State Commissions: market information.

(1) Existing law establishes the California Avocado Commission within the state government composed of 10 avocado producers, as specified, to, among other duties, promote the sale of avocados. Existing law requires the commission to establish 5 districts within the state, each representing 20% of the avocado production in the state, and to reapportion those districts every 5th year according to specified procedures, including by determining the average number of pounds of fruit produced in each ZIP Code area in the 2 crop years prior to a specified referendum. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to render or furnish a report, statement, or record required by the commission. This bill would authorize the commission to require producers to provide information as determined by the commission pertaining to the locations at which avocados are produced and the annual volume of avocados produced at each location. The bill would also authorize the commission to utilize the information provided to the commission for specified purposes, including food safety and communications. The bill would also revise the provision requiring the commission to reapportion those districts every 5th year by determining the average number of pounds of fruit produced in each ZIP Code area in the 5, rather than 2, crop years prior to a specified referendum. By expanding the scope of the information the commission may require, the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law creates the California Cut Flower Commission, composed of 13 members, with specified powers and duties, including, but not limited to, conducting, and contracting with others to conduct, production research, including the study, analysis, accumulation, and dissemination of information obtained from that research. This bill would require the commission to annually specify the types and varieties of cut flowers for which it is collecting, from participating producers, market price information based on sales, and would require dissemination of that information to these producers. The bill would require that the identity of each producer reporting the information and the information reported be kept confidential and not be made public under any circumstances. The commission would be authorized to disclose information that gives industry totals, averages, and other similar data. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.