California § 7700

§ 7700.

(a) (1) There is in state government the Invasive Species Council of California. The purpose of the council is to help coordinate a comprehensive effort to prevent the introduction of invasive species in the state and to advise state agencies, including, but not limited to, the department and the Natural Resources Agency, within their respective authorities how to facilitate coordinated, complementary, and cost-effective control or eradication of invasive species that have entered or are already established in the state. (2) In all activities of the council pursuant to this part, the council shall prioritize all of the following: (A) Exclusion and prevention practices to keep invasive species from entering the state. (B) Early detection and rapid response to keep invasive species of limited distribution from spreading in the state. (C) Integrated pest management for controlling invasive species already established in the state. (3) This part shall not prohibit the department from serving as the state’s governing authority in invasive pest and plant management, as specified in this division. (b) The Invasive Species Council of California shall consist of the following six members: (1) The secretary or their designated representative. (2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or their designated representative. (3) The Secretary for Environmental Protection or their designated representative. (4) The Secretary of Transportation or their designated representative. (5) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services or their designated representative. (6) The Director of Emergency Services or their designated representative. (c) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or their designated representative and the secretary or their designee shall serve as cochairs of the council. (d) The Invasive Species Council of California shall meet annually and as needed as determined by the cochairs. (e) The secretary may designate a staff liaison to further the purposes of this part. (f) (1) The Invasive Species Council of California may establish advisory committees and ad hoc working groups, as necessary, to advise on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control or eradication, as well as minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. (2) The advisory committees and working groups may consist of representatives from state agencies, federal agencies, county agricultural commissioners, academia, nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, industry representatives, and members of the public. (g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Integrated pest management” has the same meaning as defined in Section 11401.7. (2) “Invasive species” means nonnative organisms that cause, or are likely to cause, economic or environmental harm. “Invasive species” does not include humans, domestic livestock, domestic or domesticated species exempted pursuant to Section 2118 of the Fish and Game Code, or nonharmful nonnative organisms.