BILL NUMBER: AB 2174	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to amend Section 14611 of the Food and Agricultural Code,
relating to fertilizer.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2174, as introduced, Alejo. Fertilizer: reduction of use.
   Existing law requires a person who manufactures or distributes
fertilizing materials to obtain a license from the Secretary of Food
and Agriculture. Under existing law, a licensee whose name appears on
the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing materials is
required to pay specified fees for each dollar of sales, including an
amount not to exceed $0.001 per dollar of sales for all sales of
fertilizing materials, to provide funding for research and education
regarding the use and handling of fertilizing material, including,
but not limited to, any environmental effects.
   This bill would specify that the use of the $0.001 per dollar of
sales fee is also for the support of University of California
Agriculture Extension programs that advise farmers on measures to
reduce fertilizer use, programs that reduce the impact of fertilizer
use on groundwater quality, and programs to address drinking water
contamination associated with fertilizer use.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 14611 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
amended to read:
   14611.  (a)  Any   A  licensee whose
name appears on the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing
materials, as defined in Sections 14517 and 14533, to unlicensed
purchasers, shall pay to the secretary an assessment not to exceed
two mills ($0.002) per dollar of sales for all fertilizing materials.
 Any   A  licensee whose name appears on
the label of packaged fertilizing materials, as defined in Sections
14533 and 14551, shall pay to the secretary an assessment not to
exceed two mills ($0.002) per dollar of sales. The secretary may,
based on the findings and recommendations of the board, reduce the
assessment rate to a lower rate that provides sufficient revenue to
carry out this chapter.
   (b) In addition to the assessment provided in subdivision (a), the
secretary may impose an assessment in an amount not to exceed one
mill ($0.001) per dollar of sales for all sales of fertilizing
materials, to provide funding for research and education regarding
the use and handling of fertilizing material, including, but not
limited to,  any   support for University of
California Agriculture Extension programs that advise farmers on
measures to reduce fertilizer use   ,   programs
that reduce the impact of fertilizer use on groundwater quality 
 , programs to address drinking water contamination associated
with fertilizer use   , and other  environmental
effects.