California Assembly Bill AB1039 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1039INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Committee on Agriculture FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to amend Section 405 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to pest control. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1039, as introduced, Committee on Agriculture. Pest control: biological control organisms. Existing law authorizes the Department of Food and Agriculture, with the prior approval of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Department of Health Care Services, to reproduce or distribute biological control organisms that are not detrimental to the public health and safety that are known to be useful in reducing or preventing plant or animal damage due to pests or diseases. This bill would prohibit the Department of Food and Agriculture from reproducing or distributing biological control organisms that are detrimental to the environment and would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to receive prior approval from the State Department of Public Health instead of the State Department of Health Care Services. 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. Section 405 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 405. (a) With the prior approval of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Department of  Health Care Services,   Public Health,  the department may reproduce or distribute biological control organisms that are not detrimental to  the environment or  the public health and safety that are known to be useful in reducing or preventing plant or animal damage due to pests or diseases. (b) The department shall not engage in the production of beneficial organisms when those organisms are available in sufficient amounts for purchase from commercial sources.