State Board of Food and Agriculture: member qualification and conflicts: pest control: plant quarantine inspection stations.

(1) Existing law establishes in state government the State Board of Food and Agriculture, which consists of 15 members, composed as specified, appointed by the Governor. This bill would provide that public officers associated with any area of government, including agriculture, and whether elected or appointed, may be appointed to, and may serve contemporaneously as members of, the board. The bill would prohibit certain members of the board from participating in any board action that involves themselves or any agricultural entity with which they are connected as director, officer, or employee, or in which they have a financial interest in the decision within the meaning of the Political Reform Act of 1974. (2) Existing law requires every operator of a motor vehicle entering the state with a shipment of any agricultural commodity to have the vehicle and the shipment inspected, and to obtain a certificate of inspection, at the plant quarantine inspection station nearest the point of entry, except as provided. Existing law subjects the operator of the vehicle and the registered owner of the vehicle, if a different person or legal entity, to separate civil penalties of not more than $1,000 for each violation for failure to obtain the required certificate of inspection. This bill would increase the civil penalties to not more than $2,500 for each violation.