BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1242
Author: Wiggins (D), et al
Amended: 3/21/02 in Senate
Vote: 27 - Urgency
PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT
SENATE AG. & WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE : 9-0, 3/4/02
AYES: Costa, Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Johannessen, Kuehl,
Machado, Poochigian, Torlakson
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-0, 3/11/02
AYES: Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Escutia, Johannessen,
Karnette, McPherson, Murray, Perata, Poochigian
SUBJECT : Pest control: glassy-winged sharpshooter
SOURCE : California Association of Winegrape Growers
Wine Institute
DIGEST : This bill (1) appropriates $7.14 million of
federal funds to the State Department of Food and
Agriculture (DFA) to indemnify grape growers for vine
losses resulting from Pierce's disease spread by the
glassy-winged sharpshooter, (2) provides that the funds be
available for expenditure by DFA until December 31, 2002,
and (3) makes legislative findings and declarations.
Senate Floor Amendments of 3/21/02 (1) clarify that DFA may
not retain more than five percent of the federal allocation
to cover administrative expenses directly related to the
CONTINUED
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program, including department overhead and third-party
verifications, and (2) change the date for funds to be
available from September 30, 2003 to December 31, 2002.
ANALYSIS : SB 671 (Chesbro), Chapter 21, Statutes of
2000, created the Pierce's Disease Control Program within
the DFA. The program's goal is to eradicate Pierce's
disease and its vector glassy-winged sharpshooter.
Congress passed a measure appropriating $7.14 million in
funds to indemnify winegrape growers for losses occurring
from the spread of Pierce's disease by the glassy-winged
sharpshooter. Specifically, the federal legislation
appropriates funds allocated by the federal government to
California through H.R. 2213 to be distributed by DFA.
This bill makes the following legislative findings and
declarations:
1.California is the leading producer of wine in the United
States.
2.The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a potent vector for
Pierce's disease, which harms vines.
3.The destruction of millions of dollars of vines has led
to economic hardship in rural communities.
This bill appropriates $7.14 million in federal funds to be
made available, until December 31, 2002, subject to Public
Law 106-224, and subject to regulations, to directly
compensate growers for vine losses resulting from Pierce's
disease spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter via
individual grants.
The bill provides that DFA may retain not more than five
percent of the federal allocation to cover administrative
expenses directly related to the program, including
department overhead and third-party verifications.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Major Provisions 2002-03 20030-04
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2004-05 Fund
Grape Growers Grants* $6,440
Federal
DFA Admin Costs* $ 700
Federal
*DFA estimates it will cost approximately $700,000 to
administer this program.
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis,
these funds are made available by the USDA only to
compensate for vine losses and the agreement between USDA
and DFA explicitly prohibits these funds to be used to
compensate growers for grape production losses. These
federal funds can only be expended by DFA to indemnify
grape growers for vine losses due to Pierce's disease that
was spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
DFA estimates it will need approximately $700,000 to cover
the costs of administrative work (developing criteria,
working with USDA to get criteria approved) and increased
workload by the County Agriculture Commissioners and the
University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor
that would be required to analyze the applications and may
be required to do additional inspections to verify claims.
Any unexpended funds set aside for administration will be
made available for grants.
SUPPORT : (Verified 3/14/02)
California Association of Winegrape Growers (co-source)
Wine Institute (co-source)
California Farm Bureau Federation
Family Winemakers of California
TSM:cm 3/21/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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