BILL ANALYSIS
AB 977
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 977 (Ma)
As Amended April 30, 2007
Majority vote
AGRICULTURE 6-0 APPROPRIATIONS
(vote not
available)
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|Ayes:|Parra, Berryhill, | | |
| |Dymally, Galgiani, Jones, | | |
| |Mendoza | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the California Research Bureau (CRB), part of
the California State Library, to prepare a summary of available
literature on the effectiveness of marketing orders, councils
and commissions, and submit it to the Legislature by December 1,
2007. CRB is required to submit an estimated schedule of
completion to the policy agricultural committees of the Assembly
and Senate. The California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) and the respective entities, are required to cooperate
with CRB in providing requested information for the summary.
EXISTING LAW provides authority under the 1937 Marketing Act for
the Secretary of CDFA to create marketing orders with specific
powers, voting and assessment requirements, and definitions
(Food and Agricultural Code (FAC) 58601 et. seq.). Councils
and Commissions are statutorily authorized for specific
commodities with various powers, authorities, assessment levels,
and voting structures (FAC 64001 et. seq.). The CRB provides
nonpartisan research services to the Governor and his staff, to
both houses of the Legislature, and to other state elected
officials.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor General Fund costs, if any, to CRB to summarize
available literature on the effectiveness of agricultural
commodity marketing orders, council, and commissions.
COMMENTS : Marketing orders, councils and commissions are all
subject to referendum to be created and for continuance of those
that pay the respective assessments. There is a difference of
AB 977
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opinion as to the benefits that these entities bring to
producers, handlers and/or processors. While there have been
numerous individual analysis of the various programs, these
analyses have not been complied to take an overall perspective
of the benefits or problems. AB 977 attempts to make an overall
evaluation of marketing orders, councils and commissions
worthiness.
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
FN: 0000953