BILL NUMBER: AB 388 ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 15, 2002 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 8, 2002 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 12, 2002 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, 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 would request that the University of California conduct an assessment of economic opportunities available through the production of specialty or alternative fiber crops. This bill would request the University of California to report its finding to the Legislature by January 1, 2004. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 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 Crops 590. (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, legal, processing, and marketing issues that would need to be addressed in future demonstration research or pilot commercial trials. (b) Not later than January 1, 2004, the University of California is requested to report its findings to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources.