BILL NUMBER: AB 2510	CHAPTERED  09/08/00

	CHAPTER   359
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 24, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 23, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 18, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 7, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 8, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 24, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Thomson

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 52100) to Chapter
1 of Division 18 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to
field crop products.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2510, Thomson.  Field crop products:  civil liability.
   Existing law authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to
carry out specified powers and duties relating to field crop
products, as defined.
   This bill would provide that any person who willfully and
knowingly damages or destroys any field crop product, as specified,
that is known by the person to be the subject of testing or a product
development program conducted by specified entities, shall be liable
for twice the value of the crop damaged or destroyed.
   The bill additionally would revise the damages provision to limit
damages to actual damages, as specified.


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


  SECTION 1.  Article 6 (commencing with Section 52100) is added to
Chapter 1 of Division 18 of the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:


      Article 6.  Destruction

   52100.  (a) Any person who willfully and knowingly damages or
destroys any field crop product, as specified in Sections 42510 and
52001, that is known by the person to be the subject of testing or a
product development program being conducted by, or in conjunction or
cooperation with the University of California, the California State
University System, or any other federal, state, or local government
agency, shall be liable for twice the value of the crop damaged or
destroyed.  For purposes of this subdivision, "in conjunction or
cooperation with" means having a contract with the University of
California, the California State University System, or any other
federal, state, or local government agency involving testing or a
product development program relating to that field crop product.
   (b) Damages available under this section shall be limited to twice
actual damages involving research, testing, and crop development
costs directly related to the crop that has been damaged or
destroyed.
   (c) The rights and remedies available under this section are in
addition to any other rights or remedies otherwise available in law
or statute.