BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2714
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2714 (Cooper)
As Amended April 12, 2016
2/3 vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Agriculture |9-0 |Dodd, Mathis, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Gray, | |
| | |Irwin, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Quirk, | |
| | |Salas | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |20-0 |Gonzalez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonilla, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Roger | |
| | |Hernández, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Obernolte, | |
| | |Quirk, Santiago, | |
| | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
AB 2714
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| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Appropriates $5 million 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)Appropriates 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: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill will cost $5 million from GF.
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 2001, the Program was created to fight the spread of PD and
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find solutions for PD and GWSS. 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
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
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to combat PD and other pest and diseases that affect winegrape
production in the state."
RELATED LEGISLATION:
AB 822 (Roth) of the current legislative session will
appropriate $5 million from GF to the Citrus Disease Management
Account for the purpose of combating citrus disease or its
vectors.
AB 1642 (Chesbro), Chapter 231, Statutes of 2013, extended the
operative date of the PD Program to March 1, 2021.
AB 571 (Gatto) of 2013 would have appropriated $5 million from
GF to the Citrus Disease Management Account for the purpose of
combating citrus disease or its vectors. This bill was vetoed
by Governor.
Analysis Prepared by:
Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN:
0003140
AB 2714
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