(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) California’s climate and topography support a wide diversity of biological organisms.
(2) Most of these organisms are beneficial, but some are vectors of human disease pathogens or directly cause other human diseases such as hypersensitivity, envenomization, and secondary infections.
(3) Some of these diseases, such as mosquitoborne viral encephalitis, can be fatal, especially in children and older individuals.
(4) California’s connections to the wider national and international economies increase the transport of vectors and pathogens.
(5) Invasions of the United States by vectors such as the Asian tiger mosquito and by pathogens such as the West Nile virus underscore the vulnerability of humans to uncontrolled vectors and pathogens.
(b) The Legislature further finds and declares:
(1) Individual protection against the vectorborne diseases is only partially effective.
(2) Adequate protection of human health against vectorborne diseases is best achieved by organized public programs.
(3) The protection of Californians and their communities against the discomforts and economic effects of vectorborne diseases is an essential public service that is vital to public health, safety, and welfare.
(4) Since 1915, mosquito abatement and vector control districts have protected Californians and their communities against the threats of vectorborne diseases.
(c) In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of the Legislature to create and continue a broad statutory authority for a class of special districts with the power to conduct effective programs for the surveillance, prevention, abatement, and control of mosquitoes and other vectors.
(d) It is also the intent of the Legislature that mosquito abatement and vector control districts cooperate with other public agencies to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Further, the Legislature encourages local communities and local officials to adapt the powers and procedures provided by this chapter to meet the diversity of their own local circumstances and responsibilities.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 395, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003.)