Agriculture: commercial feed: inspection tonnage tax: research and education.

Existing law requires that a license be obtained from the Secretary of Food and Agriculture for each location where commercial feed is manufactured, distributed, sold, or stored for later sale. Existing law requires each license application to be accompanied by an annual fee specified by the Department of Food and Agriculture for each location of at least $100, but not exceeding $600, with the specific fee to be set by the secretary upon recommendation of the Feed Inspection Advisory Board. Beginning January 1, 2025, the license fee is required to be $100 for each location. The funds collected are deposited into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and are continuously appropriated for purposes relating to the manufacture and distribution of commercial feed. This bill would extend the date when the new license fee requirement of $100 for each location would take effect from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2031. By extending the time that a higher license fee is in effect, the bill would increase the fees that are deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, thereby making an appropriation. Existing law establishes an inspection tonnage tax for commercial feed, as specified, with a maximum rate of $0.25 per ton. Existing law requires that the revenues from that tax be deposited into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and continuously appropriates the revenues for purposes of regulating commercial feed, as specified. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, until January 1, 2025, to designate a specified amount of the revenues from that tax to provide funding for research and education regarding the safe manufacture, distribution, and use of commercial feed. This bill would extend the secretary's authority to designate a specified amount of the revenues from that tax to provide funding for research and education from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2031. By extending the purposes for which funds in a continuously appropriated fund may be spent, the bill would make an appropriation.