Bill > H626

This bill establishes a new "Department of Agricultural Resources and Marine Fisheries" by amending existing laws to consolidate responsibilities related to agriculture and marine life under one umbrella. It explicitly includes the board of food and agriculture, the division of marine fisheries, the marine fisheries advisory commission, the pesticide board, and the state reclamation board within this new department. The bill also grants the department new powers and duties concerning marine fisheries, such as promoting and developing marine resources, collecting data on fish and shellfish, investigating improved marketing and distribution methods, and conducting research. Furthermore, it outlines the process for transferring employees, proceedings, property, and legal obligations from the former "department of fish and game" to the new department, ensuring that employee rights and existing agreements are protected during this transition. Finally, it mandates that any references to the "department of agricultural resources" in existing documents will now refer to the new "department of agricultural resources and marine fisheries."