BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 315
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
315 (Bigelow) - As Amended March 19, 2015
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|Policy | Agriculture |Vote:|10 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill repeals the following requirements with respect to
fairs:
1)The requirement for fairs to make an annual report to the
Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA) of the total number
of free pass admissions issued and honored at the fair.
AB 315
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2)The requirement that the Secretary expend up to $100,000 in
any fiscal year for exhibits at a state-supported fair showing
the process of production and use of agricultural products in
the state.
3)The requirement that the Secretary annually arrange for a
conference of fair judges to help DFA make regulations for the
judging of exhibits, a requirement which currently authorizes
the Secretary to spend up to $15,000 for the conference.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable costs to DFA to implement the changes,
likely cost savings to DFA as a result of program eliminations.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. According to the author, fairs have endured financial
hardships since the state cut their funding in 2010. Repealing
the requirements for an annual report on courtesy passes, an
annual conference on exhibits, and exhibit funding, would
alleviate some of the cost pressure to fairs. Since January 1,
2012, California fairs have depended on self-generated revenues
to operate.
AB 315
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Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081