Pest control.

Existing law provides for the control and eradication of pests by the use of various methods, including establishment of a quarantine area, and authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with private and specified state and federal entities for various purposes that promote and enhance agriculture. Existing law also provides that if the secretary expends funds or awards grants for the study of protocols for crops to meet standards for transport out of a quarantine area, that primary consideration be given to crops that are most at risk from the imposition of a quarantine and for which protocols do not currently exist, as long as the application otherwise meets reasonable scientific standards. Existing law authorizes the department to consult with individuals or representatives of the agriculture industry, and academic or scientific individuals, or organizations to establish criteria and assist in the recommendation of any expenditure of funds or the award of grants. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.