BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2714
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Date of Hearing: March 30, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Bill Dodd, Chair
AB 2714
(Cooper) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
SUBJECT: Pest control: Pierce's disease: funding.
SUMMARY: Appropriate an unspecified amount from the General
Fund (GF) to the Pierce's Disease (PD) Management Account in the
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fund.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Makes legislative findings and declarations related to PD, the
importance of the California wine industry, and the need for
funding the PD Control Program (Program).
2)Appropriate an unspecified amount from GF for the PD
Management Account.
EXISTING LAW: Created the PD Program, within CDFA, in order to
fight PD and its primary vector, The Glassy Winged Sharp Shooter
(GWSS). The PD/GWSS board was created to assess grape growers,
and direct expenditure to research and combat PD and its
vectors.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
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COMMENTS: In the late 1990s, PD threatened to cause damage to
grapes due to the arrival of GWSS. GWSS carries the bacterium
Xylella fastidiosa, which causes PD in grapes, almonds,
oleander, and citrus fruits. When a plant develops PD, its
ability to draw in moisture is hindered and the plant will
either die or become unproductive.
In response, the Legislature enacted a legislative package that
created the advisory task force on PD issues in 1999. In 2001,
the Program was created by AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103,
Statutes of 2001, to fight the spread of PD and find solutions
for PD and GWSS. SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of
2004, made technical and substantive changes to the Program, and
added a referendum process for the continuance of the Program
and its related assessments, to be approved by a majority of the
participants. The Program is currently funded from federal and
industry funds, and grape grower's assessments. The last GF
appropriation was just under $4 million and it was cut during
the 2011/2012 budget reductions.
Before 2011, the Program operated for 12 years as a model for
how state, federal and industry funds could be used in
collaboration to tackle issues important to agriculture. For
this twelve year time period, the state contributed
approximately $67 million, with an average contribution of $5.6
million annually.
The author points out California winegrape growers are seeing a
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significant increase in pest and disease spread across the
state. It was reported that more than 200,000 GWSS were trapped
in Kern County in 2015. This is the highest number of GWSS
reported in Kern County since monitoring began in 2001.
Furthermore, the recent spread of PD in the North Coast is
unprecedented and warrants significant concern. While there is
no population of GWSS in the North Coast to act as a vector for
PD, the rise in the disease is likely due to weather, an
increase in blue-green sharpshooter population, other vectors,
or some combination of these factors. Funds from the PD/GWSS
Board Program are being targeted at determining the cause of
this recent spread.
According to the author, the wine industry is important to the
state of California's economy and lifestyle, generating an
economic impact of more than $60 billion annually, creating more
than 330,000 fulltime jobs, and preserving agricultural land,
open space and family farms. The sponsors state it is important
that the state take an active role in protecting the winegrape
industry. Supporters added "With an economic recovery well
under way, now is the time to recommit state funding and support
to combat PD and other pest and diseases that affect winegrape
production in the state." The author's office is in discussion
with the Administration to determine an appropriate funding
level from the state for the PD program.
RELATED LEGISLATION:
AB 822 (Roth) will appropriate $5 million from the General Fund
to the Citrus Disease Management Account in the CDFA Fund for
the purpose of combating citrus disease or its vectors. This
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bill is set be heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee on
March 29, 2016.
AB 1642 (Chesbro), Statutes of 2013, Chapter 231, extended the
operative date of the PD Program to March 1, 2021.
AB 571 (Gatto) of 2013 would have appropriated $5 million from
the General Fund to the Citrus Disease Management Account in
CDFA for the purpose of combating citrus disease or its vectors.
This bill was vetoed by Governor.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Association of Winegrape Growers (sponsor)
Family Winemakers of California
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
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