BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE on AGRICULTURE
Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
BILL NO: AB 1642 HEARING: 06/17/14
AUTHOR: Chesbro FISCAL: Yes
VERSION: 02/11/14 CONSULTANT: Anne Megaro
Pest control: Pierce's disease.
SUMMARY :
This bill would extend sunset dates for provisions relating to
Pierce's disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW :
Pierce's disease is fatal to grapevines and is caused by a
bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, which obstructs the grapevines'
water channels and eventually kills the plant by preventing
water transport through the vine. Although Pierce's disease has
been detected in California for over 100 years, it wasn't until
the 1990s that it became a serious threat when the glassy-winged
sharpshooter, an invasive leafhopper pest, became established in
California. Pierce's disease is readily spread by leafhopper
insects as they feed on grapevines, and the glassy-winged
sharpshooter has proven to be an effective transmitter.
According to CDFA, Pierce's disease has been reported in 28
counties throughout California and threatens the multi-billion
dollar winegrape industry, as well as other crops such as
almonds, citrus, and stone fruits, which are susceptible to
varying strains of the bacterium.
To combat this disease/vector complex, a task force was created
in 1999 that identified the need to create a statewide
eradication and control program, and in 2000 the legislature
responded by creating the Pierce's Disease Control Program
within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
and established a coordinating fund to support research and
control efforts (Food and Agricultural Code �6045 et seq.).
Funding for the Pierce's Disease Control Program is supported
through federal, state, and industry sources. Industry
assessment fees are administered by CDFA, whereby California
producers of grapes crushed for wine, juice, vinegar,
concentrate, or beverage brandy must pay an annual assessment
fee capped at $3 per $1000 gross dollar value of grapes
assessed. The secretary, upon recommendation of the Pierce's
Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, determines the
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assessment rate, which is currently set at $0.75/$1000 value.
There is no known cure for Pierce's disease. However, nearly 25
years of research have uncovered conventional plant-breeding
methods to develop disease-resistant rootstock and grapevines
and identified biological control methods. Researchers are
continuing to develop new technologies to find a solution to
Pierce's disease.
PROPOSED LAW :
This bill:
1. Updates findings and declarations to increase the value
of the California grape industry to $60 billion.
2. Extends from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2021 the
inoperative date, and from January 1, 2017 to January 1,
2022 the repeal date, of the Pierce's Disease Control
Program and Management Account.
3. Extends from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2021 the repeal
date of the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Board, assessment rate, reporting requirements, and other
provisions of statute regarding the disease and its vector.
4. Extends from March 1, 2011 to March 1, 2016 the
inoperative date of provisions regarding Pierce's disease
and the glassy-winged sharpshooter, unless a referendum is
conducted that results in a favorable vote.
5. Extends from April 15, 2010 to April 15, 2015 the date
that the secretary shall establish a list of persons
eligible to vote in said referendum.
6. Extends the sunset date of the Pierce's Disease Advisory
Task Force from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2021.
COMMENTS :
Need for this bill: According to the author, Pierce's disease
is still a threat and this bill would extend the operation date
of the Pierce's Disease Control Program, allowing CDFA to
continue funding programs and research towards stopping the
glassy-winged sharpshooter and controlling Pierce's disease.
Model example: The annual CDFA report on Pierce's disease
AB 1642 - Page 3
states that the Pierce's Disease Control Program has served as a
model for other pest and disease control programs and has been
highly successful over the last 10 years, mainly due to the
successful cooperative efforts of state and federal government,
winegrape growers, and researchers. Supporters agree, stating
that the program "has been proven to be a successful venture
between industry and government. Through the industry
assessment, growers make a commitment to generate revenue that
in turn has attracted tens of millions of dollars of federal
contributions to fund the fight against Pierce's Disease."
Referendum: A successful industry referendum vote is required
to sustain the extended operative dates for provisions of this
bill, other than the advisory task force.
Spelling error: The bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, is
misspelled in current law (Food and Agricultural Code �6045).
RELATED LEGISLATION :
SB 2 (Wiggins), Chapter 325, Statutes of 2009. Extends the
authorized use of funds within the Pierce's Disease Management
Account for purposes relating to other pests and diseases and
extends sunset dates to 2016 for provisions relating to Pierce's
disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of 2004. Extends
sunset dates to 2011 for provisions relating to Pierce's disease
and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
SB 295 (Chesbro), Chapter 12, Statutes of 2005. Makes
conforming changes and clarifies provisions relating to Pierce's
disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103, Statutes of 2001. Creates the
Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board.
SB 671 (Chesbro), Chapter 21, Statutes of 2000. Creates the
Pierce's Disease Control Program and Management Account within
CDFA and appropriates $6.7 million from the General Fund to this
account to combat Pierce's disease or its vectors.
AB 1232 (Agriculture), Chapter 627, Statutes of 1999.
Appropriates $750,000 for Pierce's disease research provided
that $250,000 in private contributions is committed from the
viticulture and enology industry; creates a task force to advise
the secretary of CDFA on the control and management of Pierce's
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disease.
PRIOR ACTIONS :
Assembly Floor 76-0
Assembly Appropriations 16-0
Assembly Agriculture 6-0
SUPPORT :
California Association of Winegrape Growers (Cosponsor)
Family Winemakers of California (Cosponsor)
Wine Institute (Cosponsor)
County of Santa Clara
OPPOSITION :
None received