BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1642 (Chesbro) - Pest Control: Pierce's Disease
Amended: As Introduced Policy Vote: Agriculture 5-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: June 30, 2014
Consultant: Robert Ingenito
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1642 would extend sunset dates until January 1,
2021 for provisions related to Pierce's Disease and the
glassy-winged sharpshooter.
Fiscal Impact: The California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) indicates that annual costs to administer the bill
roughly $20 million, and are fully funded by federal funds and
industry assessments. CDFA also would incur a one-time cost of
about $50,000 related to the board extension referendum, also
covered by industry assessments.
Background: Pierce's Disease has been present in California for
over 100 years. With the arrival of the Glassy-winged
Sharpshooter in the 1990s, however, it became more prevalent and
threatened to cause sizable damage to the state's agriculture
sector. The Glassy-winged Sharpshooter carries the bacterium
Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's Disease in grapes,
almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits. The insect nourishes
itself on a plant's water producing elements. Once a plant
develops Pierce's Disease, its ability to draw in moisture is
hindered; consequently, the plant will either die or become
unproductive.
In response to this threat to the State's grape industry, which
consists of 546,000 acres across 48 counties, the Legislature
created an advisory task force on the Pierce's Disease issue in
1999. In 2000, the Pierce's Disease Control Program was
created: a partnership between Department of Food and
Agriculture (DFA), County Agriculture Commissioners, United
States Department of Agriculture, University of California,
local agencies, industry, and agriculture organizations to
AB 1642 (Chesbro)
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combat the spread and find solutions for Pierce's Disease and
the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.
Proposed Law: This bill would, among other things, do the
following:
Extend 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.
Extend 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.
Extend 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.
Extend 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.
Extend the sunset date of the Pierce's Disease Advisory
Task Force from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2021.
Related Legislation: SB 2 (Wiggins), Chapter 325, Statutes of
2009. Extended 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.