Food and Agriculture: omnibus bill.

(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, a continuously appropriated fund used for specified purposes relating to enforcement of various provisions of law relating to various agriculture programs. Notwithstanding those provisions, existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish all permanent positions within the department with the Controller's office pursuant to standard state administrative practices, and to report to the chairs of the fiscal committees of the Legislature, no later than January 10, 2005, on the positions established and funded, as specified. Existing law also establishes the Food Biotechnology Task Force and authorizes the task force to request particular agencies to lead the effort to evaluate various factors related to food biotechnology. Existing law requires the task force to report the issues studied, findings, basis for their findings, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2003. This bill would delete the obsolete reporting requirements from these provisions. (2) Existing law divides the state into agricultural districts, as specified, and provides for district agricultural associations, which are state institutions. Existing law authorizes the 50th District Agricultural Association, with the consent of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to enter into a joint powers agreement for, among other purposes, the purpose of creating a joint powers agency to operate, maintain, and improve the facilities and functions of the 50th District Agricultural Association. Existing law requires, prior to the commencement of the joint powers agreement, the parties to the agreement and the Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure that every employee in the civil service of the 50th District Agricultural Association is provided with the option of continuing his or her employment with the state. Existing law requires the joint powers agency to contract with the department for the services of the employee who chooses to continue his or her employment with the state, consistent with his or her civil service classification and status. This bill would authorize the joint powers agency to contract with the department or the 50th District Agricultural Association for the services of an employee, consistent with his or her civil service classification and status. (3) Existing law requires that the holding period for a stray dog or a stray cat impounded in a shelter be 6 business days, not including the day of impoundment, with exceptions, as provided. This bill would define the term "business day" for purposes of these provisions as any day that a public or private shelter is open to the public for at least 4 hours, excluding state holidays. (4) Existing law establishes the California Walnut Commission, composed of 8 walnut producers, 4 walnut handlers, and one member of the public. Existing law requires the commission to elect alternate members, and provides for the appointment of ex officio members. Existing law provides that each member of the commission or each alternate member serving in place of a member, except for ex officio government members, and each member of a committee established by the commission who is a nonmember of the commission, may receive per diem not to exceed $100 per day, as established by the commission, for each day spent in actual attendance at, or in traveling to and from, meetings of the commission or committees of the commission, or on special assignment from the commission. Existing law also authorizes members of the commission to receive necessary traveling expenses and meal allowances, as approved by the commission. This bill would delete the provision for a $100 per diem for members, alternate members, and committee members, and would instead provide that members of the commission may receive an amount not to exceed the reasonable and necessary traveling expenses and meal allowances, as established by the commission.