BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 2
Author: Wiggins (D), et al
Amended: 5/20/09
Vote: 21
SENATE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE : 5-0, 4/21/09
AYES: Florez, Maldonado, Hancock, Hollingsworth, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 12-0, 5/28/09
AYES: Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, Denham, DeSaulnier, Hancock,
Leno, Oropeza, Runner, Walters, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wolk
SUBJECT : Pest control: Pierces disease: glassy-winged
sharpshooter
SOURCE : California Association of Winegrape Growers
Family Winemakers of California
Wine Institute
DIGEST : This bill extends the sunset of the Pierces
Disease Control Program date from March 1, 2011 to March 1,
2016, and makes other changes to existing law regarding the
program.
ANALYSIS : In the late 1990s, Pierce's Disease, which has
been present in California for more than 100 years,
threatened to cause sizable damage to grapes due to the
arrival of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter. The
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter carries the bacterium Xylella
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fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's Disease in grapes,
almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits. The insect feeds on
a plant's water producing elements. When a plant develops
Pierce's Disease, its ability to draw in moisture is
hindered and the plant will either die or become
unproductive.
In response to this threat to the grape industry, the
Legislature enacted a legislative package that eventually
resulted in the creation of an advisory task force on the
Pierce's Disease issue in 1999. In 2000, the Pierce's
Disease Control Program was created: a partnership between
Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA), County
Agriculture Commissioners, United States Department of
Agriculture, University of California, local agencies,
industry, and agriculture organizations to combat the
spread and find solutions for Pierce's Disease and the
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.
SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of 2004, made
various technical and substantive changes to the Pierce's
Disease Control Program. The bill added a referendum
process for the continuance of the program and its related
assessments to be approved by a majority of the referendum
participants, clarified that proprietary information
submitted to DFA is confidential, and prohibited the
dissemination of judicial proceedings involving such
information to the public or third parties during the
proceedings.
SB 295 (Chesbro), Chapter 12, Statutes of 2005, ensures
that proprietary information collected for the Pierce's
Disease Control Program and used in a court proceeding
shall not be disseminated during or after the court
proceedings. It also eliminates reimbursement to the
county for election costs associated with petitions to
organize districts to respond to and distribute information
about the spread of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and
Pierce's Disease. The bill also states that the Advisory
Task Force will remain in effect until March 1, 2011,
regardless of the termination dates or other portions of
the Pierce's Disease Control Program.
This bill:
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1. Extends from 2011 to 2016, the Pierce's Disease Control
Program within the Department of Food and Agriculture.
2. Deletes the requirement that General Funds designated
for research can only be expended when nonstate revenue
sources provide a 25 percent match.
3. Expands the research program to include designated new
pests and diseases affecting grapes grown in California.
4. Authorizes 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.
Comments
According to the author's office the Pierce's Disease
Control Program has proven to be a very successful effort
to control the spread of Pierce's Disease and the
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter. While the program is due to
sunset in 2011, the disease and the threat of its spread
still remains. By extending the sunset date, the Pierce's
Disease Control Program can continue to combat the spread
of Pierce's Disease and the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.
Supporters of this bill state that the great
intergovernmental and industry coordination through the
Pierce's Disease Control Program has proven an excellent
model for pest control programs. By extending the research
funding of the program to include other significant pests
and diseases threatening California grape growers,
California will be able to build on the success of the
Pierce's Disease Control Program to combat other
significant pests to California grapes.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
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Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12 Fund
Sunset extension $2,050 $4,100$4,100General/
$1,700 $2,400$2,400Special*
Expansion of research Unknown,
potentially major cost General/
program pressure Special*
Pierce's Disease Management Account (6064-3010) -
in 2008, the program received $22,500 in federal funds
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis,
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 AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103, Statutes of
2001. 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.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/29/09)
California Association of Winegrape Growers (co-source)
Family Winemakers of California (co-source)
Wine Institute (co-source)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
California Agriculture Commissioners & Sealers Association
TSM:do 6/1/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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