BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 606
Author: Ma (D)
Amended: 8/26/09 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE : 3-2, 7/7/09
AYES: Florez, Maldonado, Pavley
NOES: Hancock, Hollingsworth
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-1, 8/17/09
AYES: Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, Denham, Leno, Oropeza, Price,
Runner, Walters, Yee
NOES: Hancock
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wolk, Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-1, 6/1/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : California Blueberry Commission
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill creates the California Blueberry
Commission within state government to carry out programs of
education, promotion, marketing, and research relating to
blueberries. The programs are intended to produce economic
benefits, such as increased awareness and sales, to
California's blueberry industry.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/26/09 change the makeup of the
Blueberry Commission by adding one more handler member, for
CONTINUED
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a total of five handler members. Further, specifies that,
should the Commission vote to change the number of producer
and/or handler members, the change must be concurred with
the Department of Food and Agriculture.
ANALYSIS :
This bill:
1. Creates the California Blueberry Commission (Commission)
and specifies the powers, duties, and responsibilities
of the Commission.
2. Authorizes the Commission to carry out programs of
education, promotion, marketing, and research relating
to blueberries.
3. Authorizes the Commission to levy an annual assessment
on producers and handlers of blueberries, and authorizes
the expenditure of those funds for purposes of the
Commission.
4. Provides that this bill shall not become operative until
the producers and handlers vote in favor of this bill's
provisions.
5. Authorizes the Commission to levy a civil penalty and to
bring civil actions to enforce the provisions of this
bill.
6. Authorizes the Commission to recommend to the Secretary
of Food and Agriculture within the California Department
of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) the adoption of blueberry
quality standards, product labeling, or marketing
activity.
Comments
According to the author's office, the Blueberry Commission
established in this bill will answer the needs of
California's growing blueberry industry. The Blueberry
Commission established by this bill will consist of five
producer members, five handler members, and one public
member. Requiring the concurrence of CDFA on any
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Commission votes to change the makeup of the board grants
greater oversight of the Commission of CDFA. The
California blueberry industry has grown significantly in
the last few years to over 4,500 acres and 50 to 70 growers
in the state. It is hoped that California will grow to be
the third or fourth largest blueberry-producing state. The
addition of a California Blueberry Commission will help the
industry better adapt and continue to grow through
marketing, research, data collection, and creation of a
cohesive voice for the blueberry industry.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Fund
New marketing commission Up to ($1,250)* in new
revenue Special**
annually; all CDFA costs reimbursed
* Based on maximum assessment of $0.025 on 50 million
pounds of blueberries
** Industry assessment
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Tom
Berryhill, Blakeslee, Blumenfield, Brownley, Buchanan,
Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Conway,
Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon, Duvall,
Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes,
Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gilmore,
Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman,
Jeffries, Jones, Krekorian, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie
Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande,
Niello, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V. Manuel Perez,
Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva,
Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland, Swanson,
Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines, Yamada, Bass
NOES: Knight
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bill Berryhill, Block, DeVore, Hagman
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TSM:do 8/28/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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