BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 249
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 249 (Yee)
As Amended April 25, 2011
Majority Vote
SENATE VOTE :30-9
AGRICULTURE 5-2
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|Ayes:|Valadao, Bill Berryhill, | | |
| |Hill, Ma, Perea | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Galgiani, Olsen | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : This bill makes changes to the appointment process of
District Agricultural Association 1-A's (Cow Palace) Board of
Directors (Board), by shifting some appointment authority to the
Mayors of San Francisco and Daly City. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Governor of California (Governor) to appoint five
board members.
2)Requires the Governor to appoint two board members, unless the
Mayor of San Francisco exercises the option to appoint the
members, as specified.
3)Requires the Governor to appoint two board members, unless the
Mayor of Daly City exercises the option to appoint the
members, as specified.
4)Requires the four mayoral appointments to be made as vacancies
occur on the Board.
5)Requires that, once the appointment requirements of this
chapter have been met, vacancies on the Board be appointed in
the same manner of the preceding board member.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires that district agricultural associations (DAA) are
SB 249
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governed by a board of nine directors, appointed by the
Governor for a term of four years, and made up of citizens and
residents of the DAA. �Food and Agriculture Code (FAC)
Sections 3956 and 3959]
2)Requires DAAs that include two or more counties, that at least
two members on the board shall represent each county in the
DAA. Establishes the boundaries of the Cow Palace to include
the City/County of San Francisco and County of San Mateo.
�FAC Sections 3957 and 3853]
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : California has one of the largest fair systems in the
nation. The 54th DAA, state agency fairs, are managed under the
Department of Food and Agriculture in the Division of Fairs and
Expositions. Each fair operates with a degree of autonomy with
a board of directors appointed by the Governor and in accordance
with state law governing the operation of state agencies.
According to the author, the current Board of the Cow Palace
isn't reflective of the concerns of the surrounding communities.
None of the current board members are residents of Daly City,
in which much of the Cow Palace property is located. Recent
events held at the Cow Palace have resulted in several
drug-related deaths. Further, as the local community, Daly City
is responsible for the emergency service response to public
safety and health related incidents at the Cow Palace. This
bill changes the Cow Palace Board's composition to address a
lack of local representation and help provide crucial insight
into the needs of the neighborhoods in Daly City and San
Francisco.
Opponents say this bill strips the Governor of the historical
power to appoint Cow Palace board members. This bill will set a
precedent for other fairs or local governments throughout the
state that want similar powers of board member appointment, and
will create an assortment of governing authority over fairs.
Opponents state that if there is a need of local representation
on a fair board, the Governor has existing authority under
current law to achieve that goal.
SB 249
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Analysis Prepared by : Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)
319-2084
FN: 0001465