BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 348 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 21, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 348 (Galgiani) - As Amended: August 7, 2013 Policy Committee: AgricultureVote:7 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill extends, from January 1, 2015 to July 1, 2019, the operation of provisions of the California Seed Law (CSL), including a subventions program. FISCAL EFFECT 1)The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) provides $120,000 per year (special funds) to California's counties to fund the enforcement of the CSL. This bill would continue that subvention for four years. CDFA estimates that without those annual subventions they would need approximately $500,000 per year for the staffing needs associated with enforcing the CSL at the state level. 2)Because fees collected pursuant to the California Seed Law are continuously appropriated to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), by extending the operation of subvention program, this bill makes an appropriation. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . This bill extends the county subventions for enforcement of the CSL. The intent of this legislation is to ensure the CSL continues to be enforced in a cost effective manner. CDFA notes that failure to pass SB 348 could result in an end to the statutory authorization for seed subvention. If counties do not receive funds to offset seed law enforcement activities, counties are unlikely to enforce provisions of the California Seed Law. As a consequence, CDFA would then need to hire more staff to monitor seed related SB 348 Page 2 activities in counties. 2)Background . The California Seed Law is designed to ensure that seeds purchased by the consumer are properly identified and of the quality represented on the tag or label. The enforcement program provides third-party seed inspections to monitor the accuracy of label statements as to variety and type, purity, and germination. These enforcement activities are carried out by individual county agricultural commissioners. 3)Related Legislation . AB 1255 (Tom Berryhill; Chapter 281, Statutes of 2009) extends to January 1, 2015, the operation of provisions of the CSL, including a subvention program. AB 856 (Galgiani; Chapter 425, Statutes of 2008) extends to January 1, 2010, the operation of provisions of the CSL, including a subvention program; provides that the minimum $100 subvention may not be allocated to counties without registered seed labelers. AB 315 (Salinas; Chapter 394, Statutes of 2003), requires the Secretary to pay a total annual subvention to counties of $120,000; extends to July 1, 2009, the operation of provisions in the CSL. Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 319-2081