Existing law encourages the Department of Food and Agriculture to assist producers in organizing certified farmers' markets, field retail stands, farm stands, and other forms of direct marketing by providing technical advice on marketing methods and in complying with the regulations that affect direct marketing programs. This bill would also encourage the department to assist in organizing community-supported agriculture. The bill would require producers that market whole produce, shell eggs, or processed foods through single-farm or multi-farm community-supported agriculture programs, as defined, to register annually with the department as a California direct marketing producer, and, among other things, to specify whether the producer is part of a single-farm community-supported agriculture program or a multi-farm community-supported agriculture program. The bill would impose specified requirements relating to the labeling and maintenance of consumer boxes and containers that are used in community-supported agriculture programs to deliver farm products, and would require a registered California direct marketing producer to maintain records of the contents and origin of all of the items included in each consumer box or container in accordance with department regulations. The bill would require a registered California direct marketing producer to pay an annual registration fee of up to $100, as provided, to be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, which would be used by the department for the administration of the bill's provisions. The bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to file an order to adopt, amend, or repeal regulations relating to the fee with the Office of Administrative Law, and would require the order to be filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with specified provisions. Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes food safety requirements, and requires food to be obtained from approved sources, as defined. Existing law provides for the enforcement of the California Retail Food Code by enforcement officers, as defined, which includes the State Department of Public Health. Funds collected by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to those provisions are deposited in the Food Safety Fund for use by the State Department of Public Health, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of carrying out and implementing inspection provisions, as specified. This bill would specify that a registered California direct marketing producer is an approved source, subject to compliance with specified provisions of law, and would also specify that any whole uncut fruit or vegetable or unrefrigerated shell egg grown or produced in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and food safety guidelines shall be deemed to be from an approved source. The bill would authorize enforcement officers to enter and inspect a community-supported agriculture program in response to a public food safety complaint, and would authorize the enforcement officer to recover reasonable costs associated with that inspection from the registered California direct marketing producer operating the community-supported agriculture program. Because a violation of various provisions regulating direct marketing, including requirements relating to labeling and shipping products and preparing and submitting specified documents, is a crime, this bill would create new crimes and would therefore impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
Sponsored bills
(1) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (act) , which is administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, requires each city, county, and regional agency, if any, to develop a source reduction and recycling element of an integrated waste management plan. With certain exceptions, the source reduction and recycling element of that plan is required to divert 50% of all solid waste, through source reduction, recycling, and composting activities. Existing law allows the 50% diversion requirement to include, pursuant to specified conditions, not more than 10% through biomass conversion, which is defined as the controlled combustion of specific materials for use in producing electricity or heat. Existing law defines the term "transformation" and excludes from that definition composting, gasification, and biomass conversion. This bill would define the terms "EMSW conversion" and "EMSW conversion facility," and would make conforming changes to existing definitions with regard to those operations and facilities. The bill would additionally exclude EMSW conversion from the definition of transformation, and would allow a transformation facility that meets specified requirements relating to EMSW conversion to elect to be considered an EMSW facility for purposes of the act, except as provided. (2) The act requires the integrated waste management plan required to be adopted by a county to include a countywide siting element that provides a description of the areas to be used for the development of certain facilities. The act excludes certain solid wastes, for purposes of determining the base rate for the diversion of solid waste, and requires that the amount of solid waste diverted include solid waste diverted from a disposal facility or transformation facility. Existing law requires the department to determine compliance with the act's 50% diversion requirement, based on the jurisdiction's change in its per capita disposal rate and specifies the procedure for determining that rate. This bill would require the countywide siting element to include a description of the areas to be used for the development of adequate EMSW conversion, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by imposing new duties upon local agencies. This bill would additionally exclude certain used tires or waste tires or biomass materials that are converted at an EMSW conversion facility from the per capita disposal determination and would require, for purposes of the solid waste calculation used in the base rate determination, the amount of solid waste to include solid waste diverted from an EMSW conversion facility. (3) Existing law prohibits a person from establishing or expanding a solid waste facility in a county, after a countywide or regional agency integrated waste management plan has been approved, unless the solid waste facility is, among other things, a disposal facility or a transformation facility that meets certain criteria. This bill would additionally include, as one of those facilities, an EMSW conversion facility. (4) 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.
This measure would honor the California Council on Science and Technology for 25 years of service and unbiased advice to the State of California.
This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to enact President Barack Obama's budget proposal to increase funding for preschool and early learning. This measure would also urge the Superintendent of Public Instruction to prepare a plan for making California competitive for future increases in federal funding to preschool and early learning programs.
This measure would designate December 4, 2013, as Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court Day.
This measure would proclaim October 5, 2013, as California Firefighters Memorial Day.
This measure would recognize September 2013 as Hmong History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of the Hmong people during Hmong History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions that the Hmong people make to their communities.
This measure would formally endorse the invaluable work of California's Africana studies programs, and their faculty, staff, and students. The measure would recognize the leadership provided by the beneficiaries of those programs, and would support the continuation of Africana studies programs in California's institutions of higher education.
This measure would designate September 22, 2013, and September 22, 2014, as "California Business Women's Day" and would encourage all Californians to celebrate the occasion with appropriate activities.
The Contractors' State License Law provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law provides that the installation of a fire protection system may be performed only by a contractor holding a fire protection contractor classification, or by an owner-builder of an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling, as specified. This bill would additionally authorize, until January 1, 2017, the installation of a residential fire protection system for a one- or 2-family dwelling by a contractor holding a fire protection contractor classification or a plumbing contractor classification, as defined in the regulations of the board. The bill would also state the intent of the Legislature with respect to these matters. Existing law requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to be administered by the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations in specified circumstances and requires the State Fire Marshal to aid in the enforcement of building standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal and published in the State Building Standards Code relating to fires or to fire prevention and protection. This bill would authorize the State Fire Marshal to propose, adopt, and administer the regulations that he or she deems necessary in order to ensure fire safety in buildings and structures and would require regulations that are building standards to be submitted to the State Building Standards Commission for approval. The bill would authorize the State Fire Marshal to establish and collect reasonable fees to implement these provisions. The bill would make conforming changes.