BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           2 (Wiggins)
          
          Hearing Date:  5/28/2009        Amended: 5/21/2009
          Consultant:  Bob Franzoia       Policy Vote: Ag 5-0
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: SB 2 would do the following:
          - Extend from 2011 to 2016, the Pierce's Disease Control Program  
          within the Department of Food and Agriculture.
          - Expand the research program to include designated new pests  
          and diseases affecting grapes grown in California.
          - Increase from 7 percent to 14 percent the amount that can be  
          spent for administrative purposes.
          - Authorize the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter  
          Board to make recommendations to the Department of Food and  
          Agriculture that a pest or disease be designated as a new pest  
          or disease and that money should be expended on research and  
          outreach.
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2009-10      2010-11       2011-12     Fund
           Sunset extension       $2,050     $4,100      $4,100    General/
                                 $1,700     $2,400      $2,400    Special*

          Expansion of research  Unknown, potentially major cost  
          pressureSpecial*
          program                                                 

          * Pierce's Disease Management Account (6064-3010) - in 2008, the  
          program received $22,500 in federal funds
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. 
          
          The current Pierce's Disease research program is funded by a  
          combination of General Funds, special funds (industry  
          assessment) and federal funds.  Both General Fund and special  
          support has decreased since the program was established by  
          Chapter 103/2001 (AB 1394, Wiggins).  Federal funding greatly  
          exceeds state and industry support for the program.  A reduction  










          in state or industry funding for the program may result in  
          reduced federal support.  Preliminary information suggests  
          research generated by the program is successful though the  
          benefits of that research are several years out.