The RBOC-supported SB 223 [Galgiani] has not moved off of suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the measure is not expected to move forward this year.
This urgency bill would require the Division of Boating and Waterways within the Department of Parks and Recreation to establish an advisory committee to evaluate and monitor activities related to the management and control of invasive aquatic plants in the Delta, its tributaries, and the Suisun Marsh
Of note from the analysis of the Appropriations Committee:
“Increased potential costs of up to $290,000 (GF or Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund) until 2019 for the division to comply with the provisions of the bill. This costs assumes the committee created by the bill will identify new recommendations for division activities.
“However, there are two existing committees that provide input of the division's aquatic weed program. The first, in consultation with the US Department of Agriculture addresses the research, management and control of invasive aquatic plants in the Delta and Suisun Marsh.
“The second, the Interagency Aquatic Invasive Species Coordination Team takes a broad perspective on controlling and managing invasive aquatic plants in the Delta. Given the existing efforts on this subject, the costs estimated by the DPR should be viewed as a maximum with actual costs potentially much lower.”