BILL NUMBER: AB 388 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 27, 2002 AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 4, 2002 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 27, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 5, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 30, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Strom-Martin FEBRUARY 20, 2001 An act to add Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 590) to Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to specialty fiber crops. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 388, as amended, Strom-Martin. Specialty fiber crops. Existing law provides for the University of California to conduct various studies, pilot demonstration projects, and programs designed to provide information and support to the Department of Food and Agriculture and California's agricultural community. This bill wouldprovide, upon agreement by the regents,request that the University of Californiawouldconduct an assessment of economic opportunities available through the production of specialty or alternative fiber crops. This bill wouldprovide that the assessment be funded by moneys currently in the budget of the University of California, if available, and thatrequest the University of California to report its finding to the Legislature by January 1, 2004. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 9.5 (commencing with Section950)590) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code, to read: Article 9.5. Specialty or Alternative Fiber Crops950. (a) Upon agreement by the regents, the University of California shall590. (a) The University of California is requested to conduct an assessment of economic opportunities available through the production of specialty or alternative fiber crops including industrial hemp, kenaf, and flax by extrapolating data on productivity and production costs available from trials conducted in other states and countries to California's conditions. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) An estimation of market demand and likely crop prices. (2) Identification of potential barriers to profitability. (3) Identification of production, processing, and marketing issues that wouldbeneed to be addressed in future demonstration research or pilot commercial trials. (b) Not later than January 1, 2004, the University of Californiashallis requested to report its findings to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources.(c) The assessment shall be funded with moneys currently within the budget of the University of California, if available.