BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2185
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2185 (Eggman)
          As Amended  August 19, 2014
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |77-0 |(May 27, 2014)  |SENATE: |32-0 |(August 21,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2014)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    AGRI.

          SUMMARY  :  Directs the California Department of Fish and Wildlife  
          (DFW) to encourage apiculture (beekeeping) on wildlife lands the  
          department manages when developing or amending wildlife lands  
          use plans; requires DFW 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. 

           The Senate amendments  delete the Assembly version, insert  
          similar language into a different code, and make the following  
          changes:

          1)Rewrites Assembly language into a new section in the Fish and  
            Game Code, deleting the Food and Agricultural Code.

          2)Deletes requirement to have the California Department of  
            Transportation make available lands for beekeeping.

          3)Limits beekeeping to DFW's managed wildlife lands.

          4)Makes technical and clarifying changes.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, this bill has minor and absorbable costs from the  
          Wildlife Restoration Fund (special) to DFW to consider and  
          potentially permit apiculture use on wildlife areas; has  
          unknown, but likely minor, revenue increases to the special fund  
          for private use of a public lands; and, unknown liability costs  
          to the state.
           
           COMMENTS  :  The Assembly Agriculture Committee and Environmental  
          Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, held a joint informational  
          hearing on bees in October 2013.  Bees are essential for the  








                                                                  AB 2185
                                                                  Page  2

          pollination of many native plants, as well as commercial crops.   
          Testimony presented at that hearing emphasized that additional  
          foraging lands is a principal need for bees, to assist in  
          keeping a healthy colony population in California.

          This bill is an effort to create more foraging opportunities for  
          California beekeepers by requiring DFW to consider permitting  
          beekeeping on their managed wildlife lands.  The author's  
          objective is to provide beekeepers access to state lands for the  
          purpose of bee foraging.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 


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