Ocean Protection Bills Pass Assembly

Bills Cover Oil Spill Prevention, Stormwater Runoff, Fisheries Management and Invasive Species Prevention

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced the Assembly passed a package of four bills focused on improving and protecting the health of the Pacific Ocean and the California coastline.  The bills cover oil spill prevention (AB 1220), stormwater runoff (AB 739), fisheries management (AB 1280) and invasive species prevention (AB 740).

“Pollution, over-fishing, invasive species and the threat of oil spills continue to compromise the health of our ocean and coastline,” said Assemblymember Laird.  “These bills show a commitment to investing in innovation as well as proven strategies.  Especially when you factor in climate change, it’s clear we need to do much more on improving ocean health."

AB 1220 Oil Spill Response Funding (passed on vote of 74-0)

This bill effectively doubles funds available for oil spill response.  Currently, if there is an oil spill, the state has $54 million in cash that is immediately available.  AB 1220 would double this amount by re-establishing $54 million in bonding capacity that the California Attorney General determined is not viable.

AB 739 Stormwater Runoff (passed on vote of 58-6)

The purpose of the bill is to reduce water quality impacts to our oceans, lakes and streams due to urban runoff and provide financial assistance to advance the state’s stormwater program. Urban stormwater runoff is a leading source of pollution to coastal and other water bodies. Anything that can be washed into our water bodies (such as oil and fluids from cars, fertilizer and pesticides from lawns, or cigarette butts tossed to the ground) contributes to stormwater pollution during both dry and rainy months.  As urban areas develop and impervious surfaces increase, runoff increases.  However, there is currently no comprehensive monitoring and reporting system in place that can demonstrate that the program is effectively protecting the water quality.  AB 739 takes steps to assess the effectiveness of the stormwater management program in order to improve water quality.  The bill also seeks to develop funding priorities for Proposition 84 stormwater bond funds.

AB 1280 Fisheries Management (passed on vote of 47-31)

The objective of the bill is to promote sustainable marine fisheries.  Currently, traditional fishery management in California and much of the nation can be characterized as a “race for fish,” in which fishers catch as many fish as possible as fast as possible.  This race results in an unprofitable and depleted fishery—which hurts both the fishers and the fishery.  Fishery Management Plans provide an opportunity to explore innovative approaches to shifting from the traditional model.  AB 1280 authorizes the Ocean Protection Council to provide grants for the development and implementation of Fishery Management Plans. 

AB 740 Invasive Species Prevention (passed on vote of 47-32)

Aquatic invasive species can have—and already have had—severe ecological and economic impacts in California . In our coastal areas, commercial shipping is one of the primary sources of invasive species introduction. This bill would reduce the introduction of invasive species into coastal waters by regulating large commercial vessel hull cleaning and maintenance—necessary to remove the invasive species attached to vessel hulls.