BILL ANALYSIS
AB 735
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 735 (Committee on Agriculture) - As Amended: April 21, 2009
Policy Committee: AgricultureVote:7
- 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill changes the composition of the California Wheat
Commission from 15 wheat producers, two wheat handlers, and one
public member to 13 producers, two handlers and two at-large
members. Specifically, this bill:
1)Changes the composition of the California Wheat Commission
from 15 wheat producers, two wheat handlers, and one public
member to 13 producers, two handlers and two at-large members.
2)Requires the two at-large members to be persons with
knowledge, expertise, and interest in wheat production,
handling, research or any other attribute deemed by the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture to be of value to the
commission.
3)Reduces the number of wheat districts from 15 to 13 and
changes the boundaries of the districts.
4)Provides the commission with the authority to change the
number of districts using a two-thirds vote.
5)Changes the definition of a quorum from 10 commissioners to a
majority of the commissioners.
FISCAL EFFECT
There are no costs associated with making changes to the
composition of the California Wheat Commission.
AB 735
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COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The purpose of this legislation is to make it easier
for the Wheat Commission to establish a quorum so that they
can conduct their meetings more efficiently. According to the
commission, they have had problems being able to conduct
business consistently due to a lack of quorums at board
meetings. By consolidating an inactive district with an
active one, consolidating another two districts that have had
planted acreages reduced, adding two at-large members from
involved with related wheat activities, and removing the
statutory number of 10 for a quorum, the Commission believes
it would be easier to conduct business at future board
meetings.
2)The California Wheat Commission . Wheat growers voted to
establish the California Wheat Commission in 1983, expressly
to develop and maintain domestic and international markets for
California wheat and support research that improves California
wheat quality and marketability. The commission, operating
under the California Food and Agriculture Code, is funded by
wheat growers and is guided by a board of 15 wheat farmers,
two handlers - each with an alternate member and one public
member. California wheat production covers over 600,000 acres
in the state with a farm value of $167 million.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081