Title FAC — California Food & Agric. Code

The public member, or his or her alternate on the commission, shall have all the powers, rights, and privileges of any other member on the commission. The public member shall not have any financial interest in the blueberry industry.

The term of office of all members of the commission and alternates, except any ex officio member, shall be two years from the date of their election and until their successors are elected, except, that of the first members of the commission, one-half shall serve one year and one-…

The commission may sue and be sued and enter into contracts. Copies of its proceedings, records, and acts, when authenticated, shall be admissible in evidence in all courts of the state, and shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of all statements therein.

A quorum of the commission is a majority of the producer members and a majority of the handler members on the commission. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall constitute an act of the…

The secretary or his or her representatives shall be notified and may attend each meeting of the commission and any committee meeting of the commission. However, the secretary is not entitled to attend an executive session of the commission called for the purpose of discussing po…

No member of the commission or of any committee established by the commission, which may include nonmembers of the commission, shall receive a salary. Except for ex officio government members, the members may receive reasonable and necessary traveling expenses and meal allowances…

If the secretary is required to concur in a decision of the commission, he or she shall indicate his or her response to the commission within 15 working days from notification of the decision. The response may be a request that additional information be provided.

All moneys received by any person from assessments levied under the authority of this chapter or otherwise received by the commission shall be deposited in banks designated by the commission and shall be disbursed by order of the commission through an agent or agents designated f…

The state shall not be liable for the acts of the commission or its contracts. Payments of all claims arising by reason of the administration of this chapter or acts of the commission shall be limited to the funds collected by the commission. No member, alternate member, or any e…

The powers and duties of the commission shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (a) Adopt and from time to time alter, rescind, modify, and amend bylaws, rules, regulations, and orders for carrying out this chapter, including rules for appeals from any bylaw,…

(a) To prevent unfair trade practices which are detrimental to California’s blueberry industry, including, but not limited to, deception and misinformation, the commission shall collect and disseminate to any and all interested persons, handler f.o.b. (free on board), market pric…

(a) Within 15 days after the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall establish a list of producers and handlers eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary shall require that producers and handlers of blueberries in …

This chapter, except as necessary to conduct an implementation referendum vote, shall not become operative until the secretary finds the following in a referendum vote conducted by the secretary: (a) At least 40 percent of the total number of producers from the list established b…

The secretary shall establish a period in which to conduct the referendum which shall not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days in duration and may prescribe additional procedures necessary to conduct the referendum. If the initial period established is less than 60 days, the…

Nonreceipt of a ballot shall not invalidate a referendum.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in Section 79262, he or she shall so certify and give notice of the vote to all producers and handlers whose names and addresses are on file with the secretary.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given as provided in this article, he or she shall so certify and declare this chapter inoperative. The secretary may conduct another implementation referendum vote one or more years after the previous vote has been taken.

(a) Upon certification of the commission, the secretary shall contact all producers and handlers in a manner determined by the secretary for the purpose of nominating and electing persons to the commission. To be eligible for election to the commission, nominees shall present to …

Prior to the referendum vote conducted by the secretary pursuant to this article, the proponents of the commission shall deposit with the secretary an amount of funds determined necessary by the secretary to defray the expenses of preparing the necessary lists and information and…

(a) The commission shall, not later than March 1, 2010, or as soon thereafter as possible, establish the assessment to be paid by the producers and handlers for the marketing season. Thereafter, the commission shall, not later than October 1 of each year, or as soon thereafter as…

This chapter does not apply to blueberries produced only for a producer’s home use or to blueberries that are used only for ornamental purposes.

Every person who handles blueberries shall keep a complete and accurate record of all blueberries handled by him or her with the name of the producer whose blueberries were handled. A producer who delivers or markets blueberries to persons other than to a handler shall keep a com…

(a) All proprietary information obtained by the commission or the secretary from any source, including the names and addresses of producers and handlers, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except when required by court order in a judicial proceeding. (b) Information…

The first handler of blueberries being assessed shall deduct the assessment from amounts paid by him or her to the producer, and shall be a trustee of the funds until they are paid to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission. A producer who handle…

Every handler shall be personally liable for the payment of the collected assessments from producers, and failure to collect the assessment from any producer shall not exempt the handler from liability.

Any assessment that is levied as provided in this chapter is a personal debt of every producer and handler so assessed.

(a) Any person who fails to file a return or pay any assessment within the time required by the commission shall pay to the commission a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the assessment determined to be past due and, in addition, interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of…

A civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) may be levied by the commission upon a person who does any of the following: (a) Willfully to render or furnish a false report, statement, or record required by the commission, or in any way to affect the shipment and ma…

The commission shall establish procedures for the purpose of according individuals aggrieved by its actions or determinations an informal hearing before the commission, or before a committee of the commission designated for this purpose. Appeals from decisions of the commission m…

(a) The commission may commence civil actions and utilize all remedies provided in law or equity for the collection of assessments and civil penalties, and for obtaining injunctive relief or specific performance, relating to this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted unde…

Any action by the commission for any penalty or other remedy that is prescribed under this chapter shall be commenced within two years from the date of discovery of the alleged violation. Any action against the commission by any person shall be commenced within two years from the…

The commission is not required to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist in any action brought under this chapter.

This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any section, clause, or part of this chapter is for any reason held unconstitutional or invalid as applied to any person or as applied under certain circumstances, that decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter …

The termination of this chapter shall not affect or waive any right, duty, obligation, or liability that has arisen or that may thereafter arise in connection with this chapter, release or extinguish any violation of this chapter, or affect or impair any right or remedies of the …

(a) Five years after implementation of this chapter, the secretary shall hold a public hearing, after providing proper notice to all persons subject to this chapter and any other persons or entities who have requested, in writing, notice of the hearing, to determine whether the o…

Following a hearing, and favorable referendum if required, the process specified in Section 79291 shall be conducted by the secretary every five years thereafter between October 1 and September 30, unless a referendum is conducted as the result of a petition pursuant to Section 7…

(a) Upon a finding by a two-thirds vote of the commission that the operation of this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purposes, the commission may recommend to the secretary that the commission be suspended. Any suspension shall not become effective until the exp…

After the effective date of suspension of this chapter and of the commission, the operations of the commission shall be concluded and all moneys held by the commission, and moneys collected by assessment and not required to defray the expenses of concluding and terminating operat…

Upon suspension of the operation of this chapter and of the commission, the commission shall mail a copy of the notice of suspension to all producers and handlers affected by the suspension whose names and addresses are on file.

The commission may recommend to the secretary that he or she adopt blueberry quality standards, product labeling, or engage in any other activity authorized pursuant to the California Marketing Act of 1937 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 58601) of Part 2 of Division 21). The …

Any activity recommended by the commission shall not become operative until approved in the manner specified in Section 79262.

Any activity adopted pursuant to this article shall be implemented by the secretary at the beginning of the marketing season next succeeding the date on which the activity is approved by the secretary.

The commission shall serve as the advisory body to the secretary on all matters pertaining to this article.

The production of nursery products constitutes an important industry of this state that provides substantial and necessary revenues for the state, products that are a foundation for its residents’ food supply, and employment for its residents.

The maintenance of the nursery industry of California is necessary to assure the public and the state’s and nation’s crop agriculture industry of a continuous supply of vital nursery products and the maintenance of needed levels of income for those engaged in the nursery industry…

The production of nursery products in California is currently the state’s number two agricultural crop with 2008 farm gate sales of four billion dollars ($4,000,000,000) and has the potential to become the leading segment of the state’s agricultural industry. To realize this pote…

The nursery industry has been negatively impacted by invasive pests and diseases that also adversely affect the state’s environment, urban quality, and agricultural production. The activities authorized by this commission will improve the quality of nursery products and limit the…

The establishment of the commission is necessary for the efficient development and management of a research, public education, and marketing program that will enhance the reputation of the California nursery industry, create a more receptive environment for the industry and its p…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the commission is intended to operate in conjunction with other nursery-related laws and programs in the state, including, but not limited to, the licensing laws and regulations applicable to nurseries (Chapter 1 (commencing with Sectio…

The Legislature further finds and declares that the programs specified in Section 79406, including this commission, greatly benefit the nursery industry, and as such, advance the interests of the State of California by providing substantial employment for the state’s citizens, pr…