BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1255
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1255 (Tom Berryhill)
As Introduced February 27, 2009
Majority vote
AGRICULTURE 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Galgiani, Tom Berryhill, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Arambula, Conway, Fuller, | |Ammiano, |
| |Ma, Mendoza, Yamada | |Charles Calderon, |
| | | |Krekorian, Duvall, |
| | | |Fuentes, Monning, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, John A. Perez, |
| | | |Price, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Audra Strickland, |
| | | |Torlakson |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends the sunset for county subventions for seed
enforcement from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2005.
EXISTING LAW permits the California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) to pay counties annually for the costs
incurred in the enforcement of California Seed Law (CSL) by the
county commissioners. These payments are made to the counties
at the discretion of CDFA and upon the recommendation of the
Seed Advisory Board (Board), and those counties without
activities may receive $100.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Committee on
Appropriations, CDFA sends $120,000 per year to California's
counties in order to fund the enforcement of the CSL provisions.
CDFA estimates that without those annual subventions they would
need approximately $500,000 per year for the staffing needs
associated with enforcing CSL at the state level.
COMMENTS : CSL was created in 1967 to ensure product accuracy.
In 1973 the Board was created and charged with enforcing
standards in the seed industry with the industry covering the
costs of the program. These standards provide consumer
protection by providing germination and purity requirements, and
labeling of such on each package. This sunset has been extended
AB 1255
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multiple times since at least 1993, and was established prior to
that date.
Previous Legislation : AB 856 (Galgiani), Statutes of 2008,
Chapter 425, provided that CDFA, upon the recommendation of the
Board, has the option to not apportion a $100 subvention to
counties without registered seed labelers, and specified the
apportionment provisions shall remain in effect until January 1,
2010, at which time those provisions shall be repealed.
AB 315 (Salinas) Statutes of 2003, Chapter 394, extended the
funding to counties, totaling $120,000 while it deleted the 30%
funding reference for related seed law activities, sunsetting
these changes on July 1, 2009.
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
FN: 0000505