BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1242
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1242 (Wiggins)
As Amended May 31, 2001
2/3 vote
AGRICULTURE 12-0 APPROPRIATIONS 15-6
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|Ayes:|Matthews, Maldonado, |Ayes:|Migden, Alquist, Aroner, |
| |Aanestad, Canciamilla, | |Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, |
| |Florez, Hollingsworth, | |Goldberg, Maldonado, |
| |Oropeza, Reyes, Salinas, | |Papan, Pavley, Simitian, |
| |Strickland, Thomson, | |Thomson, Wesson, Wiggins, |
| |Wiggins | |Wright |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Bates, Ashburn, Daucher, |
| | | |Robert Pacheco, Runner, |
| | | |Zettel |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Creates 'The Farm Futures Act of 2001', makes findings
and declarations regarding the importance of farms to the state,
and appropriates funding for this purpose. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Requires the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) to take primary responsibility for researching trends
in farm transfers, developing training materials to promote
intergenerational farm transfers, and supporting efforts of
other organizations that provide training to facilitate
intergenerational farm transfers.
2)Requires CDFA to contract with one or more appropriate
non-profit organizations that have had experience in:
a) Coordinating outreach to the agricultural community,
such as seminars, workshops and grassroots meetings;
b) Providing one-on-one technical assistance to address
business planning, family land mediation, estate planning,
and other planning;
c) Sponsoring mentoring program activities;
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d) Promoting innovative techniques to facilitate farm
transfers, which may combine estate planning strategies
with land conservation strategies and similar techniques;
e) Maintaining a database of retiring and aspiring farmers
and facilitating preliminary meetings between the parties;
and,
f) Serving as a clearinghouse for professional services,
business planners, financial planners, succession planners,
real estate agents, and others experienced with or
committed to facilitating family farm transfers.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriates $250,000 in one time funding to
fund fiscal year 2002-03.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, this legislation
addresses the challenge of facilitating transitions of family
farms from one generation to the next. The economic future of
California's agriculture depends on the ability of a new
generation to enter farming, yet trends over the last few years
have been alarming. The 1997 Census of Agriculture reports that
26% of California farmers are over 65 years of age. This age
group totals approximately 30% of all farmers in California.
Currently, 25 states are involved in farm linking programs that
connect retiring farmers to prospective buyers. In 20 of these
states, there is an active role certain agricultural nonprofit
organizations take when linking two parties together. They
conduct workshops, oversee apprenticeships, create and
distribute educational materials and provide one on one
consultation.
CDFA is currently not required to research trends in farm
ownership, provide assistance in the transfer of farms, or
support efforts that facilitate farm transfers. Amendments
taken in policy committee specify that CDFA may contract with
more than one nonprofit organization for the various tasks
required in this legislation.
Analysis Prepared by : Dawn Clover / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
AB 1242
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FN: 0001202