Bill Name: Pest control: mosquito abatement

Bill Number: SB-382

Bill Author(s): Pan

Legislative Session / Year: 2017

State: California

AVFCA Position: Oppose Unless Amended

Bill Synopsis: This bill would have created the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account, to be administered by the department, to fund California-based surveillance and research on mosquitoes. The bill would appropriate $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the account, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would require that $1,500,000 of that money be used to fund the California Vectorborne Disease Surveillance System, known as CalSurv, to perform specified functions. Section I, Chapter 2 2101 (b) (5) enables the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program, CalSurv, to “perform other duties as necessary to protect the public and agricultural health of the state.” The language in this section is broad and unnecessary, and leaves the door wide open for any and all abatement measures to be taken. Inclusion of broad language has the potential to result in far reaching implementation of policies outside the intent of this bill and may require future legislation to redefine the original role and intent of the program.

Effective Date if Passed: 01/01/2018