BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



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          Date of Hearing:  March 23, 2015 


                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES


                                Richard Gordon, Chair


          ACR 44  
          (Dodd) - As Introduced March 10, 2015


          SUBJECT:  California Wines:  Down to Earth Month.


          SUMMARY:  Proclaims the month of April 2015 as California Wines:  
          Down to Earth Month, to celebrate the sustainable leadership of  
          California wineries and winegrape growers throughout April.   
          Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1)Sustainability is a vital part of the long-term future of  
            California wine, which contributes an estimated $61.5 billion  
            in annual economic impact to California's economy.


          2)The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape  
            Growers created the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing  
            over a decade ago and it has since been used by vineyards and  
            wineries representing nearly three-quarters of California's  
            winegrape acreage and production to self-assess operations.


          3)California's 4,100 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers are  
            primarily family businesses with a long-term commitment to the  
            health and vitality of their communities and to preserving the  
            land for future generations.








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          4)California's wine community conserves water, energy, and other  
            natural resources; protects habitat, employee well-being, and  
            air, water, and soil quality; and promotes the use of natural  
            pest management and alternative energy and fuels.


          5)California growers' and vintners' commitment to sustainability  
            was recognized with a Governor's Environmental and Economic  
            Leadership Award, for the third time, in 2015 and these  
            wineries and regional associations will host Down to Earth and  
            Earth Day activities such as eco-tours, winemaker dinners  
            pairing sustainably produced wine and food, and other green  
            activities during the month of April.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  None


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          None on file




          Opposition


          None on file










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          Analysis Prepared by:Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800