AB 2778

Existing law, the California Seed Law (the seed law), regulates the shipment, delivery, transport, and sale of agricultural or vegetable seed, as defined, within the state, and the investigation and prosecution of breach of contract or patent infringement claims against farmers for unauthorized possession or use of genetically engineered plants. The seed law is enforced by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and by county agricultural commissioners and their qualified representatives, as provided. The seed law establishes a subvention program under which the secretary is required to annually apportion $120,000, in aggregate, among counties that choose to participate in the subvention program as a subvention for costs that the counties incur in the enforcement of the seed law. Under the seed law, the provisions that establish and govern participation in the subvention program are inoperative on July 1, 2027, except as specified, and all provisions relating to the subvention program are repealed on January 1, 2031. This bill would instead make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2032, and would repeal them on January 1, 2036. Under existing law, the moneys collected pursuant to the seed law, including registration fees, assessments, and penalty revenues, are continuously appropriated to the Department of Food and Agriculture to carry out its provisions. By extending the operation of these subvention provisions, this bill would make an appropriation.