BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 1354 (Galgiani) - Agricultural pest control: Asian citrus
psyllid: Huanglongbing
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|Version: May 19, 2016 |Policy Vote: AGRI. 5 - 0 |
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|Urgency: Yes |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: May 27, 2016 |Consultant: Robert Ingenito |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: SB 1354, an urgency measure, would require the
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to, upon
appropriation specific for this purpose, (1) support research
activities relating to the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and
Huanglongbing (HLB), and (2) work with specified stakeholders to
establish a process for voluntary tracking of best practices to
manage ACP-infested and HLB-infected groves.
Fiscal Impact: As currently written, the bill would require CDFA
to support specified research if funding is appropriated, but
does not make an appropriation. Consequently, the bill would
result in cost pressures of unknown magnitude, minimally in the
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually (General Fund).
Background: Citrus is a $2 billion industry in California. The
State produces roughly one-third of the nation's fresh citrus on
roughly 270,000 acres, and directly employs in excess of than
14,000 people.
Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening disease, is a
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bacterial plant disease that, while not harmful to humans or
animals, is fatal for citrus trees. The disease destroys citrus
trees' production, appearance and economic value. Diseased trees
produce hard, bitter, misshapen fruit, and the trees typically
die within 3-5 years of being infected. HLB is considered to be
one of the most serious plant diseases in the world and
currently there is no cure. According to CDFA, HLB is the most
devastating disease of citrus in the world, affecting citrus in
Asia, Africa, Brazil, Central America, as well as the United
States. Infected plants must be removed and destroyed in order
to prevent further spread of HLB.
HLB is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny, invasive
insect that feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees and
causes shoot deformation and plant stunting. When an ACP feeds
on an HLB-infected tree, it can pick up the bacteria that causes
the disease. Once infected, ACP carries the disease-causing
bacteria for life and can transfer the disease when feeding on
other citrus trees.
After a 2005 discovery in Florida, it took only two years for
HLB to transmit to all 32 Florida citrus-producing counties and
infect over half of the citrus tree in that state. Studies
conclude that HLB-related economic damage in Florida has
resulted in a loss of roughly $8 billion and 8,000 jobs over the
last five years. Additionally, HLB has since been detected in
Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas.
In 2008, ACP was first identified in Southern California and has
since spread rapidly such that quarantine boundaries now
comprise one-third of the State. In March 2012, HLB was detected
in a multi-grafted citrus tree in a residential portion of Los
Angeles County. The tree was destroyed; however, the disease
was detected again in 2015 in 22 trees located in the
surrounding areas. The new finds and the rapid migration of the
disease-carrying insect have increased CDFA's surveillance,
trapping, and analytical workloads.
The citrus industry, the University of California, and both the
state and federal governments are working to eliminate and
prevent the establishment of ACP and HLB in California. Much of
the research is conducted with funding from the citrus industry,
CDFA Specialty Crops Block Grants, and the United States
Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and
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Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (H.R. 2642) was signed into law on
February 7, 2014, and directs $125 million of the USDA Specialty
Crop Research Initiative funding toward citrus disease research
over the next 5 years. In FY 2015, the federal government
awarded $20 million in grants nationwide to university
researchers and extension projects to aid in the fight against
HLB.
Proposed Law: This bill would require CDFA to, upon
appropriation of funds for that purpose, (1) support specified
research activities relating to ACP and HLB, and (2) work with
county agricultural commissioners, pest control advisors,
researchers, and/or the Citrus Research Board to establish a
process for voluntary tracking of best practices to manage
ACP-infested and HLB-infected groves. The information collected
shall be used to establish recommended management protocols
based on best available science and treatment outcomes.
Related Legislation:
SB 822 (Roth, 2016), would appropriate $5 million from
the General Fund to the Citrus Disease Management Account
within the California Department of Food and Agriculture
Fund for the purpose of combating citrus disease or its
vectors. This bill also would increase the monthly citrus
assessment fee from $0.09 to $0.12 per 40 pound carton. The
bill is currently on the Suspense File of this Committee.
SB 1282 (Leno and Allen, 2016 would require the
California Department of Pesticide Regulation to, by July
1, 2017, require labeling of all commercially available
seeds and plants sold at retail establishments that have
been treated with a neonicotinoid pesticide to include a
warning statement and logo regarding the potential for the
product to harm bees. This bill would also, by January 1,
2018, designate neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted
materials with the exception for products sold or applied
by veterinarians. The bill is currently on the Suspense
File of this Committee.
AB 571 (Gatto, 2013) This bill would have appropriated
$5 million from the General Fund to the Citrus Disease
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Management Account within the California Department of Food
and Agriculture Fund for the purposes of combating citrus
disease or its vectors. The bill was vetoed by the
Governor.
Staff Comments: Current law establishes the California Citrus
Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CCPDPC) within CDFA to
advise on efforts to prevent and manage citrus pests and
diseases. CCPDPC is generally funded by (1) the California
citrus industry, and (2) federal grants. An assessment is levied
on citrus producers and deposited into the Citrus Disease
Management Account for the sole purpose of combating
citrus-specific pests and diseases. The current assessment rate
is the statutory maximum of $0.09 per carton. Assessment
revenues have averaged $15 million over the last five years, and
represent more than half of the total budget for program. As
noted above, SB 822 would raise the assessment to $0.12 per
40-pound carton; fee revenues would increase by roughly $5
million annually, based on 2014-15 production levels.
Funding (including federal, special funds and state funds)
related to ACP and HLB totaled $23.7 million in 2014-15. Funding
for 2015-16 is currently estimated to be $26.6 million in
2015-16. The budget projects spending of $27.7 in 2016-17. A
Senate budget subcommittee recently adopted a proposal to
augment CDFA's 2016-17 budget by $5 million for activities
related to ACP and HLB, none of which would be available for the
purposes of this bill.
As noted above, this bill would require CDFA, upon the
appropriation of funds for that purpose, to support specified
research activities relating to ACP and HLB. The bill would also
require the department, upon the appropriation of funds for that
purpose, to work with county agricultural commissioners, pest
control advisors, researchers, and/or the Citrus Research Board,
to establish a process for voluntary tracking of best practices
for managing ACP and HLB -infected groves, as specified. Funding
for such activities has not been appropriated, but would likely
cost, at a minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
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