BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SCR 71
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 2, 2012

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                Nancy Skinner, Chair
                    SCR 71 (Cannella) - As Amended:  May 15, 2012

           SENATE VOTE  :   38-0
           
          SUBJECT  :   The University of California Division of Agriculture 
          and Natural Resources.

           SUMMARY  :    This measure states the Legislature's support for 
          the programs and initiatives administered by the University of 
          California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and 
          would request the United States Department of Agriculture, the 
          Regents of the University of California, and the board of 
          supervisors in each county in the state to continue their 
          support and funding of this division. Specifically,  this 
          resolution  states the following legislative findings:

          1)The University of California Division of Agriculture and 
            Natural Resources (UCDANR) is a network of researchers and 
            educators dedicated to the creation, development, and 
            application of knowledge to local and statewide problems; and, 
            have a physical presence in 57 of California's 58 counties to 
            provide local access to UC resources.

          2)The University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension 
            supports healthy communities by developing science-based 
            strategies whose goals include, but are not limited to, 
            preventing childhood obesity and diabetes, offering nutrition 
            education, reducing pesticides in our agriculture, and 
            protecting our state resources from the harmful effects of 
            invasive species.

          3)Innovations developed by the UCDANR and the UC Cooperative 
            Extension help drive California's $35 billion agricultural 
            industry; and, in 2011 the UCDANR trained 4-H volunteers, 
            through the Master Gardner Program, who have dedicated 1.9 
            million hours to improving the lives of young people, 
            enhancing their communities, and providing sound 
            research-based information to homeowners and backyard 
            gardeners.

          4)The UCDANR has sustained substantial funding cuts in recent 








                                                                  SCR 71
                                                                  Page  2

            years and has lost a number of academic appointments; which 
            have caused the UC cooperative extentionists to assume 
            responsibility for multiple counties and is threatening the 
            ability to maintain these valuable services.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None on file.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          None on file.
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800