BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 557
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          Date of Hearing:   May 13, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

               AB 557 (Caballero) - As Introduced:  February 25, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              AgricultureVote:8  
          - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires that one member of the California Organic  
          Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) be a United States  
          Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifier. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          There are no significant costs associated with this legislation.  


           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . This bill, sponsored by COPAC, would add an  
            accredited organic certifier seat and an alternate seat for an  
            accredited organic certifier, to COPAC. Currently, COPAC  
            contains members representing every other aspect of organic  
            production, processing and consuming, as well as enforcement.  
            Adding an additional seat, with alternate, will allow the  
            accredited certifiers to interact with other organic  
            representatives on a level playing field, rather than having  
            to formally request time on a COPAC meeting agenda.  

           1)California Organic Products Act of 2003  was enacted to protect  
            the public from false and misleading organic labeling claims.   
            The Act provided for enforcement, procedures, a 14 member  
            advisory board, prohibited materials, inspections, penalties,  
            certification process and organizations, fees, and  
            regulations. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081 








                                                                  AB 557
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