BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2402
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2402 (Buchanan)
As Amended May 23, 2014
Majority vote
AGRICULTURE 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Eggman, Olsen, Skinner, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow, |
| |Dahle, Pan, Quirk, Yamada | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| | | |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, |
| | | |Gomez, Holden, Jones, |
| | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner, |
| | | |Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Makes technical changes updating the legislative
findings of the Noxious Weed Management (NWM) statutes; makes
changes to the distribution of NWM account funds, increasing the
percentage allocated to research, risk assessment, and control
strategies; and, expands how some program funds may be used.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, insignificant costs to administer the fund allocation
changes.
COMMENTS : The NWM program began in 1999 with a $200,000 annual,
three year appropriation. In 2000, another $5 million was
appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to fund NWM project
grants. Since its creation, $16.1 million in private funding
and resources have matched the $5.6 million appropriated state
dollars. No additional funds have been appropriated since 2000,
and the grant funds having been spent several years ago, thereby
causing the NWM program to be idled and California Department of
Food and Agriculture to reduce staff levels.
Noxious and invasive weeds disrupt native ecosystems, crops and
pastures, costing not only private landowners but the public as
well. With the program being idle, noxious and invasive weeds
have been allowed to expand without needed controls. Farmers
and ranchers see weeds as a plant in competition for water with
their plantings and forage. In drought years, the elimination
AB 2402
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of competitors for water is an even more important issue. The
NWM program has had nearly a three to one private dollars match
to state dollars, which is a very good return on a state
investment.
This NWM program has been beneficial to our ecology and economy
by eliminating problem noxious and invasive weeds, and there are
likely some long term cost savings if the program is funded, or
contrarily, increased long term costs to the environment and
taxpayers if the program remains idle.
See policy committee analysis for more details and specifics.
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
FN: 0003663