or maintaining an apiary on any public land without the expressed oral or written approval of the entity that owns, leases, controls, or occupies the land, as specified.

This bill would begin delete declare it a policy of the state that end delete begin insert require end insert the Department of Fish and Wildlife begin delete and the Department of Transportation shall encourage end delete begin insert to consider permitting end insert apiculture on begin delete the lands that those departments respectively manage. end delete begin insert department-managed wildlife areas. end insert The bill would begin delete require those departments, if end delete begin insert require the department, when end insert developing or amending begin insert its end insert land begin delete use plans or with respect to lands that are idle or through which a right-of-way has been granted, to take certain actions end delete begin insert management plans, to make certain determinations end insert relating to the use of the begin delete lands end delete begin insert department-managed wildlife areas end insert for apiculture. The bill would begin delete require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to the extent possible, to assist in these efforts. end delete begin insert authorize the department to consult with specified entities for permitting apiculture on department-managed wildlife areas consistent with the respective management goals and objectives for those areas, and would provide for the deposit of use or permit fees for apiculture on department-managed wildlife areas. end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert Section 1745.2 is added to the end insert begin insert Fish and Game
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

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begin insert 1745.2. end insert   

(a) The department shall do both of the following:

(1) Consider permitting apiculture on department-managed
wildlife areas, where deemed appropriate by the department.

(2) Determine, when developing or amending its land
management plans, the following:

(A) If the department-managed wildlife areas, or any portion
of the those areas, are suitable for apiculture and whether
apiculture is consistent with the management goals and objectives
for those areas on a temporary, seasonal, or long-term basis.

(B) If the administration of apiculture on department-managed
wildlife areas, where deemed appropriate by the department, is
meeting the management goals and objectives for those areas.

(C) The appropriate use or permit fee to be assessed for
conducting apiculture on department-managed wildlife areas.

(b) The department, in implementing this section, may consult
with apiculture experts, including, but not limited to, the
Department of Food and Agriculture, the University of California,
other academic or professional experts, and interested
stakeholders, for permitting apiculture on department-managed
wildlife areas consistent with the respective management goals
and objectives for those areas.

(c) Moneys collected for conducting apiculture on
department-managed wildlife areas pursuant to subparagraph (C)
of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be deposited by the
department into the Wildlife Restoration Fund and, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, be used to support the
management, maintenance, restoration, and operation of
department-managed wildlife areas.

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SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) The honeybee industry is under tremendous pressures due
to multiple challenges, including, but not limited to, parasitic mites,
poor nutrition, lack of diverse forage, changing environments due
to long distance hauls, and native and manmade toxins.

(b) A viable and productive honeybee industry is dependent on
access to private and public lands to secure nectar and pollen
resources for nutritional foraging opportunities.

(c) There is a need for a streamlined and efficient administrative
method to provide access to public lands for California beekeepers
to ensure that they have adequate foraging grounds for their bees.

(d) The Legislature recognizes the importance of the honeybee
industry in helping to ensure food security, boost regional jobs,
and support the state’s multibillion dollar agricultural industry.
Accordingly, the Legislature seeks to encourage and support bee
foraging on public lands.

SEC. 2.  

Section 29001.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural
Code, to read:

29001.5.  

(a) It is the policy of the state that the Department
of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Transportation shall
encourage apiculture on the lands that those departments
respectively manage. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and
the Department of Transportation, if developing or amending land
use plans or with respect to lands that are idle or through which a
right-of-way has been granted, shall do all of the following:

(1) Maximize the coexistence and minimize the conflict between
apiculture and other public land uses, values, and public safety.

(2) Establish an efficient, effective, and uniform system for the
management and administration of apiculture on public lands.

(3) Ensure that the state receives an appropriate financial return
from the use of a public resource.

(b) The secretary shall assist, to the extent possible, in the efforts
of these departments to accomplish apiculture access on their
respective state-owned lands.

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