California Assembly Bill AB2139 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2139AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2016 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams  (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member   Gonzalez   )  FEBRUARY 17, 2016 An act to add Section 35618 to the Public Resources Code, relating to ocean resources. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2139, as amended, Williams. Ocean Protection Council: ocean acidification. Existing law establishes the Ocean Protection Council in state government and prescribes the membership, functions, and duties of the council with regard to the protection and conservation of ocean and coastal resources. This bill would require the council to  coordinate and  facilitate research and  compile data on the causes and effects of ocean acidification and, no later than January 1, 2018, to adopt recommendations for further legislative and executive actions to address ocean acidification.   work with other relevant public agencies with ocean protection responsibilities   to take specified actions to address ocean acidification, as prescribed, and, beginning January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, at its first meeting of the year, to adopt recommendations for further actions that may be taken to address ocean acidification.  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 both of the following:   (a) The West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel was a binational collaboration of leading scientists from California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia that was convened at the request of the Ocean Protection Council and the California Ocean Science Trust. The West Coast Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel' s executive summary report outlines findings, recommendations, and actions to address ocean acidification and hypoxia.   (b) The mission of the Ocean Protection Council is to ensure that California maintains healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coastal ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. In order to do this, the council should address the challenge of ocean acidification.   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.  Section 35618 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 35618.  (a)    The council shall  coordinate and  facilitate research and  compile data on the causes and effects of ocean acidification and, no later than January 1, 2018, shall adopt recommendations for further legislative and executive actions to address ocean acidification.   work with other relevant public agencies with ocean protection responsibilities to do all of the following:   (1) Generate an inventory of areas that are most vulnerable to ocean acidification.   (2) Develop, refine, and integrate predictive models of ocean acidification and hypoxia.   (3) Inventory the colocation of protected areas and areas vulnerable to ocean acidification and hypoxia.   (4) Facilitate agreements and work with organizations that fund ocean acidification and hypoxia research to establish joint research priorities.   (5) Define gaps between ocean acidification monitoring efforts and management needs in coordination with relevant state, federal, and academic entities.   (b) Beginning January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, at its first meeting of the year, the council shall adopt recommendations for further actions that may be taken to address ocean acidification.