BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 958
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
958 (Committee on Agriculture)
As Amended June 29, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | 74-0 | (May 22, |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 20, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY: Changes the membership and district reapportionment of
the California Avocado Commission (CAC); requires the Secretary
(Secretary) of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) to hold a referendum vote to include salmon handlers on
the California Salmon Council (CSC), as specified; and provides
for CSC implementation procedures, membership, and other
conforming changes should the referendum affirm handler
participation.
The Senate amendments:
1)Reduce the number of districts established by CAC to a minimum
of three districts and a maximum of five districts.
2)Remove prescribed procedures for district reapportionment and
instead allow CAC's board the authority to adopt procedures
with a two-thirds vote and concurrence by the Secretary.
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3)Specify CAC board membership according to the number of
districts established under CAC's redistricting.
4)Provide for alternate members for producers, handlers, and the
public member.
5)Remove references to CAC as a corporation.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes CAC, composed of 10 producers and four handlers
elected by the industry, and one public member appointed by
CDFA.
2)Divides California into five districts representing
approximately 20% of the avocado production.
3)Provides for CAC membership, voting procedures, duties and
powers, assessment rates, recordkeeping, quality standards,
penalties, and referendum procedures including continuance and
termination.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: CAC was created in 1977 to benefit California and the
industry by addressing advertising, promotion, research, quality
and maturity standards, crop statistics, and public education.
The Senate amendments will help modernize CAC by providing
flexibility to CAC to adjust the number of districts and board
AB 958
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members to more accurately represent the avocado industry.
These changes would only occur upon a two-thirds vote of the
board. This bill is substantially similar to the Assembly
approved version of this bill and is consistent with aims of the
Assembly Agricultural Committee.
Analysis Prepared by: Victor Francovich /
AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0001364