BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2185
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 7, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 2185 (Eggman) - As Amended:  April 23, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                               
          AgricultureVote:7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and  
          the Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to encourage  
          apiculture (beekeeping) on lands each department respectively  
          manages when developing or amending land use plans or with  
          respect to idle or right-of-way lands.

          The bill requires each department to maximize the coexistence  
          and minimize the conflict between beekeeping and other public  
          land uses and ensure the state receives appropriate compensation  
          for the use of state-owned lands.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          GF costs, likely in the range of $200,000, to DFW and CalTrans  
          to develop management plans and conduct public outreach with  
          respect to eligible lands; potentially offset, at least in part,  
          by beekeeping fee revenue.

           COMMENTS  

          1)  Purpose.   According to the author, AB 2185 is an effort to  
            create more foraging opportunities for California beekeepers  
            by directing DFW and CalTrans to encourage beekeeping on the  
            lands they control, to the extent of meeting their management  
            objectives.  During the development of DFW area management  
            plans, the public does have the opportunity for input, but due  
            to the bee industry being small, it do not have the  
            wherewithal to comment on plans throughout the state.

          2)  DFW Management Plans.   Current law requires DFW to develop  








                                                                  AB 2185
                                                                  Page  2

            management plans for lands within its jurisdiction and submit  
            those plans to public review in order to reduce potential  
            conflicts with neighboring land users.  DFW may lease its  
            managed lands for agricultural activities, including grazing,  
            where consistent with the purpose for which the lands were  
            acquired and the DFW's management plans.

          3)  CalTrans Land Leasing.   Current law permits CalTrans to lease  
            to public or private agencies the use of areas above or below  
            state highways, subject to conditions necessary to ensure  
            adequate protection and safety of highway facilities and  
            adjacent land uses.  Lands leased to private entities must be  
            subjected to competitive bidding in most cases. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081