BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    





                                                                  AB 443

                                                                  Page  1


          GOVERNOR'S VETO
          AB 443 (Galgiani)
          As Amended  August 17, 2009
          2/3 vote

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          |ASSEMBLY:  |79-0 |(June 1, 2009)  |SENATE: |31-1 |(August 31,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2009)          |
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |75-2 |(September 2, 2009)                            |
          |           |     |                                               |
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           Original Committee Reference:    AGRI.  

           SUMMARY  :  Requires the Secretary (Secretary) of the California  
          Department of Food and Agriculture to appoint a committee  
          (committee), and a scientific advisory panel (panel), for the  
          purpose of preventing the future introduction of identified  
          pests and diseases related to the California apple industry;  
          expands the California Apple Commission's (Commission) authority  
          to include regulating apple movement and treatment to control  
          new pests and diseases; and, requires the Commission to  
          administer and fund the committee.  

           The Senate Amendments  strike the regulation of apples and apple  
          handlers from outside California in regard to apple pests and  
          diseases, and allows the Commission to establish an annual  
          assessment to cover the cost of this act.
               
           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill was substantially similar  
          to the version passed by the Senate.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, there is a one time cost of $75,000 and annual costs  
          of $200,000 or more, which are paid from an industry assessment.

           COMMENTS  :  Proponents of this bill state that, due to the  










                                                                  AB 443

                                                                  Page  2


          reduction of state resources used to combat invasive pests, the  
          risk to California's agriculture has grown.  This bill is  
          intended to maintain the integrity of apples handled and  
          produced in California, and to prevent the introduction and  
          spread of pests and diseases which are harmful to the state's  
          apple industry.  This bill will expand the power of the  
          Commission to include regulating apple movement and treatment  
          within California to control new pests and diseases.  
           
          GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE  :

          "This legislation is unnecessary.  Nothing in current law  
          precludes the Department of Food and Agriculture from consulting  
          with an industry regarding pest and disease issues or  
          establishing appropriate science advisory panels."


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)  
          319-2084 


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