BILL NUMBER: AB 300	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 7, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 5, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Mark Stone)
   (Coauthor: Senator Monning)

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 31420) to
Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal
wildlife protection.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 300, as amended, Alejo. Safe Water and Wildlife Protection Act
of 2015.
   Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy and
prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancy
with respect to preservation of coastal resources in the state.
   This bill would enact the Safe Water and Wildlife Protection Act
of 2015, which would require the  conservancy  
State Water Resources Control Board  to establish and coordinate
the Algal Bloom Task Force,  comprised of specified
representatives of state agencies, including the conservancy, 
in consultation with the Secretary  of the Natural Resources
Agency,   for Environmental Protection   ,
 and would prescribe the composition and functions and duties of
the task force. The bill would require the task force to review the
risks and negative impacts of toxic algal blooms and microcystin
pollution and to submit a summary of its findings and recommendations
to the  ap   propriate policy and fiscal committees of
the Legislature, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and
the  secretary by January 1, 2017. The act would authorize the
conservancy, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Wildlife
Conservation Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board to
enter into contracts and provide grants from specified bond funds
available under the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure
Improvement Act of 2014 for applied research, projects, and programs,
recommended by the task force, aimed at preventing or sustainably
mitigating toxic blooms of cyanotoxins and microcystin pollution in
the waters of the state.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria in the waters of the state,
including, but not limited to, coastal lakes, estuaries, rivers and
streams, wetlands, and inland lakes and reservoirs, represent a
threat to water supplies, human health, endangered wildlife, and
recreational activities.
   (b) Cyanobacteria are widespread bacteria that are capable of
forming toxic blooms and super-blooms in the waters of the state.
   (c) Degradation of watersheds, nutrient loading, increased water
diversions, and climate change have been linked to the global
expansion of cyanobacterial blooms, with high toxin production noted
regularly in lakes, rivers, and other waters of the state.
   (d) The state's waters are especially prone to toxic
cyanobacterial blooms due to our warm climate, numerous water
diversions, and stressed waterways.
   (e) Cyanobacteria produce potent hepatoxins and neurotoxins,
collectively referred to as cyanotoxins. Microcystins are the most
commonly found cyanotoxin in the state's impacted waters. Other
cyanotoxins, such as the neurotoxins anatoxin-a and saxitoxin, are
also present in California's waters, but, at present, little is known
about them.
   (f) Cyanotoxins are poisonous to humans, pets, livestock, birds,
and other wildlife via ingestion, inhalation, or skin exposure. A
single dose of microcystin can cause prolonged toxicity by cycling
repeatedly between the liver and intestines.
   (g) Blooms of microcystins and other toxic cyanobacteria are
occurring in waters throughout California, and are threatening our
water supply and health. Areas with recurrent and worsening
cyanotoxin pollution include the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers, the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers (from the Sacramento Delta to San
Francisco Bay), and Clear Lake. Pinto Lake, Copco Lake, Iron Gate
Reservoir, and three segments of the Klamath River have been listed
as impaired due to cyanobacteria. Bird deaths attributed to
microcystins have also been reported from the Salton Sea.
   (h) The Pinto Lake watershed is being evaluated for total maximum
daily load (TMDL) regulation for microcystin, and was considered for
remediation as an Environmental Protection Agency "superfund" site.
   (i) California's southern sea otters, a state and federally listed
threatened species, have died from microcystin poisoning. The source
of sea otter exposure appears to be microcystin-contaminated
freshwater runoff and possibly contaminated prey species.
   (j) Sea otters and humans eat some of the same marine foods that
can concentrate microcystin in body tissues; hence, food safety is a
public health concern. Freshwater and marine fish and shellfish have
not been routinely tested for cyanotoxins in California and limited
diagnostic testing is available. 
   (k) A multidisciplinary "one-health" approach, that considers
human, animal, and environmental health components, is appropriate to
evaluate impacts and develop comprehensive strategies to prevent
cyanotoxin pollution in the waters of the state.  
   (l) 
    (   k)  The state needs a coordinated
multiagency effort to develop actions and projects that will prevent
or mitigate toxic blooms and associated cyanotoxin pollution.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 31420) is added to
Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 10.  SAFE WATER AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT OF 2015


   31420.  This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe
Water and Wildlife Protection Act of 2015.
   31421.  For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
following meanings: 
   (a) "One-health approach" means a method of assessment that
considers the linked impacts of toxic algal blooms on humans,
animals, the ecosystem, and water quality.  
   (a)  "Board" means the State Water Resources Control Board. 
    (b)  "Task Force" means the Algal Bloom Task Force created
pursuant to Section 31422.
   (c) "Waters of the state" means any surface waters in the state
 ,  including, but not limited to, coastal lakes, lagoons
and estuaries, rivers, streams, inland lakes and reservoirs, and
wetlands.
   31422.  The  conservancy   board  shall
establish and coordinate the Algal Bloom Task Force, comprised of a
representative of each of the State Department of Public Health, the
Department of Fish and Wildlife,  the Department of Food and
Agriculture,  the  State Water Resources Control Board,
  conservancy,  and other relevant agency
representatives, to be determined by the  executive officer
of the conservancy    chairperson of the 
 board,  in consultation with the Secretary  of the
Natural Resources Agency.   for Environmental
Protection. The board may augment an existing taskforce or network to
accomplish the requirements of this chapter. 
   31423.  The functions and duties of the task force include all of
the following:
   (a) Assess and prioritize the actions and research necessary to
develop measures that prevent or sustainably mitigate toxic algal
blooms in the waters of the state. The assessment shall 
apply a one-health approach that considers   consider
 the linked impacts of toxic algal blooms and cyanotoxins on
human and animal health, as well as in the context of ecosystem
health and water quality.
   (b) Solicit and review proposals from universities, local
governments, California Native American tribes, and nonprofit
organizations for applied research, projects, and programs that
accomplish both of the following:
   (1) Contribute to development of strategies or implementation of
activities that prevent or sustainably mitigate toxic blooms of
cyanotoxins and microcystin pollution in the waters of the state.
   (2) Establish cyanotoxin monitoring programs or develop laboratory
capacity for analyzing water samples for cyanotoxin pollution.
   (c) Provide funding recommendations to the  executive
officerof the conservancy   chairperson of the board
 and to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Wildlife
Conservation Board,  and the State Water Resources Control
Board   the conservancy, other members of the task
force, and other relevant agency representatives  for those
proposals for applied research, projects, and programs, described in
subdivision (b), that the task force determines will contribute to
the development of prevention strategies and sustainable mitigation
actions to address toxic blooms of cyanotoxins and microcystin
pollution in waters of the state.
   (d) Review the risks and negative impacts of toxic algal blooms
and microcystin pollution on humans, wildlife, fisheries, livestock,
pets, and aquatic ecosystems, and develop recommendations for
prevention and long-term mitigation. The task force shall submit a
summary of its findings based on the review, including its
recommendations to the  appropriate policy and fiscal committees
of the Legislature, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, and
the  Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency on or before
January 1, 2017. The recommendations shall provide guidance on what
type of programs or state resources will be required to prevent
damaging toxic algal blooms and microcystin pollution in the waters
of the state over time.
   (e) Organize meetings and workshops of experts and stakeholders as
needed to implement this section.
   31424.  The conservancy, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the
Wildlife Conservation Board, and the  State Water Resources
Control Board,   board,  or any of them, may enter
into contracts and provide grants from funds available pursuant to
Section 79730 of the Water Code for applied research, projects, and
programs recommended by the task force pursuant to subdivision (c) of
Section 31423.