BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 562|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                         |
          |1020 N Street, Suite 524          |                         |
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 562
          Author:   Florez (D)
          Amended:  4/13/09
          Vote:     21

           
           SEN. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE  :  5-0, 4/21/09
          AYES:  Florez, Maldonado, Hancock, Hollingsworth, Pavley

          SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Citrus fruit crop:  California Citrus Advisory  
          Committee

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill requires the development of a  
          communications program to inform citrus producers and  
          handlers of the requirements of the citrus inspection  
          program.

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

          AB 85 (Maze), Chapter 180, Statutes of 2005, changed the  
          Navel Valencia Advisory Committee to the California Citrus  
          Advisory Committee.  Further, it changed the advisory  
          committee makeup to eight producer members.  Five shall  
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          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 (Maldonado), Chapter 346, Statutes of 2007,  
          established a mandatory hold for inspection prior to  
          shipping during a citrus freeze.

           Comments

           By requiring a communications program for citrus  
          inspections, this bill will 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 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.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  >)

          >

           OPPOSITION  :    (Verified  >)

          >

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    >

           ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION  :    >  
           

          TSM:cm  5/5/09   Senate Floor Analyses 







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                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED










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