Today's Law As Amended


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AB-120 Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002: Caulerpa taxifolia eradication.(2003-2004)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
(a) Caulerpa taxifolia is an extremely invasive salt water algae that is a serious threat to our marine ecosystem.
(b) Plant and animal diversity are substantially reduced where Caulerpa taxifolia has invaded. Caulerpa taxifolia is easily spread by fragmentation and can be transported great distances.
(c) There is no known natural predator for Caulerpa taxifolia native to California’s marine ecosystem.
(d) There are two known infestations of Caulerpa taxifolia in California coastal waters that are undergoing eradication efforts.
SEC. 2.
 (a) The sum of one million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) is hereby appropriated from the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Fund of 2002 to the State Water Resources Control Board for the purposes of making a grant, in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 79561 of the Water Code, to the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team to eradicate Caulerpa taxifolia, or its clones and derivatives (taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis), in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
(b) The State Water Resources Control Board may only allocate funds pursuant to subdivision (a) if it determines that allocation meets the requirements of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79560) of Division 26.5 of the Water Code.
(c) For the purposes of subdivision (a), the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team consists of federal, state, and local agencies and private entities, organized to eradicate Caulerpa taxifolia, or its clones and derivatives, in the Agua Hedioda Lagoon.