BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                        SENATE FOOD and AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
                            Senator Dean Florez, Chairman

          BILL NO:    SB 562                    HEARING:  4/21/09
          AUTHOR:   Florez                      FISCAL:  Yes
          VERSION:  4/13/09                     CONSULTANT:  John Chandler
          
              Citrus fruit crop:  California Citrus Advisory Committee.

          BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

          In 1994, AB 3068 (Chapter 1048, Statues of 1994) created the  
          Navel Valencia Orange Advisory Committee to make recommendations  
          to the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture regarding  
          the implementation of citrus inspection programs.  

          AB 85 (Chapter 180, Statues of 2005) changed the Navel Valencia  
          Orange Advisory Committee to the California Citrus Advisory  
          Committee.  Further, it changed the advisory committee makeup to  
          eight producer members.  Five shall produce navel or valencia  
          oranges.  Four of the five shall produce in the San Joaquin  
          Valley and two of the four in Tulare County.  Two producer  
          members shall produce lemons.  One shall be from Ventura County,  
          the other has no boundary requirements.  One final member shall  
          be a mandarin citrus producer.  The committee will also include  
          four handler members, one of which shall handle lemons in  
          Ventura County. 

          SB 281 (Chapter 346, Statues of 2007) established a mandatory  
          hold for inspection prior to shipping during a citrus freeze.   

          Currently, AB 281 (De Leon) has the same language as is found in  
          this bill.  AB 281 is currently in Assembly Agriculture  
          Committee.

          PROPOSED LAW

          SB 562 requires the development of a communications program to  
          inform citrus producers and handlers of the requirements of the  
          citrus inspection program.

          COMMENTS

          1.By requiring a communications program for citrus inspections,  
            SB 562 would help build understanding and increase compliance  
            within the citrus industry regarding citrus inspections.   
            Citrus inspections become increasingly important during a  
            citrus freeze, ensuring that freeze damaged fruit does not  
            reach the consumer.  This maintains the integrity of consumer  




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            satisfaction and confidence in California citrus.  A  
            communication plan to help growers understand and comply with  
            citrus inspection programs will only strengthen effectiveness  
            of these programs to protect the citrus industry.


          SUPPORT
          
          None received

          OPPOSITION
          
          None received