Agriculture.

(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint a Shell Egg Advisory Committee consisting of 7 members, 6 of whom are selected by the secretary from egg handlers. Existing law also requires the secretary to appoint 2 alternates who may serve in the absence of any of the 6 egg handler representatives. Existing law further requires the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association to annually designate one of its members who is required to serve in a nonvoting capacity as the 7th member of the committee and authorizes the secretary to appoint one additional member of the committee who is required to be a public member. This bill would instead require the committee to consist of 10 members, 8 of whom are selected by the secretary from egg handlers, one of whom is designated by the association, and one of whom is selected by the secretary as a public member. (2) Existing law establishes the San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton District for the purposes of promoting, encouraging, aiding, and protecting the planting and growing of cotton in California. Existing law establishes the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board and establishes the powers of the board to include, among others, establishing quality standards and making recommendations to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on all matters pertaining to the district. Existing law provides funding for the board and enforcement of the provisions through assessments and requires that all moneys received pursuant to these provisions, which are deposited in the continuously appropriated Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, be expended only for purposes of the provisions relating to the San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton District. This bill would make these provisions and related regulations inoperative on January 1, 2014, except as specified, unless a resolution is approved to continue the operation of these provisions or the secretary receives a petition from members of the cotton industry in the San Joaquin Valley and makes a determination that it is in the best interests of the cotton industry and the state to continue these provisions. The bill, if the secretary makes that specified determination, would authorize the secretary to establish an advisory committee to advise the secretary. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to post whether these provisions have become operative on its Internet Web site and would prohibit the secretary from being required to administer any of these provisions that have become operative or are to remain operative unless the secretary determines there are sufficient funds to pay the costs incurred by the secretary, as specified. Because the bill would authorize the use of continuously appropriated funds for a new purpose, the bill would make an appropriation. (3) Existing law establishes the California Asparagus Commission in the state government, consisting of 12 producers elected by producers and one public member appointed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to, among other things, conduct programs for promotion of asparagus sales, including marketing research, advertising, and promotion. Existing law makes those provisions applicable to specified geographical areas and divides those areas into 2 districts. This bill would delete the provisions dividing the geographical areas into 2 districts. The bill would authorize the commission to modify the number of producers who serve on the commission by a 23 vote, in accordance with specified procedures, and would specify that individuals appointed as ex officio members to the commission would be nonvoting. The bill would delete provisions limiting the term of office for members and alternate members of the commission to 3 consecutive terms, and would delete provisions specifying that the commission is a corporate body with specified corporate powers. The bill would make conforming changes.