SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Chaired by Assembly member Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), introduced five bills in 2007 that have been signed by the Governor.  These Committee bills were authored by most or all of the Committee Members, and dealt with a variety of issues from brand inspection to milk safety.  "California’s agricultural industry is faced with increasing regulatory costs posing a financial burden on the Valley's farming community, coupled with the need for consumers to be assured a safe and affordable food supply.  I am pleased to announce successful passage of an agriculture bill package that takes into account the need for regulatory changes and the need to protect the consumers of California's agricultural products," stated Assemblymember Parra.

AB 472 (Agriculture) was sponsored by the California Cattlemen's Association and raised the statutory fees for brand inspections on hides and cattle in order to fund these activities by the Department of Food and Agriculture.  All cattle must be inspected for proper branding and ownership prior to their movement and at slaughter.  This is a critical program that the industry funds to protect against theft.  The Livestock Identification Branch within the Department is over seen by an advisory board of industry members which reviews the budgets and activities of the Branch.  “We would like to thank Governor Schwarzenegger, Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Parra and the rest of the Agriculture committee for their support of AB 472,” commented Bruce Hafenfeld, president of the California Cattlemen’s Association.  “This important legislation will assist in making the Bureau of Livestock Identification, brand inspection program more efficient and ensure that this important service continues to be available to California’s cattle producers.”  This bill was signed by the Governor as Chapter 267, Statutes of 2007.

AB 1713 (Agriculture) was sponsored the County Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association and updated the funding of both the Commissioners and the Department of Food and Agriculture.  This bill provides more stability to the funding of commissioners' agricultural programs which include identification of pests and disease, oversight of pesticide applications, and plant inspections. "This bill recognizes long standing cooperative missions of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Department of Pesticide Regulation and the County Agricultural Commissioners who carry out State agricultural enforcement activities and deliver agricultural programs at the local level," stated Earl McPhail, President of California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association.  "It will provide an equitable method of fund distribution to support important state and local functions related to pest eradication, pest detection, pesticide use enforcement and other similar programs. We thank Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Nicole Parra and the Committee staff for their leadership and support on this important issue for the Agricultural Commissioners," added McPhail.  This bill was signed by the Governor as Chapter 421, Statutes of 2007.

AB 1717 (Agriculture) was sponsored by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), and makes changes to the Food and Agriculture Code relative to the regulation of pesticides and the prosecution of pesticide violations.  "This bill provides consistent enforcement for structural pest fumigations as well as enhanced oversight by county agricultural commissioners, who serve as DPR's local enforcement agents," said DPR Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam. "We appreciate the work and support of Chairwoman Parra and the Assembly Agriculture Committee."
This bill was signed by the Governor as Chapter 338, Statutes of 2007.

AB 1718 (Agriculture) was sponsored by the Committee on Agriculture, and represented the annual omnibus bill, comprised of various changes necessary to effectuate the business of the agricultural industry in the state.  This bill was signed by the Governor as Chapter 124, Statutes of 2007.

AB 1735 (Agriculture) was sponsored by the Committee on Agriculture, and included several technical changes to conform California statute to federal milk product guidelines.  "The dairy farm and milk product standards updated in this bill will bring California requirements into greater conformity with national standards and help to ensure the continued safety and high quality of California's milk and dairy food supply," said the California Department of Food and Agriculture.  This bill was signed by the Governor as Chapter 339, Statutes of 2007.

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