BILL NUMBER: AB 1811	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Dodd

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2016

   An act to amend Section 14513 of, and to add Section 14513.5 to,
the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to fertilizer.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1811, as introduced, Dodd. Fertilizing materials: auxiliary
soil and plant substances: biochar.
   Existing law generally regulates fertilizer materials and provides
for the licensure of individuals who manufacture or distribute
fertilizing materials. Existing law defines various terms for the
purpose of carrying out these provisions, including, but not limited
to, auxiliary soil and plant substances. Existing law lists specific
chemical or biological substances or mixtures of substances or
devices included within the definition of auxiliary soil and plant
substances and excludes commercial fertilizers, agricultural
minerals, pesticides, soil amendments, and manures from the
definition.
   This bill would include biochar, as defined, as a product intended
to be used for influencing soils, plant growth, or crop or plant
quality for the purposes of the definition of auxiliary soil and
plant substances. The bill would remove soil amendments as a
substance excluded from the definition of auxiliary soil and plant
substances.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 14513 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
amended to read:
   14513.  "Auxiliary soil and plant substance" means any chemical or
biological substance or mixture of substances or device distributed
in this state to be applied to soil, plants, or seeds for soil
corrective purposes; or that is intended to improve germination,
growth, yield, product quality, reproduction, flavor, or other
desirable characteristics of plants; or that is intended to produce
any chemical, biochemical, biological, or physical change in soil;
but does not include commercial fertilizers, agricultural minerals,
pesticides,  soil amendments,  or manures. It shall
include the following:
   (a) Bacterial inoculants.
   (b) Biotics.
   (c) Lignin or humus preparations.
   (d) Microbial products, including genetically engineered
microorganisms.
   (e) Soil binding agents.
   (f) Synthetic polyelectrolytes.
   (g) Wetting agents to promote water penetration.
   (h) Any similar product intended to be used for influencing soils,
plant growth, or crop or plant  quality.  
quality, including biochar. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 14513.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural
Code, to read:
   14513.5.  "Biochar" means materials derived from thermochemical
conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment containing at
least 60 percent carbon.