(a) To be eligible to receive funding from the Noxious Weed Management Account pursuant to this article, a weed management area, as defined in subdivision (b), shall be formed in a county or other geographic area.

(b) A “weed management area” is a local organization that brings together all interested landowners, land managers (private, city, county, state, and federal), special districts, and the public in a county or other geographical area for the purpose of coordinating and combining their action and expertise to deal with their common weed control problems. The organization shall function under the authority of a mutually developed memorandum of understanding and subject to statutory and regulatory requirements. A weed management area may be voluntarily governed by a chairperson or a steering committee.

(c) Not more than 10 percent of the noxious weed management funds distributed to a weed management area subject to this section may be used by that local organization for meeting, travel, administration, and coordination costs.

(d) Each weed management area within the state shall create an integrated weed management plan for the management of noxious weeds within that area. The plan shall be submitted to the department for review, approval, and funding.

(e) The secretary and weed management areas shall consider the use of the California Conservation Corp and local conservation corps to assist in implementing integrated weed management plans pursuant to this article.

(f) If feasible, the integrated weed management plan established pursuant to subdivision (d) shall prioritize a cost-share plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 208, Sec. 2. (AB 1763) Effective January 1, 2024.)