BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE FOOD and AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Senator Dean Florez, Chairman
BILL NO: AB 735 HEARING: 7/7/09
AUTHOR: Assembly Agriculture CommitteeFISCAL: Yes
VERSION: 4/21/09 CONSULTANT: John Chandler
California Wheat Commission
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
The California Wheat Commission (commission) was established by
a referendum vote of wheat growers 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 Wheat Commission has a board of
15 wheat farmers and two handlers, each with an alternate
member, and one public member. Each of the 15 wheat farmers
comes from one of the 15 districts across the state. The
commission may change the boundaries of the 15 districts with a
two-thirds vote of the commissioners. A quorum of the
commission board requires 10 voting commissioners.
The commission may implement an assessment on the wheat industry
producers, not to exceed 1% of the total gross dollar value of
the year's sale of wheat by all producers and handlers.
PROPOSED LAW
AB 735 will:
Consolidate the current 15 producer districts into 13
districts.
Change the commission board from 15 to 13 producer
members, one from each district; add two at-large members;
and maintain two handler members and one public member.
Define "at-large member" as a person with knowledge,
expertise, and interest in wheat production, handling, and
research and deemed by CDFA to be of value to the
commission.
Authorize the commission to change the number of
producer districts with a two-thirds vote of the commission
board.
Change the quorum from 10 voting members to a majority
of voting members.
AB 735 - Page 2
COMMENTS
1.Proponents state the changes to the California Wheat
Commission in AB 735 reflect the changes in California's wheat
industry. Wheat production in counties like Sacramento and El
Dorado has dropped by as much as 60% due to development
activities in those areas. Changing the commission's
geographical requirements allows it to better reflect the
current California wheat industry. Further, proponents state
that the commission has historically struggled to keep a
quorum of 10 members. Changing it to a majority of the
commission will allow smooth operation.
2.AB 735 changes the quorum requirement for the Wheat Commission
from 10 members to a majority present. With the changes
offered in the bill, the commission would still have a total
membership of 18 board members. A majority of the commission
would still be 10 members. The committee may wish to consider
that the change of quorum from 10 members to a majority of the
members does not change the number of voting members needed
for a quorum.
PRIOR ACTIONS
Assembly Floor 78-0
Assembly Appropriations16-0
Assembly Agriculture 7-0
SUPPORT
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Wheat Commission
OPPOSITION
None received