BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1242
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(Without Reference to File)
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1242 (Wiggins)
As Amended March 21, 2002
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(June 5, 2001) |SENATE: |32-0 |(March 21, |
| | | | | |2002) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY : Appropriates $7.14 million of federal funds to the
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to
compensate grape growers for losses resulting from Pierce's
disease, provides that these funds be available for expenditure
by CDFA until December 31, 2002, and makes legislative findings
and declarations.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill
and instead:
1)Appropriate $7.14 million of federal funds to be made
available until December 31, 2002, to directly compensate
growers for vine losses resulting from Pierce's disease and
its vector, the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The funds will be
made available to CDFA pursuant to Public Law 106-224 and
distributed to growers via individual grants in accordance
with current federal guidelines and regulatory criteria.
2)Prohibit CDFA from using more than 5%, or $357,000 of the
total federal funding for administrative costs.
3)Make the following legislative findings and declarations:
a) California is the leading producer of wine in the United
States;
b) The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a potent vector for
Pierce's disease, which harms vines by shutting down the
plant's ability to consume water and nutrients; and,
AB 1242
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c) The destruction of millions of dollars in vines has led
to economic hardship in rural communities.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes CDFA to administer the Pierce's Disease Control
Program for the purpose of combating Pierce's disease and its
vectors. (Food & Agriculture Code 6046)
2)Authorizes the United States Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
to distribute $7.14 million in federal funds to indemnify
winegrape growers for losses occurring from the spread of
Pierce's disease by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. (H.R.
2213)
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill created 'The Farm Futures
Act of 2001', made findings and declarations regarding the
importance of family farms, and appropriated funding for the
collaboration and education of intergenerational farmers in
order to promote farm preservation in California.
FISCAL EFFECT : Out of the total $7.14 federal funding, $6.783
million will be distributed to growers and $357,000 will be used
by CDFA to administer this program.
COMMENTS : There is an urgent need for this measure in order to
accommodate USDA's budget cycle, as well as to comply with
constraints due to the glassy-winged sharpshooter's biological
cycle. These funds will be made available to compensate
winegrape growers for voluntarily removing vines that have been
affected due to Pierce's disease spread by the glassy-winged
sharpshooter. Elimination of these plants aids the entire state
in its efforts to contain the spread of this disease.
CDFA estimates it will need 5% of the total federal funding to
cover the costs of administrative work (developing criteria,
working with USDA to get criteria approved) and increased
workload by the County Agricultural 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
funds left over will be made available for grants.
AB 1242
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Analysis Prepared by : Dawn Clover / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
FN: 0004260