BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 905|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 905
Author: Assembly Agriculture Committee
Amended: 3/27/09 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE : 4-0, 7/7/09
AYES: Florez, Maldonado, Hancock, Hollingsworth
NO VOTE RECORDED: Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/11/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Agricultural commodities
SOURCE : California Agricultural Commissioners and
Sealers
Association
DIGEST : This bill reduces the minimum weight
requirements for proof of ownership, from 200 to 25 pounds,
for fruits, nuts, and vegetables, and from 40 to 25 pounds
for avocados. This bill also defines persons who buy and
sell the commodities, and allow commissioners to maintain
custody of seized commodities.
ANALYSIS : California law specifies that any person in
possession of over 40 pounds of avocados or over 200 pounds
of fruits, nuts, vegetables, or walnut burl must possess
proof of ownership if transporting or marketing the
CONTINUED
AB 905
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2
commodity. If an individual fails to produce proof of
ownership, the agricultural commissioner is authorized to
hold or seize the commodity for up to 48 hours for
perishable commodities at which time the commissioner may
sell it at fair market value and deposit the funds in the
county general fund.
This bill:
1.Changes the proof of ownership requirement for any
fruits, nuts, or vegetables from over 200 to 25 pounds or
more.
2.Changes the proof of ownership requirement for avocados
from over 40 to 25 pounds or more.
3.Specifies that proof of ownership provisions would extend
to nonprofit enterprises.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/20/09)
California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers
Association (source)
Regional Council of Rural Counties
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents state that this bill
will give California agricultural commissioners the ability
to halt or reduce the prevalence of vendors selling produce
obtained through theft or other illegal means. Many
roadside vendors do not meet the current 200-pound
threshold required for proof of ownership; the change in
the law to 25 pounds for produce will allow commissioners
to minimize illegal activity in the agriculture
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,
DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong,
AB 905
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Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick,
Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill,
Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, 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, Bass
NO VOTE RECORDED: Duvall, Yamada
TSM:nl 7/21/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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