California Assembly Bill AB2174 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2174INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo FEBRUARY 23, 2012 An act to amend Section 14611 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to fertilizer. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2174, as introduced, Alejo. Fertilizer: reduction of use. Existing law requires a person who manufactures or distributes fertilizing materials to obtain a license from the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. Under existing law, a licensee whose name appears on the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing materials is required to pay specified fees for each dollar of sales, including an amount not to exceed $0.001 per dollar of sales for all sales of fertilizing materials, to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of fertilizing material, including, but not limited to, any environmental effects. This bill would specify that the use of the $0.001 per dollar of sales fee is also for the support of University of California Agriculture Extension programs that advise farmers on measures to reduce fertilizer use, programs that reduce the impact of fertilizer use on groundwater quality, and programs to address drinking water contamination associated with fertilizer use. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14611 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 14611. (a)  Any   A  licensee whose name appears on the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing materials, as defined in Sections 14517 and 14533, to unlicensed purchasers, shall pay to the secretary an assessment not to exceed two mills ($0.002) per dollar of sales for all fertilizing materials.  Any   A  licensee whose name appears on the label of packaged fertilizing materials, as defined in Sections 14533 and 14551, shall pay to the secretary an assessment not to exceed two mills ($0.002) per dollar of sales. The secretary may, based on the findings and recommendations of the board, reduce the assessment rate to a lower rate that provides sufficient revenue to carry out this chapter. (b) In addition to the assessment provided in subdivision (a), the secretary may impose an assessment in an amount not to exceed one mill ($0.001) per dollar of sales for all sales of fertilizing materials, to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of fertilizing material, including, but not limited to,  any   support for University of California Agriculture Extension programs that advise farmers on measures to reduce fertilizer use   ,   programs that reduce the impact of fertilizer use on groundwater quality   , programs to address drinking water contamination associated with fertilizer use   , and other  environmental effects.