BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1018
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 18, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair
SB 1018 (De Leòn) - As Amended: March 26, 2014
SENATE VOTE : 35-0
SUBJECT : Pest control: citrus disease prevention: prevention.
SUMMARY : This bill specifies that only reasonable, rather than
all, expenditures incurred by the California Department of Food
and Agriculture (CDFA) be reimbursed from the Citrus Disease
Management Account (CDMA) for responsibilities related to the
Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (program). This bill
requires the Secretary (Secretary) of CDFA to obtain approval
from the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
(CCPDPC) for any changes to program activities or increases in
expenditures.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Creates CCPDPC within CDFA to advise the Secretary on efforts
to prevent and manage citrus pests and diseases. An
assessment is levied on citrus producers and deposited into
CDMA for the sole purpose of combating citrus-specific pests
and diseases. This account may also contain funds from
federal and other non-General Fund sources.
2)Authorizes CCPDPC to develop, under the approval of the
Secretary, a statewide citrus-specific pest and disease work
plan and recommend an annual assessment rate and budget.
3)Requires CCPDPC to reimburse CDFA for all expenditures
incurred in carrying out, implementing, and administering the
statewide work plan.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : Huanglongbing (HLB) is a bacterial plant disease that
destroys the production, appearance and value of citrus trees,
ruining the citrus. HLB is spread mainly by the Asian citrus
psyllid (ACP). To date there is no known controls for HLB,
other than removing and destroying infected groves. After a
2005 discovery in Florida, it took only two years for HLB to
SB 1018
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transmit to all 32 Florida citrus producing counties and infect
over half of the citrus tree in that state. Both ACP and HLB
have been found in California.
Citrus is a $2 billion industry in the State of California
(state). California produces 82% of United States' fresh citrus
and directly employs more than 14,000 people. It contributes an
additional $1.2 billion in economic value to the state and
supports another 10,000 jobs.
AB 281 (De Leon), Chapter 426, Statutes of 2009, allowed the
citrus producer to assess themselves to help combat the spread
of HLB. The current assessment rate is 8 cents per 40 pound
carton, which amounts to $16 million annually and represents 64%
of the total budget for this program.
Current law states that the CCPDPC makes recommendations to the
Secretary and has the authority to develop work plans, under the
approval of the Secretary. CCPDPC does not have the authority
to require CDFA to obtain committee approval for any action.
Recent incidences when the CCPDPC was not consulted before
programmatic changes were made, when budgetary spending
authority was increased, or when additional funds were requested
by CDFA to cover costs related to citrus pest control and
prevention, concern the sponsors.
According to the sponsor, this bill would "strengthen the
program by setting clear guidelines for CCPDPC and the
Department. Currently, no such guidelines exist, and as such
the efficacy of the program has suffered as a result.
Establishing a clear directive for the program will streamline
work by CCPDPC and CDFA, now and in the future." Furthermore,
although previous issues have been resolved, this bill would
prevent similar issues in the future.
Budgetary authority is held by the Secretary for most, if not
all, similar agricultural committees and commissions in
California. The committee may wish to consider whether it is
appropriate public policy to give committees budgetary authority
over state programs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
SB 1018
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California Citrus Mutual
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)
319-2084