Legislation Update June 28, 2013 – focus on AB 904

by Cate Moore on June 30, 2013

California legislation

Last week was a particularly busy one for bills related to forestry and land management.  There was a big hearing in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, where several of our tracked bills were heard.  Cate Moore and Ron DeBenedetti of the CCFA Board went to Sacramento to testify in behalf of AB 904.

AB 904 passed the committee, although the vote posted on the internet does not reflect the excitement of being at the hearing.  Just after the bill was heard, the initial vote was taken and, with our own Senator Monning not choosing to vote, the results were four in favor which is one vote shy of passage.  CLFA’s lobbyist, BIll Keye, said all was not yet lost; we just had to find a committee senator who was not currently in the hearing and ask him to pop in and cast a vote in our favor before the hearing ended.  We split up and chased down the staff of the absent senators and issued our request.  At the end, we came out with seven votes.

In Bill’s estimation, this was the toughest challenge the bill was likely to face, but we are by no means done.  The bill left the committee with some outstanding issues to be resolved:

  • The maximum acreage that can use the working forest management plan
  • handling of late seral stage stands
  • inclusion of the southern subdistrict (that’s us)

CCFA will continue to be working on these issues and members will be hearing more soon on how they can participate.

The results of the other bills of interest that went through the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee were:

  • AB 497 – Fish and Wildlife: Passed and sent to Senate Appropriations with a consent calendar recommendation
  • AB 763 – Aquatic invasive plants: control and eradication: Passed and sent to Senate Appropriations
  • AB 904 – Forestry: working forest management plan: Passed and sent to Senate Appropriations
  • AB 976 – Coastal resources: California Coastal Act of 1976: enforcement: penalties: Passed and sent to Senate Judiciary, next hearing July 2
  • AB 1213 – Bobcat protection act of 2013: Passed and sent to Senate Appropriations

Most of the bills on our list are handily making their way through the legislature, whether we like it or not.  The exceptions are:

  • AB 1097 – Fish and Game Commission: Mirage Trail: hearing in Senate Appropriations postponed
  • AB 1331 – Water resources: assessments of public funding: Senate Natural Resources and Water hearing canceled at request of author
  • SB 183 – Validations: ordered to Senate Inactive File

upcoming committee hearings:

As always, the full status and links into the bills can be found on our table. CA Legislation Progress 2013_June 28

 Federal legislation

HR 2026:Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act of 2013
has been acquiring cosponsors – there are just 2 from California
current committee assignment: House Transportation and Infrastructure
next committee: Water Resources and Environment

Prognosis:

  • 87% chance of getting past committee
  • 55% chance of getting enacted

S 971:Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act of 2013

has been acquiring cosponsors – no California cosponsors
current committee assignment: Senate Environment and Public Works

Prognosis:

  • 28% chance of getting past committee
  • 0% chance of getting enacted

 

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