Existing law provides the Secretary of Food and Agriculture with various powers and duties with regard to the control and abatement of various pests, including, but not limited to, Mexican fruit flies, field rodents, and beet leafhoppers.

This bill would create the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account, as a continuously appropriated fund, in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, with the money to be used by the secretary for the purpose of funding California-based surveillance and research on mosquitoes, thereby making an appropriation. 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 annually to fund the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance program, known as CalSurv, to perform specified functions. The bill would also require the secretary to appoint an advisory committee consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, academic researchers, agricultural experts, public health experts, pesticide experts, and local mosquito abatement and vector control districts to make recommendations to the secretary on applicability of surveillance programs statewide and would report annually to the secretary on outcomes. Because the bill would require a higher level of service by local officials appointed to serve on the advisory committee, it would create a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 382 (Pan) - Pest control: mosquito abatement

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

SB 382 would appropriate $2 million from the General Fund to fund the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance program and to fund research grants.

Fiscal Impact:

One-time appropriation of $2 million (General Fund).

Background:

Currently, the University of California at Davis operates the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance System (CalSurv). This system is a collaboration between UC Davis, the Department of Public Health, and the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. CalSurv provides a statewide system for collecting and disseminating information on mosquitos and mosquito-borne disease. CalSurv was established in 2007 and to date has largely been funded with federal grant funding.

Proposed Law:

SB 382 would appropriate $2 million from the General Fund to fund the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance program and to fund research grants.

Specific provisions of the bill would:

• Establish the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account, to be administered by the Department of Public Health;
• Require that the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance program be allocated $1.5 million to perform specified activities;
• Require the remainder to be used by the Department to fund research grants;
• Appropriate $2 million from the General Fund for the purposes of the bill.

Staff Comments:

According to the March 2017 California Mosquito-borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan, the state is at risk for the introduction of several new mosquito-borne viruses not previously found in the state. In recent years, the state has not funded CalServ or research related to vector-borne diseases. Funding in these areas has generally been provided by the federal government. Supporters of the bill are concerned that the new federal administration may reduce funding for disease surveillance efforts, particularly those that have been funded as they relate to climate change.

The Department of Public Health indicates that, of the $500,000 that would be available for research grants, it will need about $55,000 per year to administer grants.

Because this bill would appropriate funding from the General Fund, it requires a 2/3 vote of the Legislature.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D., Chair

BILL NO: SB 382

SUBJECT: Pest control: mosquito abatement

SUMMARY:

Creates the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account, as specified, to fund the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance System and research grants to help mitigate the effects of increasing vector populations, as specified.

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law, which authorizes the establishment of mosquito abatement and vector control districts governed by a board of trustees.
2. Authorizes the Department of Public Health (DPH) to enter into a cooperative agreement with any local district or public agency to control mosquitoes, gnats, flies, other insects, rodents, or other vectors and pests in the interest of public health, as specified.

This bill:

1. Creates the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account to be administered by DPH and requires an appropriation to the account from the State General Fund (SGF) in the amount of $2 million. Requires the account to consist of moneys transferred from the SGF and any moneys made available from federal, industry, and other sources.
2. Requires, in Fiscal Year 2017-18, an allocation of $1.5 million to the California Vector-borne Disease Surveillance System (CalSurv) to be used for the following functions:
   1. Maintain an interactive Internet Web site for management and dissemination of data on mosquito-borne virus and surveillance control;
   2. Provide confirmation of tests done by local or state agencies;
   3. Work in conjunction with local mosquito abatement and vector control districts to conduct research, as specified;
   4. Coordinate with the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, local mosquito abatement and vector control districts, local governments, and other affected stakeholders to share information; and
   5. Perform other duties as necessary to protect the public and agricultural health of the state.
3. Requires remaining moneys from the account to be used to fund grants for vector research specific to California’s unique ecosystem. Requires the research to mitigate the effects of warming climates on increasing vector populations.

FISCAL EFFECT:

This bill has not been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement. According to the author, managing mosquitos is a matter of public health. SB 382 will protect the public by allowing mosquito abatement agencies, DPH, and the University of California (UC) Davis to use and grow the CalSurv program. The mosquito can be seen as one of the deadliest creatures in the world. It carries deadly diseases, adapts quickly, and spreads rapidly. The state needs to be ahead of the curve in managing mosquito populations. CalSurv will allow the state to manage mosquito populations through surveillance, data collection, and data analysis before they infect more Californians.
2. Background. According to information provided by DPH, CalSurv is a collaborative effort of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, DPH, and the Center for Vector-borne Diseases (CVEC) at UC Davis. CalSurv was established in 2007 and is managed by UC Davis. It is the statewide portal for mosquito and mosquito-borne virus surveillance information collected by local vector control agencies throughout the state and for related data on virus testing performed at DPH and UC laboratories. DPH’s Vector-Borne Disease Section is a collaborator in CalSurv and works closely with mosquito and vector control agencies and CVEC to coordinate surveillance and testing of mosquitoes, dead birds, and sentinel chickens for West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne viruses. From 1972 to 2008, there was funding administered by DPH to UC for mosquito research specific to California, and CalSurv was developed during that time and housed at UC Davis. Since 2008 when funding was eliminated, DPH does not provide funding to UC for CalSurv or mosquito-related research.

According to information provided by the author, DPH has provided some assistance in terms of pass-through federal funding. Additionally, like other academic research initiatives, CalSurv has been able to put together funding from research grants. The most recent and notable is a NASA collaboration on climate change. However, under the new federal administration, there is potential that funding for studying the causes, impacts, and mitigation measures of climate change could be eliminated.

1. Vector-borne diseases. According to DPH’s Web site, West Nile Virus was first detected in California in 2002 and by 2004 had spread to all 58 counties. DPH received reports of 2,765 cases of West Nile virus illness with estimated onset dates from 2003 through 2008. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. According to DPH, most persons infected with West Nile Virus do not develop clinical illness or symptoms. However, approximately 20% of people develop symptoms compatible with what is known as West Nile fever. The West Nile fever syndrome can be variable, but common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle weakness, fatigue, or rash. About one in 150 people infected with West Nile Virus develop severe neuroinvasive illness, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis. According to a report by DPH, in August 2007, the Governor determined West Nile Virus activity to be an imminent threat and issued an executive order that included nearly $11.5 million in emergency funding for DPH, other state departments, and local mosquito abatement and vector control districts to identify and treat areas with heavy West Nile Virus presence.

DPH’s Web site also states that Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (also known as yellow fever mosquitoes) or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (also known as Asian tiger mosquitoes). These mosquitoes are not native to California. However, since 2011 they have been detected in several California counties. An Aedes mosquito can only transmit Zika virus after it bites a person who has this virus in their blood. According to DPH’s Web site, to date, there has been no local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in California. Thus far in California, Zika virus infections have been documented only in people who were infected while traveling to areas with ongoing Zika transmission, through sexual contact with an infected traveler, or through maternal-fetal transmission during pregnancy. Zika virus during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects in infants. Additionally, there is an association between Zika and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a disease affecting the nervous system.

1. California Mosquito-borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan. The California Mosquito-borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan, updated in March 2017, was developed by DPH, the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, and UC. According to the response plan, in addition to West Nile Virus, California is vulnerable to introduction of other highly virulent mosquito-borne viruses of public and veterinary health concern, such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses. If an existing or introduced virus is detected, it is critical that local and state agencies are prepared to respond in a concerted effort to protect people and animals from infection and disease. The response plan describes an enhanced surveillance and response program for mosquito-borne viruses in the state.
2. Support. Supporters, largely local vector control districts, state that this bill will help prevent communicable diseases and recognize one of the world’s leading research programs on mosquito populations and mosquito-borne illness. Supporters argue that for the past eight years, there has been no state-specific research on mosquitoes or mosquito-borne illnesses, particularly regarding the impacts of warmer climates and the drought, which can increase mosquito breeding and disease spread. Supporters state that CalSurv provides a centralized storage of data collection and analysis, and storage for the presence of mosquitoes and diseases throughout the state, which facilitates rapid reporting. Supporters also state that the recent arrival of invasive mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, have greatly increased the need for coordinated surveillance and applied research, as these mosquitoes are aggressive, evasive, and capable of transmitting debilitating diseases. Supporters argue that these mosquito species show resistance to traditional control techniques. The March of Dimes in California states it strongly supports efforts to slow the spread of Zika virus and that as of March 31, 2017, there have been 529 travel-associated Zika virus infections in the state, with 104 of those in pregnant women and five infants born with birth defects.
3. Opposition. Educate. Advocate. states that this bill grants CalSurv unlimited authority to perform other duties as necessary to protect the public and agricultural health of the state related to mosquito and vector control, and argues that this authority is vague, open ended, and not responsible in relation to the safety of families, children, and the state.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:

Support: Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (sponsor)

Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District

Blood Centers of California

Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

Colusa Mosquito Abatement District

County Health Executives Association of California

Fresno Westside Mosquito Abatement District

Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District

Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District

Kings Mosquito Abatement District

March of Dimes in California

Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District

Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District

Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control

Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District

Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District

Tulare Mosquito Abatement District

Oppose: Educate. Advocate.

-- END --