GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'RE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. I AM
NOT DEVON MATHIS. UM BUT WE'RE
GOING TO START ANYWAY. UM NO.
AND WITH PERMISSION. WE'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE MEETING
STARTED HERE. UM LET'S SEE BACK
TO CALL THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON AGRICULTURE TO ORDER BEFORE
WE BEGIN TO ENSURE THAT MEMBERS
OF THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC HAVE
ACCESS TO OUR PROCEEDINGS.
TODAY, THIS HEARING WILL BE
STREAMED ON THE ASSEMBLY'S
WEBSITE AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN
PERSON HERE IN ROOM 1 26. WE DO
NOT. WHAT'S A QUORUM IN THIS
PERIOD? WE HAVE A QUORUM. OKAY
SO, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. REBA. HERE. HURRY,
ELONIS. HOMELY LARA IRWIN. HERE.
SAWYER SORIA. WHAT WOULD HERE. I
SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS FIRST.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE IN ORDER, SO
ALRIGHT, MR BENNETT. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PRESENT BEFORE WE I'M
SORRY. THIS IS NOT MY COMMITTEE
, SO I'M A LITTLE OUT OF WHACK
HERE. LET'S GO AHEAD. WE'VE GOT
A STATEMENT HERE FIRST, OKAY?
THANK YOU. CATHOLIC. SURE. OKAY,
GREAT. SO. THE CHAIR IS UNABLE
TO MAKE THE HEARING TODAY. THE
VICE CHAIR ISN'T HERE AT THIS
POINT. SO YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME
FOR NOW, UM WE HAVE AN AGENDA.
UPDATE THE FOLLOWING BILL HAS
BEEN PULLED BY THE AUTHOR.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO A B 2 40
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S KALRA SO
THAT THERE ARE NOW NINE BILLS ON
OUR AGENDA BEING CONSIDERED BY
OUR COMMITTEE TODAY. ONE BILL IS
ON THE CONSENT FILE. THAT IS A B
98 BY MISS AGUILAR CURRY. UM ANY
MEMBER HAS THE ABILITY TO PULL
THAT THAT BILL FROM CONSENT IF
THEY CHOOSE. WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY
THAT WHEN PEOPLE MAKE MOTIONS TO
APPROVE THINGS LIKE THE CONSENT
AGENDA UM, HINT, HINT. OH I SEE
A MOTION BY MR CONNELLY, A
SECOND BY MR ELONIS, UM FOR THE
CONSENT COUNTER, WHICH IS A B 98
, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
MADAM SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
CALENDAR. MATHIS AGUIAR-CURRY.
EDGAR CURRY AIOLI, KNEES. I
NORMALLY I LARA IRWIN IRWIN I
JOAN SAWYER, SORIA. SORRY IDEA,
PEOPLE WALL. I WOULD BYE. THAT
MEASURE PASSES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE
PROVIDING COMMENTS TODAY WE ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU
REPRESENT. IF YOU SUPPORT ONE,
IF YOU IF YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE
THE BILL BEING CONSIDERED ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO
SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO OUR
COMMITTEE THROUGH EMAIL. EMAILS
BE MAY BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS
FOUND ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE,
WHICH IS A GR DOT COMMITTEE DOT
ASSEMBLY DOT C A DOT GOV. SO I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME FELLOW MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. AND LET'S
PROCEED WITH THE HEARING. THE
FIRST ITEM WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER
NOW THAT MR BENNET'S COMFORTABLE
THERE IS NOT MR BENNETT'S BILL,
BUT THE COMMITTEE RULES SO LIKE
SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE RULES? IF
NOT, THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD
TIME FOR EMOTION IN A SECOND
MOTION BY MS SORIA, A SECOND BY
MR V. VALLAPUDUA UM, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FOR THE COMMITTEE RULES.
ADOPTION OF THE COMMITTEE RULES.
RIVAS MATH THIS REFEREE.
AGUIAR-CURRY HIGH, ELONIS
CONNOLLY. ORPHALI AYE LARA
IRWIN. WHEN I JUST SAWYER SORIA.
SORRY. I VE VALLAPUDUA RIGHT.
WELL, I WOULD I THAT BILL IS
PASSED WITH A VOTE OF EIGHT. WE
HAVE 88 MEMBERS VOTING SO WE
WILL NOW BEGIN WITH FILE ITEM
NUMBER ONE. MR. BENNETT PLEASE
PROCEED WITH YOUR BILL WHEN
YOU'RE READY. THE MEMBERS OF YOU
KNOW, MAYBE 552. PRETTY DIRECT.
IT CREATES A HEAVY EQUIPMENT,
FARMWORKER FARM TOOL SHARING
PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW
THAT FARM EQUIPMENT,
PARTICULARLY THE EXPENSIVE FARM
EQUIPMENT CAN BE A REAL
CHALLENGE FOR FARMERS,
PARTICULARLY SMALL FARMERS. UH
DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LOW
INCOME FARMERS, ETCETERA, SO
THIS SETS UP THAT PROGRAM TO
ALLOW THEM TO BORROW THIS HIGH
VALUE EQUIPMENT ON A SHORT TERM
BASIS. IT'S USED AROUND THE
WORLD NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN
EUROPE DO THIS VERY
SUCCESSFULLY. WE DON'T DO IT
VERY MUCH HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES. AND SO THIS WOULD BE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM THAT
WOULD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
OBVIOUSLY WITH THE ECONOMICS OF
AGRICULTURE AFTER LAND FARM
EQUIPMENT IS HUGE, AND USUALLY
THE SECOND HIGHEST, UH, COST FOR
AND CERTAINLY FIXED COST FOR
FARMERS. SO WITH THAT I HAVE TO
GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP
US TESTIFY AND ANNA LARSON FROM
CALIFORNIA CLIMATE AND
AGRICULTURAL NETWORK AND JAMIE
PHªN OWES FROM COMMUNITY
ALLIANCE WAS FAMILY FARMS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD WHEN YOU'RE
READY. I'M ANNA LARSON WITH TALC
IN THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE AND
AGRICULTURE NETWORK, AND WE'RE A
COALITION OF EIGHT SUSTAINABLE
AND ORGANIC FARMER SERVING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE FOR
POLICIES TO HELP FARMERS BE MORE
RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. AND
SO WHILE CALIFORNIA LEAVES THE
COUNTRY IN AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION, THE NUMBER OF FAMILY
FARMS DECREASES WITH EACH
AGRICULTURAL CENSUS DUE TO
MARKET PRESSURES AND CLIMATE
CHANGE IMPACTS. SO MORE THAN
EVER, FARMERS NEED SUPPORT TO
HAVE VIABLE AND RESILIENT
OPERATIONS AND TO MEET STATE
GOALS AND TARGETS FOR
AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY IS
OUTLINED IN THE SCOPING PLAN. 30
BY 30 GOALS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BENNETT MENTIONED FARM EQUIPMENT
IS THE HIGHEST CAPITAL EXPENSE
FOR FARMERS AFTER LAND AND 75%
OF CALIFORNIA. 70,000 FARMS
OPERATE WITH NET FARM INCOMES
UNDER $25,000, OR WITH NET
LOSSES ANNUALLY. SO THEREFORE
INVESTMENTS AND SPECIALIST
EQUIPMENT FOR HEALTHY SALES
PRACTICES OR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
STRATEGIES SUCH AS NO TILL
DRILLS, WOOD CHIPPERS AND
COMPOST SPREADERS. AND
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
ARE OFTEN OUT OF REACH,
PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL AND MID
SCALE FARMERS AND DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS. WE'VE HEARD THE ACCESS
TO EQUIPMENT IS A CRITICAL NEED
FROM THE FARMERS WE WORK WITH
AND FROM OUR PARTNERS AND
EXTENSION AT RESOURCE
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND OUR
NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO SERVED
THOUSANDS OF FARMERS ACROSS THE
STATE. AND MANY HAVE IDENTIFIED
EQUIPMENT SHARING AS A SOLUTION
, BUT LACK THE FUNDS TO CREATE
THE PROGRAMS. WE ALREADY KNOW
THIS MODEL WORKS IN FRESNO, THE
èC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SMALL
FARMS TEAM OPERATES AND
EQUIPMENT SHARING PROGRAM TO
HELP HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS BE ABLE TO USE
COMPOST ON THEIR FARMS. THE
PROGRAM IS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT
THERE IS WAY MORE DEMAND FOR THE
PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO
MEET. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BENNETT'S, UM MAYBE 552 WOULD
HELP PROGRAMS SUCH AS FRESNO BE
ABLE TO SCALE UP AND MEET DEMAND
AND ALSO HELPED CREATE AND START
NEW PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND HELP THE STATE REALIZED THE
POTENTIAL OF AGRICULTURE TO
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
SUPPORT REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMIES
. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. I'M BACK TO MANY OF
YOU. UM MY NAME IS JAMIE FOR
NEWS. I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT
THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH
FAMILY FARMERS OR CAF. CAF
CURRENTLY REPRESENTS OVER 8000
SMALL AND MISS SCALE FAMILY
FARMERS IN CALIFORNIA AND HAS
WORKED FOR OVER 45 YEARS TO
PRESERVE FAMILY SCALE
AGRICULTURE AND PROMOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. IN
CALIFORNIA OVER 8 80% OF FARMS
OPERATE ON LESS THAN 180 ACRES
NEARLY 3/4 OPERATE ON LESS THAN
$100,000 IN ANNUAL SALES, AND WE
LOSE AT LEAST FOUR SMALL SCALE
FARMS A DAY. THESE CHALLENGES
FACING SMALL FARMERS ARE
OVERWHELMING, MAKING THE SIMPLE
ACT OF GROWING FOOD TO FEED
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TASK. THE REALITIES
OF CLIMATE CRISIS, EXISTING
SUPPLY CHAINS AND FOOD SYSTEMS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT PEOPLE
WHO MAKE LIVELIHOODS. GROWING
FOOD, WHICH INCLUDES ONE IN FIVE
CALIFORNIA FARMERS, WHO IDENTIFY
AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR. THERE ARE ALSO FARMERS
AT CAFFE. THESE ARE THE FARMERS
THAT WE AIM TO SERVE AT CAFFE,
UM AND WE ENGAGE WITH EVERY
SINGLE DAY WE LISTEN AND RESPOND
TO THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS WITH
ADVOCACY AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. ONE OF THE TOP
PRIORITIES WE HEARD THIS YEAR IS
THE NEED FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPPORTUNITIES
TO WORK COLLECTIVELY, UM, WITH
RAPID CONSOLIDATION AND MAJOR
MARKET COMPETITION. OUR FARMERS
KNOW THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL
SURVIVE IN THE FUTURE IS TO WORK
TOGETHER SHARING EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING AND CROP PLANNING.
TOGETHER FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL
FARMERS HAVE THEIR OWN INFORMAL
SHARING OF ONE OR TWO TOOLS LIKE
A SEED DRILL, BUT THEY LACK THE
FUNDS IN ORDER TO KIND OF ACCESS
MORE CAPITAL INTENSIVE TOOLS,
EITHER THROUGH A FARMER LED, YOU
KNOW, COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS OR
SUPPORTED BY TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS LIKE THE U.
C. A. N ARE SMALL FARMS
PROGRAMS. COOPERATIVELY MANAGED
EQUIPMENT SHARING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE CAN HELP THESE
INFRASTRUCTURE BARRIERS AND
INCREASED FARM VIABILITY AND
LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES. 85 5 TO
BUY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BENNETT
WOULD DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CREATION OF THRIVING REGIONAL
FOOD ECOSYSTEMS WERE SMALL AND
UNDERSERVED. FARMERS AND LAND
STEWARDS CAN BEGIN TO BUILD
STRENGTH. UM REGIONAL ECONOMIES
ARE ESSENTIAL IF WE WANT TO
ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF
CALIFORNIA SMALLEST AND MOST
VULNERABLE FARMERS AND I URGE
YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THERE IS NO OPPOSITION ON FILE
FOR THIS BILL. SO AT THIS POINT,
WE'D LIKE TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR OTHERS TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OR IF THERE IS OPPOSITION TO
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, SO
PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE'RE JUST
ASKING FOR YOUR NAME YOUR
POSITION ON THE BILL AND ANY
ORGANIZATION THAT YOU MIGHT
REPRESENT. THANK YOU. HOWEVER,
THE HOUSE THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DONE OKAY. PESTICIDE ACTION
NETWORK AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NOW WITH THE CENTER
FOR FOOD, SAFETY AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO MUTE
YOU GUYS. UM IS THAT WAS THAT
BETTER THAN AFTER THAT? JUST
DON'T JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING.
OKAY ALRIGHT, MY PART. THIS IS
NOT A NORMAL IT'S NOT MY NORMAL
POSITION IN THIS ROOM. SO
ANYWAY, SO JUST JUST SAYING,
OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THAT FROM THE
WITNESSES. WOW, UM. SO BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE. ALWAYS HAVE A COMMENT
FOR THIS. UM I WANT TO THANK YOU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S VENOM FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I WORKED
REALLY HARD TRYING TO GET OUR
SMALL FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO
THRIVE AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND
THIS IS ONE LAST THING THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
THIS GETS THROUGH. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU TO BOTH
OF THE TEST OF PEOPLE THAT
TESTIFYING TODAY. I KNOW THEM
WELL FOR YOU. MR V VALLAPUDUA.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIRMAN, UH, ALSO
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND
STAFF. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT
BILL. I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS
THINK THAT YOU KNOW, FARMER
FARMING IS LUCRATIVE. A LOT OF
PEOPLE MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT
I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY TO I
KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. I KNOW HOW
HARD IT IS EVEN FOR THE NEW
FARMERS THAT ARE COMING UP THE
STRUGGLE THE STRUGGLES,
ESPECIALLY WITH YOU KNOW HOW
CALIFORNIA IS MAKING ALL THESE
DIFFERENT CHANGES. IT MAKES IT
EVEN HARDER PROVOKES. SO I WANT
TO ASK AUTHOR IF I CAN BE ADDED
AS A CO AUTHOR. ABSOLUTELY. I
DIDN'T MAKE THAT AS EMOTION.
GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, THAT'S SO
I TO, UM. THE DIGIT. I'M SORRY.
DID YOU HAVE EMOTIONAL QUESTION
? I'M SORRY WE GOT. YOU ARE OK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR
BENNETT FOR BRINGING THIS BEFORE
WE IN IN MY DISTRICT. WE HAVE A
LOT OF SMALL FARMS, SMALL
ORGANIC FARMS AND CALF HAS A
VERY ACTIVE PRESENCE IN IN MY
DISTRICT AS WELL. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS. AND
I, TOO WOULD GET THE BILL PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE WOULD LOVE TO
BE ADDED AS A CO AUTHOR. SO UM
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? JUST
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE
A MOTION BY MR V. VALLAPUDUA A
SECOND BY MS AGUILAR CURRY. UM,
WHERE IS THIS BILL GOING NEXT?
APPROPRIATIONS OKAY, THE BILL
WOULD BE GOING TO APPROPRIATIONS
SO THE MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. ON A B 55
TO DO PASS THROUGH
APPROPRIATIONS. RIVAS MATHIS
AGRA CURRY, AGUIAR-CURRY IOLANI
HIGH I, CONNELLY CONNELLY I,
FLORA IRWIN. IRWIN I JOHN
SAWYER. SORIA SORIA IVY
VALLAPUDUA WALL. I WOULD, I
WOULD I. AND 17. OKAY HAS SEVEN
VOTES. YOU'RE OUT OF COMMITTEE
WILL LEAVE THE ROLL UP. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'D LIKE TO
COMPLIMENT OUR TWO WITNESSES
HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
MS AGUIAR-CURRY. THANK YOU.
MAYBE 54.
HAVE GOING, OKAY? THANK YOU. OH
SUCH A GENTLEMAN. TAKE NOTE
EVERYONE. COMPANY BEATS JACKMAN.
NOW THIS YEAR. OKAY? THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS FIRST. I'D
LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK
WITH OUR OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY SAYING THAT I'M HONORED
TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON WINE AND PROUD TO
JOIN MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND
PROTECTING OUR BOOMING
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHICH
INCLUDES THE VINTNERS AND THE
WINERIES THAT EXTEND ACROSS
EVERY REGION, SMALL AND LARGE,
URBAN AND RURAL THE CALIFORNIA
WINE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY
CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES IN RECENT
YEARS. THE STATE HAS 4800
WINERIES AND 5900 WINE GRAPE
GROWERS, MOST OF WHICH ARE LONG
TERM FAMILY BUSINESSES WITH A
COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE
LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ONE
GRAPE GROWERS AND VINTNERS
GENERATES 73 BILLION IN ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY FOR THE STATE WHILE
EMPLOYING 40 TO 422,000
CALIFORNIANS. UNFORTUNATELY
CALIFORNIA WALLFLOWERS HAVE
CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY LOSS
, LOSS OF TOURISM AND LOSS OF
PRODUCTION DUE TO THE SMOKE
EXPOSED GRAPES. EVEN THOUGH EVEN
WHEN WINE GRAPES ARE NOT BURNED
IN A FIRE, THE SMOKE TAINTS THE
FLAVOR OF THE GRAPES AND CAN
RUIN THE FLAVOR. PROFILE OF
ANYONE PRODUCED WITH A SMOKE
TAINTED GRAPE. WHILE FIRES FROM
2020 ALONE ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE
COST WINERIES AND WINE GRAPE
GROWERS 3.7 BILLION, BOTH FROM
THE IMMEDIATE FIRE CAUSED LOSSES
AS WELL AS LOSSES IN FUTURE
SALES. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE
TOOLS AND METHODS THAT COULD BE
USED IN VINEYARDS TO PREVENT OR
LIMIT THE EFFECTS OF SMOKE
EXPOSURE IN GRAPES. RESEARCH
TODAY. HAS NOT REVEALED
COMMERCIALLY VIABLE SOLUTIONS.
WE NEED MORE RESEARCH TO LOOK AT
POTENTIAL APPLICATION THAT COULD
PROTECT GRAPES FROM SMOKE
EXPOSURE. FINALLY RESEARCH IS
NEEDED THAT WILL HELP IDENTIFY
MARKET READY SOLUTIONS FOR WINE
GRAPE GROWERS AND WINERIES TO
REDUCE THEIR LOSSES BY MEASURING
MITIGATING AND PREVENTING
IMPACTS FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE.
EVERY 54 WILL CREATE AN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE
DISTRIBUTION OF $5 MILLION IN
FUNDING TO INVESTIGATE ACCURATE
MEASUREMENT OF SMOKE COMPOUNDS
METHODS TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE
THAT CAN OCCUR CORE. FROM
EXPOSURE TO SMOKE AND METHODS TO
PREVENT SMOKE DAMAGE TO WINE,
GRAPES AND WINE. BY COMMITTING
RESOURCES TO UNDERSTANDING AND
MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF
WILDFIRE SMOKE ON WINE GRAPES.
THE STATE WILL SUPPORT AN
IMPORTANT PART OF CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY AND ALLOW CALIFORNIA
WINE GROWERS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE
CHANGE. THIS BILL IS MORE THAN
JUST DOING GREAT RESEARCH IN
THIS SPACE. IT WILL HELP TO
IDENTIFY AND CREATE MARKET READY
SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE APPLIED
BEFORE I CROP IS PLANTED OR
HARVESTED WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT. I HAVE TIM
SCHMELZER FROM THE WINE
INSTITUTE AND JACK WALL COUGH
FROM THE GLOCK OH, GROUP.
WELCOME THANKS. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU
ALL MY FIRST TIME TESTIFYING
THIS YEAR, SO RUSTY TIM SMELLS
ER, REPRESENTING WINE INSTITUTE
. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE OVER 1000
CALIFORNIA WINERIES AS OUR
MEMBERS AND I HAVE NOT A LOT TO
SAY YOU STILL SO MUCH OF MY
PUNCH HERE. SORRY. GOOD POINT. I
DON'T KNOW WHO HELPED YOU WRITE
THAT ANYWAY. UM. TO MISS
AGUIAR-CURRY POINT. UM WE ARE IN
DESPERATE NEED OF RESEARCH TO
GET REAL SCIENCE BEHIND THE
NUMBERS HERE. THIS ISSUE HAS HAS
LED TO SOME UNFORTUNATE TENSIONS
THAT TIME BETWEEN GROWERS AND
VINTNERS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO BRING SCIENCE TO
BEAR. FOR WHAT THE REAL
MEASUREMENTS ARE OF THE IMPACTS,
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO JOIN FORCES HERE
AND BRING SCIENCE TO BEAR SO
THAT WE CAN BE MAKING
INTELLIGENT AND FORMED DECISIONS
GOING FORWARD AND MAKE THE BEST
USE OF THE WINE GRAPES AS THEY
COME OFF. SOMETIMES WE'VE NOT
USED CROPS AT ALL. WHEN IT TURNS
OUT, MAYBE EITHER BETTER USED IN
A LOWER LOWER VALUE WINE CLASS.
SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND BRINGING
SCIENCE TO BEAR WILL HELP US
MAKE MORE COST EFFECTIVE
DECISIONS AND GET ALONG WITH OUR
PARTNERS EVEN BETTER THAN WE
ALREADY DO. ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
TODAY. THANK YOU. MR CHAIR
MEMBERS, JACK WELCOME ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
WINE GRAPE GROWERS, AND, UH,
IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO LOOK
BACK OVER THE YEARS WHERE THE
LEGISLATURE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FOOD AND EGG UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE CAL STATE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. HAVE BEEN
REALLY GOOD PARTNERS AT MAKING
SURE THAT THIS INDUSTRY THRIVES
BY REALLY FORGING AHEAD WITH
RESEARCH ON NEW VARIETALS AND
WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT PESTS
LIKE THE GLASSY WINGED
SHARPSHOOTER AND THE LANTERN
FLY. THIS THE ISSUE THAT MR
AGUIAR-CURRY PROPERLY AND FULLY
DESCRIBED AS SOMETHING THAT
WE'VE GOT TO REALLY HINT. GET A
HANDLE ON QUICKLY BECAUSE THE
LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS TO
HAVE THE CALIFORNIA PRODUCT. BE
VIEWED WITH LESS THAN FULL
INTEGRITY, AND THAT'S WHAT'S
POTENTIALLY AT RISK HERE, SO
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FORGE
AHEAD TOGETHER WITH THAT
PARTNERS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP
FUND. ULTIMATELY THE RESEARCH
AND REALLY GET A HANDLE ON WHAT
IS NEEDED TO REALLY PROTECT THE
INDUSTRY FROM FURTHER DAMAGE IS
DOCTOR WOULD KNOWS FROM HIS
DISTRICT. A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS
DONE. THERE WERE OVER $600
MILLION OF CROP VALUE, NOT
DELIVERED BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE
AND THEN ABOUT $3 BILLION IN THE
VALUE OF TOTAL WINE SALES THAT
WAS AVOIDED, SO IT'S A SERIOUS
ISSUE AND REALLY ENCOURAGE YOUR
I VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT, BILL.
THANK YOU. RIGHT WE'VE GOT
SUPPORT. WE HAVE OPPOSITION IN
THE ROOM. HAVE A SEAT. WELL
HERE. WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FIRST. MICHAEL JARRETT
ON THE AFRICAN UNITY ALLIANCE
WITH FAMILY FARMERS AND
SUPPORTED THIS BILL. THANK YOU,
OKAY? FRIEND OF BASS WITH
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND SUPPORT SINAGA WITH RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA ARE CRC IN SUPPORT.
MADISON RALLY FOR GOES ON BEHALF
OF THE FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT ALL
RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION? HOW DO YOU. SEEN
NONE. AND WE SHUT UP FOR PHONES
OR. WE'RE NOT DOING PHONES, ALL
RIGHT BACK TO THE MEMBERS. MR
WOODS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UM
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
WE EXPERIENCE THE KINCADE FIRE
IN 2020. I THINK IT WAS A
KINKADE FIRING SO MANY FIRES. I
CAN TRACK OF THE POLICE FIRE,
BUT I HAD HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS
BEEN IN THE STATE AND THE STATE
WINERY. SO THEY HARVESTED GRAPES
, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS SMOKE
THERE TO SEE IF THERE WAS
ANYTHING THEY COULD DO IF THEY
COULD SALVAGE ANYTHING, AND
QUITE FRANKLY, THE RESULTS WERE
PRETTY ABYSMAL, AND THEY TRIED
SOME SOME SOME TREATMENTS AND
THINGS AND UNFORTUNATELY GREAT
WINE IS SUCH A SUCH A DELICATE
ART TO MAKING WINE THAT I DIDN'T
QUITE TASTE LIKE WINE WHEN THEY
GOT DONE, SO, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THIS IS A CRITICAL UH,
IMPORTANT RESEARCH. I WISH WE
DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS RESEARCH.
I WISH WE HAD. WE WEREN'T GOING
TO HAVE THE WILDFIRES THAT WE
WERE HAVING. BUT THAT'S A WHOLE
THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE.
BUT SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
FORWARD AND I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED
AS A CO AUTHORED HERE, BILL.
THANKS. YOU CAN ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU, MR WOODS. ANY OTHERS SEE?
NONE DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND? SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL A
ROLE. HELP. SORRY. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? OH I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AND I VOTE AND FOR OUR
FARMERS AND OUR VINTNERS. LET'S
GET THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY ON A
B 54 MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. RIVAS MATHIS, I
AGREE. OUR CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I
ALAN ISH CONNELLY CONNELLY I
FLORA IRWIN IRWIN I JOHN SAWYER
, SORIA, SORIA IVY VALLAPUDUA
VALLAPUDUA. I WOULD WOULD I? ALL
RIGHT. BILL HAS A VOTES ITSELF
AND LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU
, GUYS. THANK YOU. THANKS. DO
YOU WANT ME TO STAY HERE? YEAH.
THIS IS MY AGAPE. LOSE A DAY
JUST TO LET YOU ALL MORNING. YOU
SEE THAT? YEAH BUT NEXT WE HAVE
YOU DOCTOR DID FOR 80 98? NO,
THAT ONE'S CONSENTS. SO. HOW
MANY? MAYBE 402402? YES. OKAY.
SURE ALRIGHT, AGAIN. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS TODAY I
INTRODUCED A BEFORE 02 BECAUSE
CALIFORNIA'S BOUNTIFUL CROPS ARE
UNDER ATTACK BY A NOXIOUS WEED
KNOWN AS BRANCHED BROOM RAPE.
TOMATOES ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE
TO BROOM RIGHT INFESTATION,
HOWEVER, THIS WEEK AND
NEGATIVELY IMPACT A WIDE RANGE
OF CROPS SUCH AS PASTURE LAGOONS
AND HOST PLANTS THAT INCLUDE
CABBAGE. HIP LETTUCE AND SPINACH
JUST TO NAME A FEW. ONCE
ESTABLISHED BROOM RAPE IS
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ERADICATE
IT CAN HOP PRODUCTION REDUCE
CROP YIELDS BY UP TO 70% AND
DESTROY A FARMER'S ENTIRE
HARVEST. IT CAN ALSO AFFECT A
RANGE OF WEEDS, ENABLING IT TO
REPRODUCE EVEN WHEN THE CROPS
ARE NOT PRESENT. IT IS
CRITICALLY. IT IS CRITICAL THAT
CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY CONDUCT RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT TODAY TO CONTROL AND
MITIGATE THE HARMFUL IMPACTS
CAUSED BY THIS INVASIVE SPECIES.
84 02 WILL ESTABLISH THE ROOM
RATE CONTROL BOARD AND INDUSTRY
FUNDED INDUSTRY FUNDED PROGRAM,
HOUSED AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. THE BOARD WILL
CONSIST OF 12 MEMBERS
REPRESENTING COUNTIES ACROSS THE
STATE AND WILL PROVIDE EXPERT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDANCE ON
HOW TO EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY CONTROL BRANCHED
BROOM RAPE. MEMBERS THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME OR FARMERS NEED
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY WITH ME TODAY
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS TAYLOR
ROSHAN REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA
TOMATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU. GREAT THANK YOU,
EVERYONE. TAYLOR ROSHAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA TOMATO
GROWERS ASSOCIATION, IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL ONCE AGAIN, MISS
AGREE OCCURRED DID A GREAT JOB
DESCRIBING WHAT? WHAT IT IS THAT
THE BILL DOES, BUT CERTAINLY I
WANT TO ECHO THAT BRUNERIE IS AN
INCREDIBLY DAMAGING PARASITIC
WEED, PARTICULARLY FOR THE
TOMATO INDUSTRY THAT HAS ALREADY
BEEN AFFLICTED BY YEAR OVER YEAR
DROUGHT CONSTRAINED MARKETS AND
UNFORTUNATELY NOW FLOODING
SITUATIONS AS WELL. UM, THIS
BILL WILL OFFER TOMATO PRODUCERS
AND HANDLERS SELF DETERMINATION
AND THROUGH ASTHMA'S
AGUIAR-CURRY MENTIONED INDUSTRY
ASSESSMENTS TO HELP PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE THE
DEPARTMENT TO BETTER MANAGE THIS
DISEASE AND CONDUCT RESEARCH
WITH THAT WE RESPECT FOR THE
QUESTION I VOTE. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO
OPPOSITION ON FILE. SO DO WE
HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM THE
AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER SUPPORTER OPPOSITION?
SEEN ON BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU DON'T ALL RIGHT. SHE
ANYTHING ELSE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? IT WAS KIND OF IRONIC. I
HAD A FARMER UP IN WILLIAMS,
CALIFORNIA DOES PRODUCTION,
LARGE PRODUCTION OF TOMATOES
THAT I MENTIONED THAT I WAS
GOING TO DO THIS BILL AND HE
SAID, OH, MY GOD, YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S IMPACTED OUR
PRODUCTION LAST YEAR, SO I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BILL,
AND IT'S KIND OF NICE TO HEAR
FROM A FARMER AND PRODUCER THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS BILL, SO WITH
THAT? I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS
ISSUE. WE HAVE A LOT OF TOMATOES
IN MY AREA AS WELL. SO I
RECOMMEND AND I ALSO SECRETARY
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL HER OFF? ON
A B 402 AGUIAR-CURRY MOTION IS
DUE PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
RIVAS MATHIS AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I, ALAN ISH ELONIS
CONNELLY CONNELLY I, FLORA
IRWIN. OR WHEN I JOHN SAWYER,
SORIA. TÔI BE VALLAPUDUA WALL. I
WOULD WOULD I? RIGHT? WE HAVE
EIGHT VOTES ON THAT YOUR BILL IS
OUT. THANK YOU. AS I SAID
APPALOOSA, RIGHT? YEAH SEE, TOO.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD
AND BEGIN WITH? YOUR NEXT BILL.
84 54, MAYBE 4 54 HANDSOME
GENTLEMAN THAT I GOT HERE WITH
ME. ARE YOU? GOOD? THANK YOU.
OKAY THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS FIRST. I'D LIKE TO
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
AND AGAIN THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THE THOROUGH REVIEW
AND THOUGHTFUL INPUT. 84 54
MAKES AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
ADJUSTMENT TO OUR RICE PRODUCERS
AND HANDLERS WHO HAVE BEEN HIT
HARD BY THE CATASTROPHIC DROUGHT
CONDITIONS, WHICH CALIFORNIA HAS
EXPERIENCED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
EXTREME DROUGHT AND WATER
SHORTAGES HAVE SEVERELY
CONSTRAINED RICE PRODUCTION IN
THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY, RESULTING
IN GROWERS PLANTING LESS THAN
HALF OF THEIR TYPICAL ACREAGE.
IN 2022 OVER HALF OF THE STATES
. TYPICAL 500,000 ACRES OF RICE
WERE UNPLANTED. ACCORDING TO THE
UC DAVIS ESTIMATE, THE
SACRAMENTO VALLEY REGION WILL
EXPERIENCE A $1.3 BILLION
ECONOMIC IMPACT AND RESULT IN
OVER 14,000 JOB LOSSES IN THE 22
23 MARKETING SEASON. THESE
CONDITIONS DRAMATICALLY IMPACT
THE ALLOCATION OF COMMISSION
BOARD SEATS BY DISTRICT, FOR
EXAMPLE, TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE
ON THE RICE COMMISSION PRODUCERS
AND HANDLERS MUST ACTIVELY
PRODUCED OR HANDLE RICE. HOWEVER
DUE TO THE MASSIVE DROP IN RICE
PRODUCTION, MANY PRODUCERS AND
HANDLERS WOULD NO LONGER BE
ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE RICE
COMMISSION BOARD, EVEN IF THEY
ARE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN
PREVENTING PREVENTED PLANNING
PROGRAM MANAGED BY THE US
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THIS
BILL WILL ALLOW THE RICE
COMMISSION TO ANNUALLY REVIEW
AND EVALUATE STRAIGHT STATE
DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND, IF
WARRANTED, ISSUE A DROUGHT.
DECLARATION. UNDER A DROUGHT
DECLARATION, THE RIGHTS
COMMISSION WOULD BE ABLE TO
ALLOW A HANDLER OR PRODUCER TO
SERVE ON THE BOARD IF THEY
HISTORICALLY PRODUCED OR HANDED
OR HANDLED RICE OR IF THEY
PARTICIPATED IN THE PREVENTED
PLANTING PROGRAM AT U. S. D. A.
MAYBE 4 54 IS AN IMPORTANT BILL
BECAUSE IT PROVIDES GREATER
FLEXIBILITY REGARDING RICE
COMMISSION ELIGIBILITY DURING A
DROUGHT DROP PERIODS TO MAINTAIN
REPRESENTATION OF ALL RICE
FARMERS AND HANDLERS, INCLUDING
THOSE IMPACTED BY DROUGHT. WITH
ME TODAY TO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT
. I HAVE TIM JOHNSON, THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE
CALIFORNIA RICE COMMISSION.
WELCOME TIM. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GO
AHEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM, TIM
JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE CALIFORNIA RIGHTS COMMISSION
. THE COMMISSION IS AN
ORGANIZATION FORMED IN STATE LAW
1998. AND REPRESENTS THE STATE'S
2500, RICE, FARMERS AND MARKETER
AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ANNUALLY
PRODUCE MILL AND SELL RICE ON
ABOUT 500,000 ACRES ANNUALLY,
MOSTLY IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
IN A NORMAL YEAR. CALIFORNIA IS
THE SECOND LARGEST RICE
PRODUCING STATE IN THE US BEHIND
ARKANSAS. AND WE KNOW AND WE'RE
KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD FOR SHORT
AND MEDIUM GRAINED JAPONICA RICE
THAT WE GROW. RICE IS STICKY
RICE. YOU'LL NOTICE SUSHI RIGHT
AND YOU'LL ALSO FIND IT IN
KOREAN RICE BOWLS. CALIFORNIA IS
ALSO KNOWN FOR THE WILDLIFE
HABITAT THAT ARE FIELDS PROVIDE.
HABITAT THAT IS INVALUABLE TO
225 SPECIES OF WILDLIFE KNOWN TO
USE OUR FIELDS DURING THE
GROWING SEASON IN THE WINTER
WHEN WE RE FLOOD FOR STRAW
DECOMPOSITION. 27 OF THOSE
SPECIES ARE CONSIDERED SPECIAL
STATUS BY STATE AND FEDERAL
WILDLIFE AGENCIES. WE ALSO
PROVIDE 60% OF THE FOOD FOR THE
7 TO 10, MILLION DUCKS AND GEESE
THAT ANNUALLY ANNUALLY WINTER
HERE. DESPITE OUR DIVERSITY, AND
THESE ECOSYSTEMS, BENEFITS ARE
DEPENDENT ON A PRODUCTIVE AND
HEALTHY RICE INDUSTRY. LAST YEAR
, AS THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER NOTED,
OUR INDUSTRY FACED THE MOST
DIFFICULT DROUGHT IN MEMORY.
FULLY HALF OF OUR FARMS LAY
FALLOW. EVEN MORE RELEVANT FOR
TODAY'S DISCUSSION IS THE FACT
THAT THOSE IMPACTS WERE NOT
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE
VALLEY. RICE FARMS ON THE
EASTERN SIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO
VALLEY PLANTED CLOSE TO A NORMAL
CROP. RICE FARMERS ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE VALLEY COUNTIES,
INCLUDING COLUSA AND GLENN, AND
PORTIONS OF SUTTER COUNTY.
PLANTED ALMOST NO RIGHT. PLEASE
KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE FARMERS
ALMOST ALWAYS PLANT BECAUSE OF
THE VERY DEPENDABLE WATER FROM
THE SACRAMENTO RIVER. EXCEPT FOR
LAST YEAR WHEN WATER DELIVERIES
WERE CUT FROM AN EXPECTED 75% TO
18. SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER
OCCURRED IN THE PAST. AS I NOTED
IN MY OPENING, THE COMMISSION IS
A STATUTORY ORGANIZATION AND OUR
STATUTE OR REQUIREMENTS AND
ENSURE THAT GROWERS ARE FAIRLY
REPRESENTED ON OUR BOARD.
REQUIRES THAT GROWERS BE ELECTED
BY DISTRICT. THOSE DISTRICTS ARE
COMPRISED OF COUNTIES OR GROUPS
OF COUNTIES IN THE NUMBER OF
SEATS FOR EACH DISTRICT IS
ALLOCATED BY THEIR PERCENTAGE OF
THE TOTAL STATEWIDE ACREAGE
PLANTED EACH YEAR. THE DROUGHT
HAS UPENDED OUR ABILITY TO
FAIRLY ALLOCATE THE SEATS IN THE
YEARS, SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE AND
SOME DISTRICTS GREW ALMOST NO
RISE AND OTHERS PLANTED AND
NEARLY NORMAL CROP. IN THE
ABSENCE OF A B 454. I WILL BE
FORCED TO CONDUCT AN ELECTION IN
JUNE. WE'RE HALF OF THE VALLEY
GETS 80% OF THE VOTES. AND THE
REST OF THE VALLEY ONLY GETS
THREE SEATS. WHAT'S MORE, I'LL
BE REQUIRED TO REMOVE CURRENTLY
SEATED BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY ELECTED TO A THREE
YEAR TERM. MAYBE 4 54 IS AN
INDUSTRY DEVELOPED SOLUTION THAT
WELL BASED ON THE DECLARATION OF
THE RIGHTS COMMISSION BOARD OF
DIRECTORS DURING SEVERE DROUGHT,
CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF SEATS
FOR EACH DISTRICT BASED NOT ONLY
ON THE PLANTED ACRES BUT ALSO
INCLUDE THE ACRES THAT WERE
INCLUDED IN THE PREVENTIVE
PLANNING LOSSES UNDER THE U. S
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE
SOLUTION WILL ALLOW GROWERS WHO
ARE UNABLE TO PLANT BASED ON
DROUGHT LAST YEAR TO STILL BE
ABLE TO VOTE STAND FOR ELECTION
AND SERVED IN THEIR CURRENT
TERM. CALIFORNIA RICE INDUSTRIES
FULLY SUPPORTS A B 4 54. AND
DEEPLY APPRECIATES THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CURRIES,
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT DURING
THIS EXTRAORDINARY TIME. WE
APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERING THIS BILL WITH AN
URGENCY CLAUSE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT
JOHNSON. SEEING NO OPPOSITION ON
FILE. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN
IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
SUPPORTER OPPOSITION. SEEING NO
ONE FROM THE PUBLIC WILL GO BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. WE GOT A
MOTION FROM MS SORIA AND A
SECOND FROM MR ANNALISE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE. COLORADO. ON
A B 4 54 MOTION, AS DO PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS. RIVAS
MATHIS MATHIS, I AGREE OUR CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY? AYE ALEDMYS ELONIS
? AYE, CONNELLY CONNELLY I,
FLORA IRWIN. IRWIN I JOAN
SAWYER, SORIA. SORRY A I BE A
GOOD WIFE WA I WOULD WOULD I.
ALRIGHT YOUR BILL IS OUT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR EX SPECULATOR. TOM
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMITTEE
APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO FILE
ADAM, NUMBER SEVEN ASSEMBLY BILL
404 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONNOLLY.
MR CONNELLY. PLEASE PROCEED WITH
YOUR FIRST OF THREE BILLS WE
WILL BE CONSIDERING TODAY.
WHATEVER YOU ALREADY THANK YOU,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS PLEASURE TO BE
HERE AND, AS NOTED, WE'RE GOING
TO BE PRESENTING ON A THREE BILL
PACKAGE, MAYBE 4044 OR FIVE AND
FOR A SIX TO CONTINUE
CALIFORNIA'S LEADERSHIP IN
ORGANIC FARMING, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR A HEALTHY FOOD
SUPPLY AND ECONOMIC AND CLIMATE
SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR STATE. SO
WHY DON'T WE START WITH A B FOUR
OF FOUR? WHICH IS FUNDAMENTALLY
ABOUT TRANSFERRING THE OVERSIGHT
BURDEN FROM FARMERS TO
GOVERNMENT. ORGANIC FARMERS IN
CALIFORNIA ARE UNIQUELY
REGULATED. THEY REPORT TO THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE AND IF THEY PROCESS
FOOD TO THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
EACH OF THESE AGENCIES HAS A
SEPARATE REPORTING PROCESS, AND
THEY OFTEN COLLECT REDUNDANT
INFORMATION FROM ORGANIC
FARMERS. MAYBE FOUR OF FOUR. ASK
D F A TO EVALUATE THESE
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND
RECOMMEND TO THE LEGISLATURE
EFFICIENCIES, SO THESE AGENCIES
ARE BETTER COORDINATED AND WE'RE
ONLY ASKING FARMERS TO REPORT
DATA ONCE. THIS BILL WILL HELP
ORGANIC FARMERS SUCCEED AND
SUPPORT THE STATE IN ACHIEVING
ITS CLIMATE TARGET. THAT 20% OF
CALIFORNIA BE ORGANIC BY 2045.
TODAY I'M JOINED BY REBECCA
WEBER, POLICY DIRECTOR AT
CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC
FARMERS. I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
HER FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON A
B FOR FOUR. AND RESPECTFULLY
ASKED FOR AN EYE BOAT. REBECCA
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CONNOLLY AND
THANK YOU COMMITTEE FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF A B 404. I'M REBECCA
WEBER, POLICY DIRECTOR AT CCO F
. WE REPRESENT OVER 3000 ORGANIC
FARMS, RANCHES AND BUSINESSES
ACROSS CALIFORNIA RECORD KEEPING
AND REPORTING IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST BARRIERS WE HEAR FROM
ORGANIC FARMERS. WE OFTEN HEAR
FROM FARMERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
BE ORGANIC, BUT THE PAPERWORK
SIMPLY GETS IN THE WAY. EVERY
ORGANIC FARMER NEEDS TO SUBMIT
AN ORGANIC SYSTEM PLAN. THIS
PLAN IS COMPREHENSIVE FARMERS
NEED TO REPORT ON WHAT THEY'RE
GROWING WHERE THEY'RE GROWING IT
HOW THEY'RE CONSERVING NATURAL
RESOURCES. HOW THEY'RE MANAGING
PESTS WHERE THEY'RE GETTING
THEIR SEEDS FROM AS WELL AS
WHERE THEY'RE STORING THEIR
CROPS AFTER HARVEST, ALONG WITH
A LOT OTHER MORE DATA POINTS.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS
VERIFIED THROUGH AN ANNUAL
INSPECTION BY A THIRD PARTY
CERTIFIED, THERE'S SUCH AS C C O
F. THOSE SORT OF FIRES, THEN
SUBMIT THAT DATA TO A DATABASE
THAT'S MAINTAINED BY THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. IN CALIFORNIA. IN
ADDITION TO THIS ORGANIC FARMERS
ARE ALSO REGISTERING AND
REPORTING DATA TO THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. AND IF THEY PROCESS
FOOD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH. WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR
THESE THREE AGENCIES. TO
CONSOLIDATE THEIR PROCESS SO
THAT FARMERS ARE ONLY NEEDING TO
REPORT A SINGLE TIME. I
RESPECTFULLY WILL TURN IT BACK
OVER AND WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. UM SHOWING NO
OPPOSITION ON FILE AT THIS TIME
MOVE FORWARD TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS TAYLOR, RUSSIAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA COTTON,
JENNER'S ASSOCIATION AND WESTERN
EGG PROCESSORS AND SUPPORT THANK
YOU. MICHAEL JARRETT ON BEHALF
OF THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH
FAMILY FARMERS AND SUPPORT THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. MELISSA'S AGAIN
ON BEHALF OF THE PESTICIDE
ACTION NETWORK AND CALIFORNIANS
FOR PESTICIDE REFORM AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MARGIE LEE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF FOOD
PRODUCERS AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. BETH SMOKER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK AND SUPPORT THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW, JURIES WITH THE
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE WERE IN
ALSO IN SUPPORT. SALVIA ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SEAT
ASSOCIATION. WE SUPPORT THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. WERE BUILT. YOU GOT A
MOTION AND A SECONDS SECRETARY,
PLEASE. CALL THE ROLL. ALRIGHT
YEAH. COLLEGE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE PROBLEM? I THANK THE
SPEAKERS AND RESPECTFULLY ASKED
FOR AN I VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. ON A B 404 CONNOLLY MOTION
IS DUE PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
RIVAS MATHIS. I AGREE A CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY AYE ELONIS, ELONIS
CONNELLY CONNELLY. I FLORA IRWIN
IRWIN I JOAN SAWYER, SORIA SORIA
IVY VALLAPUDUA BOUDOIR. I WOULD
I WOULD I. BILLS OUT ZERO THANK
YOU AGAIN PROCEED TO 405. YES UH
, MAYBE FOUR OR 56 TO MODERNIZE
THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR
ORGANIC BUSINESSES. ALL ORGANIC
FOOD MANUFACTURERS MUST REGISTER
BY MAILING FORMS AND CHECKS TO
THEIR APARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
. THIS PROCESS IS TIME CONSUMING
AND ACCESSIBLE, BURDENSOME AND
SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOSS DOCUMENT. 84
OR FIVE ASA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH TO CREATE AN ONLINE
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT SYSTEM
BY JANUARY, 1 2025 ONLINE SYSTEM
WILL SAVE THESE BUSINESSES, TIME
AND MONEY BOLSTERING AT $34.5
BILLION SECTOR IN CALIFORNIA.
THIS COMMON SENSE PROPOSAL
BUILDS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET REQUESTS LAST YEAR OF
$20.1 MILLION. TO MODERNIZE
THEIR I T INFRASTRUCTURE BY
ESTABLISHING A TIMELINE FOR
COMPLETION OF THIS WORK ONCE
AGAIN HANDED OVER TO REBECCA AND
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN EYE
BOAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. REBECCA
WEBER AGAIN WITH C C O F. UM WE
OFTEN HEAR FROM OUR ORGANIC
PROCESSORS WHEN THEY REGISTER
EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THEY ARE
USING SNAIL MAIL, SO THEY ARE
MAILING INFORMS AND CHECKS AND
WE OFTEN HEAR THAT THESE FORMS
ARE LOST IN THE MAIL, WHICH
DELAYS THEIR REGISTRATION. UM,
AND THEY CANNOT PRACTICE THEIR
BUSINESS WITHOUT THIS
REGISTRATION FORM. SO WE'RE
SIMPLY ASKING THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH TO MODERNIZE ITS
SYSTEMS. AND CREATE AN ONLINE
SYSTEM THAT WILL SAVE TIME AND
MONEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN SHOWING
NO OPPOSITION ON FILE. TAKE IT
BACK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. GOOD
AFTERNOON TAYLOR, RUSSIAN AGAIN
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
COTTON GENDERS AND GROWERS
ASSOCIATION AND WESTERN EGG
PROCESSORS AND SUPPORT. MICHAEL
JARRETT ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY
FARMERS AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MELISSA'S AGAIN ON
BEHALF OF THE PESTICIDE ACTION
NETWORK AND CALIFORNIANS FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM AND SUPPORT.
THAT'S SMOKER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK AND SUPPORT THANK YOU.
MARGIE LEE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE, FOOD
PRODUCERS AND SUPPORT THANK YOU.
DENNIS ALBION ON BEHALF OF THE
CALVARY SEAT ASSOCIATION. WE
SUPPORT THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW INJURIES WITH THE
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MARINE
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JEANNIE
MERRILL, REPRESENTING THE CENTER
FOR FOOD SAFETY AND SUPPORT.
ALRIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
COMMITTEE? MR CONNELLY. I REALLY
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, AND
I'VE BEEN PUSHING TO GET A LOT
OF OUR PROGRAMS TO GO ONLINE FOR
A LONG TIME. FRANKLY I'D LOVE TO
BE JOINT AUTHOR WITH YOU ON THIS
TO SHOW SOME BIPARTISANSHIP.
LET'S STARE AT ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS
GOOD SECRETARY GOT A MOTION AND
A SECOND AND A JOINT AUTHOR.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. ON A B 405
CONNOLLY MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. RIVAS MATHIS. I
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I,
ALAN ISH ELONIS. AYE CONNOLLY. I
FINALLY I FLORA IRWIN IRWIN I
JOHN SAWYER, SORIA. OH, SORRY. I
VE VALLAPUDUA. I WOULD WOULD I?
THANK YOU GOT EIGHT VOTES. IT'S
OUT ZERO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
PROCEED TO 406? THANK YOU,
REBECCA. WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE
WITNESSES JOINING US. RIGHT?
THANK YOU AGAIN CHAIR AND
MEMBERS SO MAYBE 406 WILL BUILD
ON THE SUCCESS AND DEEPEN THE
IMPACT OF THE HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM. ONE OF CDF AZIZ
FLAGSHIP CLIMATE, SMART
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY
THIS PROGRAM FALLS SHORT OF ITS
FULL POTENTIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE
LARGELY INCENTIVIZES FARMERS TO
IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT A SINGLE
PRACTICE BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021
70% OF HSP PROJECTS FUNDED IS
SINGLE PRACTICE BETWEEN 2017 AND
2020. 79% OF H S P INCENTIVE
DOLLARS WENT TO CONVENTIONAL
FARMS. WHILE ORGANIC OPERATIONS
RECEIVED 17. 84 OH, SIX. DIRECT
CDF A TO PRIORITIZE APPLICANTS
YOU PROPOSED TO IMPLEMENT
MULTIPLE HEALTHY SOILS PRACTICES
, INCLUDING ORGANIC FARMERS THAT
ALSO EXTENDS A GRANT TERM FOR
ORGANIC FARMERS TO FIVE YEARS.
THESE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE
BETTER BANG FOR OUR BUCK BECAUSE
FARMERS INCLUDING ORGANIC
FARMERS, WHO STACK MULTIPLE
HEALTHY SOILS, PRACTICES
DEMONSTRATE BETTER CLIMATE
OUTCOMES. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE ANDY NAJA REESE, CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MORAN
AND JANET BROWN, FARMER AND
OWNER OF ALL STAR ORGANICS.
WELCOME AND I RESPECTFULLY ASKED
FOR, AND I BOTH. WHY DON'T WE
START WITH ANDY? GREAT. THANKS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CONNOLLY AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR MATHIS AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY. I'M
ANDY NAJAR IS WITH THE
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MARINE
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF A B 406, THE AGRICULTURAL
INSTITUTE AND WARREN IS A BAY
AREA NONPROFIT THAT OPERATES
CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD
ACCESS, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND
POLICY INITIATIVES, AND WE
REPRESENT A NETWORK OF OVER 400
SMALL TO MIDSIZE FARMERS,
FISHERS, RANCHERS AND FOOD
MAKERS FROM 44, CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES. WE'RE PART OF THE
MARINE CARBON PROJECT AND ALSO
HAVE TEAMED UP WITH 11 AGENCIES
ACROSS MARIN AND SONOMA COUNTIES
TO IMPLEMENT A NEW USDA CLIMATE.
SMART COMMODITIES GRANT. AND
WHILE WE COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT
OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE FOR
PIONEERING THEIR FLAGSHIP
HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM, AS WE
BELIEVE HEALTHY SOILS OR
FOUNDATION FOR GOOD NUTRITION
AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, WE
BELIEVE THE PROGRAM WOULD
BENEFIT BY ADDING ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE AS AN ALLOWABLE
PRACTICE UNDER THE HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM, MARIN AND SONOMA
COUNTIES ARE HOME TO 375
CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMS AND
RANCHES. AND WE'RE SEEING
CONSUMER DEMAND FOR CERTIFIED
ORGANIC PRODUCTS, INCREASING
WITH AN EXPECTATIONS BY
CUSTOMERS THAT ORGANIC PRODUCTS
ARE VERIFIABLE, AND WE'RE SEEING
THESE CHANGES AMONG ALL INCOME
LEVELS, EVEN AMONG SHOPPERS THAT
USE CAL FRESH BBT WE BELIEVE
THAT A BEFORE, OR SIX WOULD
ALLOW US TO MEET THE CONSUMER
DEMAND FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTS
WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING
CALIFORNIA'S AMBITIOUS CLIMATE
RESILIENCE GOALS. THIS BILL
WOULD ENABLE CDF A TO ADD AN
ORGANIC OPTION TO THE HEALTHY
SOILS PROGRAM TO FUND FARMERS TO
DEVELOP THEIR ORGANIC SYSTEMS.
AS PART OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION
OF THEIR HEALTHY SOILS,
PRACTICES. ORGANIC FARMERS
CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH
ACCESSING THE HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM DUE TO THE FIRST COME,
FIRST SERVED MODEL OF THE
PROGRAM, DESPITE THE KNOWN
BENEFITS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
FOR SOIL, HEALTH AND CLIMATE
CHANGE, MITIGATION PRACTICES,
AND AS YOU HEARD
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CONNOLLY STATE
ONLY 17% OF HEALTHY SOIL PROGRAM
INCENTIVES PAYMENTS WENT TO
ORGANIC OPERATIONS. THE HEART OF
THE SPILL IS TO SIMPLY CREATE A
FIVE YEAR GRANT TERM ORGANIC
PRODUCERS AND OTHERS USING
MULTIPLE PRACTICES BEYOND
COMPOST, WHICH IS THE SINGLE
MOST COMMON PRACTICE FOR HEALTHY
SOILS PROGRAM. A LONGER PERIOD
OF PERFORMANCE WOULD REDUCE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR BOTH
CDFA A AS WELL AS FOR GRANTEES,
THE HSP HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM
COULD PRIORITIZE ORGANIC FARMERS
AND RANCHERS AND THOSE WITHIN
THE THREE YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD
FROM CONVENTIONAL TO ORGANIC AND
BY ADDING AN OPTION FOR ORGANIC
TO THE HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM.
THIS WOULD ALLOW GREATER
FLEXIBILITY IN IMPLEMENTING
MULTIPLE PRACTICES. ORGANIC
FARMERS CREATE ACCESS TO SOIL
TESTING RESOURCES TO PROVE AND
IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ORGANIC
SOIL. I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE'RE
APPRECIATIVE OF THE NEW ORGANIC
TRANSITION PROGRAM AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE, AND WE CAN AMPLIFY
THE SUPPORT BY ADDING AN ORGANIC
FARMING ACTION OPTION WITHIN THE
HEALTHY SALES PROGRAM. THANKS
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION
, AND I WANT TO TURN THINGS OVER
TO MY COLLEAGUE JANET BROWN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANDY. AND
THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE
CONNOLLY AND CHAIR METHOD. AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF A B FOR OH, SIX. MY NAME IS
JANET BROWN, ALONG WITH MY
HUSBAND, MARTY. WE OPERATE A
SMALL SCALE, DIVERSIFIED MARINE
COUNTY FARM ALL STAR ORGANICS
WITH FIELDS AND LAGUNITAS
LOCASCIO ENDPOINT RACE. WE ARE
IN OUR 30TH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS
CERTIFICATION TO BE ORGANIC. AND
WE GROW 10 PRIMARY CROPS,
INCLUDING HEIRLOOM TOMATOES,
SQUASH, ONIONS, GARLIC AND
PUMPKINS AND A LINE OF 24
CERTIFIED ORGANIC HERBAL SALTS
AND DRIED HERBS. WE SELL OUR
PRODUCTS THROUGH FARMERS MARKETS
, FOOD HUBS AND DIRECTOR
RESTAURANTS AND GROCERIES.
FARMING ALONG THE COASTAL WEST
MORAN WITH DISTINCT SEASONS AND
HIGHLY MINERALIZED, CLAY BASED
SOILS, WE USE A DIVERSE COVER,
CROPPING SYSTEM AND AGED
NUTRITIONAL MULCHES TO MAINTAIN
SOIL FERTILITY WITHIN A ROUTINE
OF ORGANIC SOIL MANAGEMENT, THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR PRODUCTION AS
A RESULT. OUR PRODUCE HAS VIVID
COLOR, TEXTURE, FRAGRANCE FLAVOR
AND ENHANCED NUTRITIONAL
QUALITIES. AS A FOUNDER AND
FORMER CHAIR OF THE MARINE FOOD
POLICY COUNCIL AND A FOUNDING
MEMBER AND PAST PRESIDENT OF
MARINE ORGANIC AND NOW SERVING
ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MORAN.
I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE
PURPOSE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL
POLICY IS TO MAKE MORE HEALTHY
FOOD ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THAT'S
WHY I'M INSPIRED BY THE
UNWRITTEN POTENTIAL OF WHAT A B
406 CAN OFFER US EXPLICITLY
LINKING CERTIFIED ORGANIC
FARMING AND HEALTHY SOILS.
ORGANIC FARMING BY DEFINITION.
PROTECTS THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
. ORGANIC FOOD DIFFERS FROM
CONVENTIONAL FOOD AND THAT IT IS
GROWN WITHOUT THE USE OF
SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS,
HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES,
FUNGICIDES, GERMINATION,
ACCELERATORS, GMOS, WAXES OR
HORMONES. IT IS A METHOD OF
PRODUCTION, A SET OF PRACTICES
THAT ACTUALLY IMPROVES SOIL
FERTILITY OVER TIME. ORGANIC
PRODUCERS RELY ON NATURAL
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS FOR PEST AND
WEED CONTROL. ORGANIC FARMING
IMPROVES SOIL FERTILITY ENHANCES
WATER RETAINING CAPACITY OF
SOILS PROTECTS WATER QUALITY. WE
DO THE SOIL EROSION AND PRODUCES
HEALTHY, HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS FOOD
ARE RIGOROUS THIRD PARTY
INSPECTIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
AND STILL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN
THE INTEGRITY OF THE USDA
ORGANIC SEAL. ORGANIC IS THE
GOLD STANDARD FOR HEALTHY SOIL.
YET DESPITE THESE KNOWN BENEFITS
THE METHOD OF FARMING THAT MAY
OFFER THE MOST VALUABLE FEEDBACK
TO RESEARCHERS IS NOT INCLUDED
WITHIN C D. F A S UH, HSP. THIS
IS DEEPLY TROUBLING AND
SHORTSIGHTED AND DISAPPOINTING.
THERE'S NO RATIONALE FOR
EXCLUDING ORGANIC FARMS FROM
THIS STUDY. OUR THIRD PARTY
CERTIFICATIONS FOR ORGANIC
SHOULD MOVE US TO THE FRONT OF
THE LINE AND ACCESSING STATE
FUNDING AND OFFER HIGHER
INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO MEET THE
RIGOROUS DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES
OF SMALL SCALE ORGANIC FARMING.
I BELIEVE A B 406 CAN AND SHOULD
PROVIDE A PATH TO CREATION OF AN
ORGANIC OPTION AND THE HEALTHY
SOILS PROGRAM. I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES, ON THIS BILL AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, SHINO OPPOSITION ON
FILED MOVE IT TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS. REBECCA WEBER WITH CCF
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NO
WHITLEY. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA COMPOST
COALITION. WE ARE IN SUPPORT.
JEANNIE MERRILL CENTER FOR FOOD
SAFETY AND SUPPORT. WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION? TWEENERS. BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. WE GOT A MOTION
AND A SECOND. MR CONNELLY. I
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS
BILL AS WELL. UM I DO DRAW A
LITTLE HESITATION WHEN WE START
PICKING FAVORITES AMONGST THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES. I WILL
NOT BE SUPPORTING TODAY, BUT I
DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO DO. THANK YOU WITH THAT
SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL. ON A B
406 CONNOLLY MOTION IS DUE PASS
TO APPROPRIATIONS. RIVAS MATHIS
, NOT VOTING IS NOT VOTING AGRA
CURRY CURRY, IOLANI, SH. ALAN
EASE. NO CONNELLY CONNELLY I
FLORA IRWIN IRWIN I JOHN SAWYER,
SORIA. HI SORRY. A IVY
VALLAPUDUA BE VALLAPUDUA. I
WOULD WOULD I? ALRIGHT MEASURES
OUT WITH SIX THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PACKAGE. THANK YOU.
YEAH. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND
CALL A QUICK FIVE MINUTE RECESS
REAL QUICK, AND THEN WE'LL
RECONVENE. THANK YOU.
TRAVÉS.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE BACK. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PATIENTS. WE
ARE NOW AT OUR LAST BILL ON FILE
FILE. ADAM NUMBER 10. ASSEMBLY
BILL 6 60 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
IRWIN. MR COHEN, YOU MAY
PROCEED. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I AM PLEASED TODAY TO
PRESENT 86 60. FOR TOO LONG.
CALIFORNIANS HAVE BEEN MISLED BY
UNCLEAR LABELS ON FOOD. STORES
OFFER PRODUCTS WITH ALL SORTS OF
DIFFERENT LABELS LIKE EXPIRES ON
BEST BUY ENJOYED BY SELL BY JUST
TO NAME A FEW. THESE LABELS
CONSISTENTLY MISLEAD AND CONFUSE
CONSUMERS SELL BY DATES, FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE MEANT TO SHOW
GROCERS WENT TO ROTATE STOCK.
THEY ARE GENERALLY MEANINGLESS
TO THE CONSUMER. THE RESULTS OF
THIS CONSUMER CONFUSION IS A
STAGGERING AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE
. ONE STUDY ATTRIBUTED AS MUCH
AS 20% OF FOOD WASTE TO THESE
LABELS. THIS ULTIMATELY COSTS
CONSUMERS MONEY AT THE GROCERY
STORE AND ADDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
AT THE AS WASTED FOOD ROTS IN
LANDFILLS. 86 60 WOULD END THIS
CONFUSION. I REALLY HAVE TO
COMMEND THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE
THEY TOOK THIS ISSUE ON ON THEIR
OWN IN 2017. THEY DID AN
EXTENSIVE SURVEY OF ALL THEIR
MEMBERS. AND THEY ADOPTED THIS
STANDARD VOLUNTARILY. IT
REQUIRES FOOD PRODUCT DATE
LABELS TO USE STANDARD TERMS
BEST IF USED BY TO INDICATE THE
QUALITY DATE OF THE FOOD OR USED
BY TO INDICATE THE SAFETY OF THE
FOOD. AND YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY IS
IT THEN? IF THE INDUSTRY HAS, UM
, ALREADY ADOPTED A VOLUNTARY
STANDARD THAT WE NEED TO PUT
THIS INTO LAW? WELL WE SENT OUT
OUR TEAM AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A
VERY SMALL STUDY. WE WENT TO
EIGHT PANTRIES AND OUR TEAM
COUNTED 16 TYPES OF EXPIRATION
DATE LABELS IN A SURVEY OF 151
ITEMS ACROSS 97 BRANDS OF THESE
ITEMS, NEARLY 30% OF THE
PRODUCTS USED THE PHRASE BEST
BUY, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN
THE INDUSTRY'S OWN VOLUNTARY
STANDARD. ADDITIONALLY 1/5 HAD
NO PHRASE WHATSOEVER NEXT TO THE
DATE AND ONLY 25% OF THE
PRODUCTS USED LABELS THAT
ALIGNED WITH THE INDUSTRY'S
VOLUNTARY STANDARD. I MYSELF
WENT INTO MY CUPBOARD THIS
MORNING AND PICKED OUT SOME
ACCOUNT OF FOOD, AND IT JUST HAD
A SERIES OF NUMBERS. SO EVEN I
WAS CONFUSED ABOUT THE LABELS
THAT WE CURRENTLY USE. I WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO THE INDUSTRY FOR
ENGAGING IN PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS RECENTLY, AND I
THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT EVEN
THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE SOME
CONCERN, THERE IS A PATH FORWARD
WITH THIS BILL. AH WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR
CONVERSATIONS AND WITH ME TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT OF THIS BILL
ARE NICOLE KOREAN REPRESENTING
CALIFORNIA'S AGAINST WASTE AND
ANDREA COLLINS. REPRESENTING
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE
COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS
NICOLE KOREAN WITH CALIFORNIANS
AGAINST WASTE. WE'RE PROUD TO CO
SPONSOR A B 6 60, WHICH WILL
STREAMLINE EXPIRATION DATE
LABELS BY REQUIRING THEIR USE OF
CONSISTENT TERMINOLOGY NEXT TO
AN EXPERT DATE TO INDICATE
QUALITY AND SAFETY OF A FOOD
PRODUCT. A RECENT STUDY FOUND A
SHOCKING 20% OF ALL AVOIDABLE
FOOD WASTE RESULTS FROM CONSUMER
CONFUSION ABOUT FOOD DATE LABELS
. A SEPARATE STUDY FOUND THAT
STANDARDIZING THESE LABELS IS
THE SINGLE MOST COST EFFECTIVE
WAY TO REDUCE FOOD. WASTE DATA
ALSO SHOWS THAT HOUSEHOLDS MAKE
UP A WHOPPING 43% OF FOOD WASTE
BY FAR LARGEST CATEGORY OF FOOD
WASTE WHEN BROKEN DOWN BY SUPPLY
CHAIN STAGE. AS I'M SURE YOU'RE
AWARE CONSUMERS ARE BOMBARDED
WITH ALL TYPES OF EXPIRATION
DATE LABEL FORMATS, INCLUDING
CELL BY EXPERT TODAY ENJOYED BY
BEST WHEN USED BY INVESTMENT
PURCHASED BY AND MANY MORE. EACH
TERM CAN BE USED TO MEAN
DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN YOU SPIKE,
DIFFERENT BRANDS, AND SOME
EXPERTS DATES HAVE NO PHRASE
NEXT TO THEM AT ALL IN 2017, THE
INDUSTRY'S TWO LARGEST TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS RELEASED A JOINT
STATEMENT ANNOUNCING THAT THEY'D
IMPLEMENT UNIFORM DATE LABELING
USING THE RECOMMENDED QUALITY
AND SAFETY DATES. THEY PROMISED
LARGE SCALE ADOPTION BY THE
FOLLOWING SUMMER AND COMMITTED
TO 100% IMPLEMENTATION BY 2020.
THE LEGISLATURE THEN CODIFIED
THE INDUSTRY'S PROPOSED
TERMINOLOGY IN 2017, WITH 89 54
AS A VOLUNTARY STANDARD AND
DIRECTED CDF H PROMOTE THE USE
OF THESE TERMS AND DISCOURAGE
THE USE OF CONSUMER FACING SELL
BY DATES. MAYBE 954 ALSO
ESTABLISHED SEPARATE DEFINITIONS
FOR EQUALITY, DATE SAFETY DATE
AND A SELL BY DATE IN STATUE.
THE BILL PASSED WITH NO
OPPOSITION. HOWEVER IF YOU'VE
RECENTLY STOOD IN FRONT OF YOUR
FRIDGE OR PANTRY AND SQUINTED AT
A LABEL, YOU KNOW THAT VOLUNTARY
IMPLEMENTATION IS CLEARLY
INSUFFICIENT. FURTHER CONSUMER
EDUCATION AS TO WHAT PHRASES ON
WHICH FOODS MEAN WHAT IS
IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL WE STREAMLINE
DATE LABELS. WASTED FOOD IS A
SOCIETAL, ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM. AS A
STATE. WE THROW AWAY SIX MILLION
TONS OF FOOD EVERY YEAR,
RELEASING METHANE EMISSIONS THAT
HAVE A CLIMATE IMPACT 86 TIMES
GREATER THAN C. 02. NOT TO
MENTION THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
SPENT ON FOOD THAT NEVER GETS
EATEN AND THE COST OF DEALING
WITH THIS EXCESS WASTE PASSED ON
TO WRITE PAIRS. 86 60 SIMPLY
REQUIRES ALL BRANDS USE THE SAME
TERMS THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE
IDENTIFIED TO REDUCE CONSUMER
CONFUSION AND THAT THE STATE HAS
ADOPTED AS A VOLUNTARY STANDARD.
THIS SMALL CHANGE WILL HAVE HUGE
RAMIFICATIONS. AND FOR THIS
REASON WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREA
COLLINS WITH THE NATURAL
RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL AND WE
SUPPORT A B 6 60 BECAUSE IT
ADDRESSES A SYSTEMIC CAUSE OF
FOOD WASTE, WHICH HURTS OUR
ENVIRONMENT, OUR ECONOMY AND OUR
SOCIAL FABRIC. TOO MANY OF US
LOOK AT A CONTAINER OF MILK AND
SEE THAT THE DATE HAS PASSED AND
DECIDED TO DUMP IT RATHER THAN
RISK GETTING SICK AND EVEN
THOUGH THAT DATE IS LIKELY TO
SELL BY DATE, IT'S MEANT TO
REALLY A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
MEANING TO A RETAILER GOT TO A
CONSUMER IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE
NEED CONSISTENT DATE LABELS SO
THAT PEOPLE STOP TOSSING GOOD
FOOD PREMATURELY. CONFUSION OVER
SO CALLED EXPIRATION DATES IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 20% OF THE
AVOIDABLE FOOD WASTE IN OUR
COUNTRY. AND MINIMIZING FOOD
WASTE IS INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS
OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
GOALS UNDER SB 13 83 BECAUSE
FOOD WASTE AND LANDFILLS IS A
LEADING CAUSE OF METHANE
EMISSIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FOOD WASTE
HAS AN ECONOMIC AND A SOCIAL
IMPACT AS WELL. AMERICANS SPEND
$1300 ON DISCARDED FOOD EVERY
YEAR AND ELIMINATING CONFUSION
OVER WHETHER FOOD IS STILL GOOD.
WILL HELP US KEEP THAT MONEY IN
THE POCKETS OF CALIFORNIANS.
FURTHERMORE WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD
IN OUR COUNTRY AND YET EIGHT
MILLION CALIFORNIANS FACE FOOD
INSECURITY. ENSURING THAT ALL OF
US UNDERSTAND WHEN FOOD IS STILL
GOOD TO EAT, WILL HELP ALLEVIATE
PRESSURE TO TOSS FOOD THAT COULD
HAVE NOURISHED US. DEFINING A
STANDARD FOR CONSUMER TARGETED
LABELS PROVIDES CLARITY ON WHEN
FOOD IS ACTUALLY GOING TO POSE A
SAFETY RISK, AND IT REDUCES THE
LIKELIHOOD OF DISCARDING GOOD
FOOD. FOR THESE REASONS, WE'RE
PROUD TO SUPPORT AND SPONSOR
THIS KEY LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANYONE WITH OPPOSITION OR
CONCERNS? I WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS AND TAKE A SEAT AT THE
WITNESS STAND. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. DENNIS ALBION
WITH THE CONSUMER BRAND
ASSOCIATION AND I ALSO WILL BE
TESTIFYING AT THE END, UH, FOR
ASSOCIATED GIRLFRIEND, EGG
FARMERS AND PACIFIC EGGS POULTRY
ASSOCIATION, AS THE MEMBER SAID
, YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
CALVIN'S CASE WASTED A GREAT JOB
EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND SOME
OF THE CONCERNS SO BACK IN 2017
, AS DISCUSSED THE CONSUMER
BRAND ASSOCIATION ALONG WITH THE
FOOD MARKET INSTITUTE. GOT
TOGETHER AND DID EXTENSIVE
STUDIES ON WHAT WORKS. WHAT
DOESN'T WORK WHERE THERE MIGHT
BE CONFUSION? WHAT TERMS WOULD
BE BEST THAT THAT WAS
REPRESENTED IN BEST, IF USED BY
AND USED BY BASED ON WHETHER
IT'S QUALITY OR SAFETY STANDARD
? AND SO WE WE'VE YOU KNOW THAT
EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THIS AREA?
AND UH AND THEN THAT WAS
MEMORIALIZED HAS SAID IN 1954 A
FEW YEAR A YEAR LATER BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, TOO, SO WE
ARE, UH, REVIEWING THIS. WE'RE
VERY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
THE MEMBER AND CAN WORK ON
GETTING THESE PUT INTO STATUTE
AND EVEN MANDATED IF THAT'S
NECESSARY, WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT, SO SOME OF OUR CONCERNS
ARE YOU KNOW WHENEVER THERE'S A
MANDATE, THERE'S ALWAYS
LIABILITY. AND IN OUR STATE, WE
HAVE 17 200 REQUIREMENTS. THIS
IS A ONE STATE REQUIREMENT THAT
THAT YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT STATES
COULD DO DIFFERENT THINGS YOU
CAN IMAGINE FOR NATIONWIDE AND
WORLDWIDE COMPANIES TRYING TO
FIT ONE STANDARD OF ONE STATE.
AND IF THERE WAS LIABILITY WITH
THAT, THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN.
SO WE JUST STATED IN OUR LETTER
LIABILITY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES
THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE CAN WRESTLE WITH THAT. UM AND
THEN ON BEHALF OF THE EGG
FARMERS, UM, EGGS HAVE A WHOLE
DIFFERENT UH, REGULATORY REVIEW
AND STATUTORY REVIEW, BOTH WITH
THE USDA AND CDF. A THAT'S WHY
HALF THE BILLS WRITTEN AS EGGS
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH
CODIFICATION OF THAT STANDARDS,
WE WOULD ADVOCATE THAT EGGS COME
OUT OF THIS BILL BECAUSE THERE'S
SO MANY DIFFERENT RULES AND
REQUIREMENTS, AND EACH STATE HAS
DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF THE JULIAN
DATE. OURS HAPPENS TO BE 30
DAYS. AND IF WE START EXTENDING
THOSE 30 DAYS, YOU'RE GONNA END
UP WITH ISSUES LIKE WHICH
ALREADY HAPPENS OUT HERE BECAUSE
OURS IS FAIRLY LONG. 30 IS
ACTUALLY FAIRLY LONG THAT OTHER
STATES WILL START REPACKING ONES
. THEY PULL OFF THEIR SHELLS,
AND WE'LL END UP WITH EVEN OLDER
EGGS. AND YOU KNOW THAT THAT
BRINGS FRESHMAN FRESHNESS MOSTLY
, BUT IT COULD BE A FOOD SAFETY
ISSUE AS WELL OVER TIME. SO WITH
THAT WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE
ABSOLUTELY ARE WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR AND HAVE BEEN AND EVEN
BEFORE IT WAS IT WAS INTRODUCED
. HER STAFF REACHED OUT, SO WE
APPRECIATE THAT AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THIS. AND IN THE ASSEMBLY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. OH YEAH. MIKE
THIEF OVER HERE. UM GOOD
AFTERNOON. TAYLOR ROSHAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA GROCERS
. UM CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE ANY
POSITION ON RECORD, BUT WE HAVE
SOME CONCERNS ON THE BILL BEYOND
FOOD, SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY AND
FOOD SUPPLY. CUSTOMER
TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO THE GROCERY INDUSTRY, SO WE
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY
CONSUMER FACING LABELS REFLECT
ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT
CONSUMERS SHOULD BE PRIVY TO.
ALSO AS TRADITIONALLY SELL BY
DATES CAN BE APPLIED BY FOOD
MANUFACTURERS AS WELL, SOME THAT
ARE IN STATES THAT ARE OUT OF
STATE. OUR GROCERY RETAILERS,
PARTICULARLY SMALL, INDEPENDENT
MARKETS, COULD BE BEHOLDEN TO
FIXING A SELL BY DATE OR
CHANGING. LABELS TO INCORPORATE
THE STANDARDS WHICH MIGHT INCUR
LIABILITY THAT MR ALBION E HAD
MENTIONED AND I THINK, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, TRAINING GROCERY
STAFF TO INTERPRET POTENTIALLY
THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT CODED
VERSIONS OF WHAT IS THE SELL BY
INDICATOR ON A DOCUMENT CAN BE
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING. LIKE
MR ALBION. WE'VE HAD VERY
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH MR
NGUYEN STAFF. THEY'VE BEEN VERY
HELPFUL, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE
TO LOOK FORWARD ON THAT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
SUPPORTER OPPOSITION IN THE
AUDIENCE. MR ALBION AYOUN REPORT
FROM THERE IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU
KNOW, MY NAME IS NO WHITLEY AND
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMPOST POSITION AND
RETHINK WASTE WERE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. HI MARGIE
LEE WITH THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE
OF FOOD PRODUCERS, UM, SAME
CONCERNS THE STATE BEFORE THANK
YOU. ALRIGHT LET'S TAKE IT BACK
TO COMMITTEE, MR WOODS. MR VILLA
. PUT JUAN THIS, MISS SORIA. UM
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD. UM I
WAS SITTING HERE THINKING, WHERE
HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE AND
RECOGNIZED THAT 9 54 CAME TO THE
HEALTH COMMITTEE. THERE WAS A
LONG, ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT
THIS THEN, AND I REMEMBER THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT STUDIES AND SO
ON. AND I GUESS WHAT? YES.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THE INDUSTRY
OR FOOD. PRODUCERS HAVE A LOT OF
DATA. IT'S STILL REALLY
CONFUSING AND I'LL BE HONEST, MR
AVIANO EGGS OR CONFUSING FOR ME
BECAUSE I CAN NEVER YOU KNOW,
THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT STAYS
IN MY REFRIGERATOR LONGER THAN
ANYTHING PROBABLY. AND I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S SAFE OR NOT, YOU
KNOW, UM AND SO, UM, YOU COULD
THE OTHER THINGS. IT'S THE SMELL
TEST OFTENTIMES BECAUSE I'M
LOOKING BEST BUY IS LIKE, WELL,
I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S SMELLS.
OKAY. I GUESS I CAN DRINK.
CONSUME THAT? NO, SERIOUSLY, I'M
ACTING. I'M JUST SPEAKING AS A
CONSUMER, SO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM
. WE ALSO HEARD IN. IT WAS A
NATURAL RESOURCES COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO, UM SENATOR ALLEN HAD
A BILL ABOUT THE CHASING ARROWS
FOR RECYCLING. UM, AND THE
CONFUSION THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS
THIS RECYCLABLE OR NOT FINDING
OUT THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS
WHILE IT SAYS THEY'RE RECYCLABLE
, THEY'RE REALLY NOT RECYCLABLE
IN A WAY THAT IT ACTUALLY GETS
DONE HERE IN CALIFORNIA. AND SO,
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS YES, I
RECOGNIZE THIS WOULD BE A SINGLE
STATE REQUIREMENT, BUT WHY NOT
DO IT? FOR EVERYBODY. IF WE KNOW
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WHY
NOT JUST WHY WOULDN'T WE
PRODUCERS THEN THEY DON'T HAVE
TO PRODUCE ONE LABEL. AND JUST
DO WHAT THEY DO IT FOR THE BEST
FOR THE BETTER THAN FOR THE BEST
INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS IN IN IN
THE UNITED STATES AND CALIFORNIA
CAN LEAD THE WAY ON THAT. PLEASE
RESPOND. JUMP TOGETHER. THERE
WAS A QUESTION ASKED OF ALL, IF
YOU EAT MORE YOUR EGGS QUICKER,
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE EGG ISSUE
. SO EAT MORE EGGS. OKAY IT'S
USUALLY AT MY APARTMENT HERE IN
SACRAMENTO. YOU GO HOME. I GOT
IT EVEN BEFORE THEY BEFORE YOUR
SUMMER BEFORE, WHEN BEST BUY.
WE'LL BUY. I DON'T KNOW. YOU
TELL ME. THERE'S ACTUALLY CALLED
JULIAN DATES, RAGS, BUT YOU
KNOW, THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER
EXTENSIVE. UM SO SOME OF THOSE
ISSUES, I THINK SO TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, AS OF I THINK IT WAS
LAST WEEK. LAST THURSDAY, A
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER AND I DON'T
KNOW THE NAME OF THE PERSON BUT
I THINK FROM NEW YORK ACTUALLY
REACH OUT TO OUR TO OUR
ORGANIZATION AND WOULD LIKE TO
DO A FEDERAL STANDARD, AND WE
WOULD BE YOU KNOW, I WILL LET MY
D C BRETHREN TALK ABOUT THAT,
BUT I THINK THAT WAS A FAVORABLE
VIEW OF DOING THAT. AND FRANKLY,
I DIDN'T. WE DON'T WANT TO COME
HERE, THOUGH, AND SAY THIS IS A
BAD IDEA. JUST BECAUSE IT'S A
ONE STATE CENTERED. I AM ONLY
ARTICULATING THAT ONE STATE
STANDARDS CREATE OTHER ISSUES
THAT ARE CHALLENGING ONE I
DIDN'T BRING UP AND I DON'T YOU
KNOW IT WAS THERE, BUT IT'S IN
THE LETTER IS, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT
SOMEBODY. THERE ARE FOREIGN
FOLKS THAT ARE SERVING A SMALL
NICHE MARKET LIKE AN ASIAN
MARKET, OR COLONEL SYRIA. YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE THEY'RE
EXPORTING IN A YOU KNOW, IN A
CONTAINER AND THEN THAT GETS
BLOWN TO 20 STATES AND YOU ALSO
DON'T WANT TO HAVE ORGAN DO
ANOTHER VIEWS, DIFFERENT TERMS
AND, UH AND UTAH DO DIFFERENT
TERMS AND ARIZONA. SO WE AGREE
WITH YOU. UM AND I WOULD LIKE TO
DO THIS, UH, MORE BROAD STANDARD
, AND I'LL LET MY FOLKS YOU
KNOW, TALK ABOUT A FEDERAL
MANDATE, BUT THAT IS, I THINK
WOULD BE A PREFERENCE FOR WHAT
HE DID. AS I MENTIONED. WE'RE
OKAY. WITH GETTING, YOU KNOW,
DOING THIS AND GETTING IT
PUBLICIZED AND WORKING ON IT AND
MANDATING AN EVENT. BUT WE JUST
HAVE TO WORK ON. YOU KNOW THE WE
HAVE 17 200 BUSINESS. AH! WHY
CAN'T I THINK OF IT NOW, ANYWAYS
, 17 UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES
LIABILITY. WE WANT TO BE SURE
HOW THAT WOULD WORK AND THOSE
AREAS AND WE DON'T WANT TO
CREATE THOSE THOSE ISSUES. BUT
WE DO BELIEVE YOU GET THE TWO
TERMS AND ACTUALLY CALIFORNIA WE
HAVE THREE TERMS, BUT ANYWAYS,
THAT WAS THAT WAS PART OF THE
DEAL. UM AND THEN, ABSOLUTELY WE
CAN EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON WHAT
THAT MEANS AND GO FROM THERE. UM
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN
AMONG SOME OF THE PROPONENTS
ABOUT JUST A SELL BY DATE OR
DATES ON AN EXTERIOR PART OF THE
PACKAGE. I MUST SPEAK PERSONALLY
HERE. I THINK CONSUMERS I HAVE
FOUR KIDS. WELL, WE LOOK AT THE
DATES AND LOOK AT THOSE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THINGS THAT WE TALKED TO THE TO
THE TO THE STAFF AND MR NGUYEN.
YOU KNOW WHAT ABOUT FISH? WHAT
ABOUT THINGS THAT THAT DO EXPIRE
PRETTY QUICKLY. EGGS BEING ONE
THAT CAN STAY FOR A WHILE, BUT
AFTER ABOUT 40 DAYS, THEY START
TO REALLY LOSE THEIR YELLOW
STAR. SPLENDID AND THE MEMBRANE
START BREAKING DOWN. THERE'S
ISSUES THERE. SO WE JUST NEED TO
TALK TO THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
BUT YES, WE GENERALLY AGREE WITH
YOU. AND JUST A PROBLEM FOR THE
CHAIR AB. ABSOLUTELY I MEAN
THAT'S THE DISCUSSIONS VERY
WARRANTED. SO NO, I GUESS, UM
YOU KNOW, I WOULD. I WOULD FROM
HEALTHCARE POP THINKING OF
HEALTHCARE. UM WE HAD ALSO
POLICY CALLED SURPRISE BILLING
IN CALIFORNIA. WHERE IF YOU WENT
TO IT, THIS IS THE AD COMMITTEE.
I KNOW BUT FOR A PERSON OF HIS
EXAMPLE UM, A SURPRISE BILL
MEANS YOU GO. YOU GO OUTSIDE YOU
ACCIDENTALLY OR OUTSIDE OF YOUR
NETWORK. MAYBE YOU'RE AN
EMERGENCY ROOM OR SOMETHING.
YOU'RE IN A NETWORK HOSPITAL.
BUT THE DOCTOR ISN'T ONE OF YOUR
PROVIDERS YOU COULD GET HIT
WITH. YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT
WITH A SURPRISE BILL. IRONICALLY
IN 2017, WE FIXED THAT THAT WAS
A 46 YEAR PROBLEM HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. WE FIXED IT IN
CALIFORNIA. IT TOOK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FIVE YEARS. TO FIX
THAT, AND IT JUST WENT INTO
EFFECT THIS YEAR OR LAST OR OR
JUST IT JUST WENT BACK FIVE YEAR
PROCESS, SO MAYBE IT'S A GOOD
THING THAT U. S FARM BILLS BEING
WORKED ON RIGHT NOW. AND WHO
KNOWS HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE
FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? THINGS SEEM
TO MOVE SLOWLY IN DC QUITE
FRANKLY, SO, SO ANYWAY, WE CAN
DO IT RIGHT HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
WHERE THAN EVERYBODY ELSE CAN
FOLLOW. IT WOULD JUST LIKE TO
SAY A FEW THINGS. AND FIRST OF
ALL, WE ALWAYS HAVE ROBUST
DISCUSSIONS WITH MR ALBION E.
WE'VE DONE PLENTY OF BILLS. WITH
THEM, AND WE'VE ALWAYS, UH COME
OUT TO SOME CONSENSUS, AND I
EXPECT THAT WE WILL IN, UM THIS
TIME, TOO. SO FIRST OF ALL ON
THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD THERE
ALREADY THEY ARE ALREADY
REQUIRED TO MEET US STANDARDS
FOR LABELING, AND WE DON'T THINK
THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD BE ANY
DIFFERENT EGGS AS MR ALBION HE
MENTIONED USE THE JULIAN
CALENDAR. THEY HAVE A WHOLE
DIFFERENT LABELING SCHEME. THIS
WOULD NOT AFFECT THE JULIAN DATE
FOR EGGS, AND IF THEY HAVE TO BE
EXEMPTED, POTENTIALLY, THEY
WOULD IF WE COME TO THAT
CONCLUSION, UM WITH YOU AND ALSO
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE U.
S STANDARDS, THIS IS THIS. THIS
BIG STUDY WAS INTERNET. I MEAN,
IT WAS A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT
THE BRAND'S AGREED TO COMPLY TO
SO THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS AN
ISSUE. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK
AROUND THE EDGES. THIS IS WHY WE
WANT TO AFTER 56 YEARS. WE WANT
TO MANDATE BECAUSE THERE HASN'T
BEEN THERE HASN'T BEEN, UM FULL
COMPLIANCE YET. AND UM AND THEN
, WHEN NEW PRODUCTS COME INTO
THE MARKET, SOMETIMES IT IS, UM,
IS DIFFICULT TO, UM, PERHAPS
MESSAGE THAT THEY SHOULD BE
USING WHAT THE INDUSTRY STANDARD
VOLUNTARY STANDARD IS AND
FINALLY FOR LIABILITY. THERE IS
NO CHANGE IN LIABILITY WITH THIS
BILL. MR VILLE VALLAPUDUA. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. UM IT WAS
MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE SIX
TONS IS THAT RIGHT? SIX TONS
WASTED. YEAH HOW'S THAT? HOW'S
THAT DETERMINE ITS IS IT BYE.
MHM SELL BY. THE SIX MILLION TON
UH UH, NUMBER COMES FROM THE
TONS OF FOOD THAT GOES INTO THE
LANDFILL. BECAUSE I THINK I
THINK SO. SOME OF THE STORES
WILL BEFORE IT'S GETTING
RELEASED WHEN IT'S DOESN'T SELL
RIGHT OR IT'S THE DAY THE DAYS
ARE DAYS. ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WILL
IT WILL GO TO PANTRIES MHM
THAT'S STILL PART OF THE WASTE.
SO THE. I WILL SAY THIS BILL IS
NOT INTENDED TO AFFECT PANTRIES
AT ALL. UM AND YOU. WE EVEN
WORKED ON SOME LEGISLATION
PREVIOUSLY TO ALLOW FOOD
DONATION WITHOUT LIABILITY. UM
SO, YEAH, SO THAT BUILD SO THAT
THAT SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED AND
WITH THE SIX MILLION TONS NUMBER
UM SO I BELIEVE WE SAID THAT 43%
OF THAT WASTE COMES FROM THE
CONSUMER HOUSEHOLD LEVEL, I
THINK BECAUSE THE LIKE. IN MY
DISTRICT. A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS DO BENEFIT FOOD PANTRIES
BENEFITS SO WHEN THE FOOD'S NOT
BEING SOLD UM THAT FOOD GOES TO
THOSE PANTRIES, AND THAT FIGURES
BACK OUT TO FOLKS THAT ARE IN
NEED SO AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT
I HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T CHANGE
THAT. ACTUALLY ACTUALLY, THIS
SHOULD HELP THAT. UM SO, UH, THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUALITY DAY
IN A SAFETY DATE IS THAT IT'S
SEPARATE FROM A SELL BY DATE,
AND WE'VE SPECIFICALLY WOULD
LIKE TO DISCOURAGE THE USE OF
CONSUMER FACING SELL BY DATE, UM
, AND BECAUSE SELL BY DATES
THEY'RE USED FOR STOCK ROTATION
AND GROCERY STORES THERE, SO
THEY ARE TECHNICALLY EARLIER
THAN WHEN A CONSUMER WOULD EAT
THEM. RIGHT BECAUSE WITH A
CONSUMER PICKS UP SOMETHING WITH
A DATE, AND IT SAYS, SELL BY,
LET'S SAY THE 30TH. YOU WOULDN'T
PICK IT UP AND WANT TO EAT IT ON
THE 30TH AS A CONSUMER, RIGHT,
SO THE SELL BY AND USE OR EXCUSE
ME. THE USE BY INVESTORS USE BY
DATES ARE ACTUALLY TEND TO BE
LATER BECAUSE THAT INDICATES
WHEN THE CONSUMER CAN EAT THE
FOOD UP ITS PEAK QUALITY AND
FRESHNESS. BECAUSE IN MY
DISTRICT I HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY
FOLKS THAT REALLY KIND OF RELY
ON THAT. THEY'RE PUTTING OUT 304
$100 MORE ON ON ON ON THEIR IN
THEIR KITCHEN AND THEY GO TO
THESE PANTRIES. THEY YOU KNOW,
IT'S I'M GLAD THAT THE QUESTION
OF LIABILITY WAS ANSWERED. UM
AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY SO
AS OF TODAY, I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I'M STILL
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
STAKEHOLDERS ARE STILL YOU GUYS
ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND, UM, AGAIN, AS
WAS MENTIONED WE IT'S WE HAVE NO
INTENTION AT ALL TO, UH, IMPACT
FOOD PANTRIES. BUT IF THERE ARE
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO
STRENGTHEN THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW
IN EVERY COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA, THERE'S A BIG
DEPENDENCE ON THESE FOOD
PANTRIES, SO WE DON'T WANT TO DO
ANYTHING THAT THAT HARM SET.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM FOOD
BANKS THAT THE SELL BY IS A
PROBLEM BECAUSE CONSUMERS DON'T
WANT TO SEE AND WHAT THEY
PERCEIVE AS EXPIRED FOOD AFTER
ITS DONATED SO I THINK MR VILLA
PUTO ASKED A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION ABOUT YOUR DATA
COLLECTION FOR MEASURING HOW
MUCH? IS ACTUALLY GOING TO
LANDFILLS. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS.
HOW DO YOU GUYS AGGREGATE THAT
DATA? UM I CAN'T ANSWER THAT
THIS TIME, BUT CAN THE STATE
DOES WASTE CHARACTERIZATION
STUDIES TO SEE WHAT IS GOING
INTO LANDFILLS? AND THAT'S
THAT'S WHERE THAT DATA COMES
FROM. I'M SORRY. MISS SORA.
THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE MISS
IRWIN. SHE ACTUALLY ANSWERED ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, AND
I THINK THE POINT WAS BROUGHT UP
IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS AS
SOMEONE THAT LOVES TO ENJOY. UM
YOU KNOW THINGS THAT COME FROM
MEXICO FOR PART OF MY CULTURE.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU
KNOW YOU YOU ADDRESS THAT POINT
, BUT SIMILARLY, I THINK THAT
IT'S GOOD POLICY WHEN WE LOOK AT
, YOU KNOW, STANDARDIZING. UM
YOU KNOW THESE THESE DATES
EXPIRATION DATES, BUT I AM
GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS
ARE TO WORK WITH. UM THE
STAKEHOLDERS ALSO THAT, UM, YOU
KNOW, NEED TO BE CONTINUE TO BE
AT THE TABLE, SO LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING WHAT IT ENDS UP BEING,
UM, COME COME THE FLOOR. MR
ALANA'S. WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE FOOD PANTRIES AND THEN
ALSO THE POINT FROM THE
OPPOSITION WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT
TRAINING STAFF IN THE STORES.
JUST LIKE HOW LONG WOULD WE
THINK THAT WOULD TAKE TO GET
THEM ACCLIMATED TO LEARNING HOW
TO RESTOCK OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE
WOULD BE. WELL THERE THE THERE'S
NO REASON IF THE STORES NEEDED A
SELL BY DATE THAT THEY COULDN'T
PUT IT ON DIFFERENTLY OR SOME
WAY THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES STILL
RECOGNIZE IF IT IF IT WAS
NECESSARY. FOR UM, FOR THE
STORES TO HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT
WHEN THEY WANT TO CHANGE OUT
INVENTORY. IT'S JUST THAT FOR WE
WANT THESE TWO LABELS THAT ARE
CONSUMER FACING SAME THING
THROUGH THE CHURCH. YES SO, UM,
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT
CERTAINLY RETAILERS HAVE IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES. UM THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF PUTTING ON
THOSE CONSUMER FACING THOSE NON
CONSUMER FACING SELL BY DATES.
UM AND EVERY MARKET DEPENDING
UPON WHETHER YOU'RE
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED, OR YOU'RE
PART OF A CHAIN MIGHT HAVE A
PROTOCOL ON HOW TO DO THAT,
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SOME
RETRAINING OF EMPLOYEES. I THINK
THE MORE CONCERNING PIECES WHEN
A FOOD MANUFACTURER PUTS ON THAT
SELL BY DATE OR PUTS ON A CODED
VERSION OF THAT SELL BY DATE, DO
THEY USE A NUMERICAL CODE THEY
USE, UH, ALPHABETICAL CODE. DO
THEY USE A QR CODE THAT THEN
REQUIRES STAFF TO GO AND SCAN
EVERYONE. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF
QUESTIONS THAT I THINK THE
RETAIL INDUSTRY FROM THE GROCERY
SIDE IS LOOKING AT, AND THAT'S
WHERE WE HAVE THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE CULTURAL MARKETS, THE
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED MARKETS AND
THEN THE SMALLER MARKETS AND
BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THAT
EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND THE COST
THAT'S INCURRED FROM IT. AND
AGAIN. OUR INTENTION IS THAT
NONE OF THAT IS AFFECTED. THOSE
ARE THOSE ARE THOSE ARE FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE RETAILER. THANK
YOU. RIGHT ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT
UM, QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE
RETAILERS AND MR ALLEN IS KIND
OF SOMEONE GOT INTO IT, BUT IS
THERE A PROJECTED COST ON WHAT
IT WOULD BE TO EFFECTIVELY
RETOOL AND RE TAG AND TO DO
THIS? WE DON'T KNOW IT AND WE
IMAGINE THE COSTS WOULD DIFFER
BASED ON WHAT IS THE RETAIL
MARKET AND THE COMMODITY, SO WE
HAVE PERISHABLE PRODUCTS THAT
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO MAYBE MORE
REGULAR TURNOVER OF THAT DATE
VERSUS NON PERISHABLE PRODUCTS
WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THIS,
AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE
SIZE OF THE STORE AND THE NUMBER
OF PRODUCTS THAT THEY CARRY.
QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE AUTHOR
IS I KNOW AND MR WOODS BROUGHT
UP A GOOD POINT. RIGHT AS
CONSUMERS, WE TEND TO GO KIND OF
DO THE SMELL TEST OR DO
SOMETHING ELSE TO REALLY LOOK
AT. OKAY. IS THIS GOOD? IS IT
BAD? WHAT'S GOING ON? BUT THAT
KIND OF GOES BACK TO YOU KNOW
HOW MANY OF US REMEMBER DOING
HOME ECONOMICS IN SCHOOL AND
ACTUALLY LEARNING ABOUT OUR FOOD
AND ABOUT FOOD SAFETY AND DOING
THESE TYPES OF THINGS? AND SHALL
WE AS A STATE? WE DON'T REALLY
HAVE THAT AS MUCH ANY LONGER. SO
WHAT COMPONENT OF THIS IS GOING
TO START TEACHING NEW
GENERATIONS? HEY THIS IS WHAT
THIS ACTUALLY MEANS. BECAUSE WE
CAN CHANGE THE LABELS ALL WE
WANT, BUT IF THE PUBLIC AND THE
CONSUMERS DON'T KNOW THEN THEY
JUST DON'T KNOW. AND THEY'RE
GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT MR.
WOODS JUST IMPLIED WITH THE
SMELL TEST. SO WHAT? WHAT IS
YOUR PLAN FOR ADDRESSING? I
THINK EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SURVEY
THAT OUR TEAM DID. UM THERE WERE
16 DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPIRATION
LABELS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WE
CAN TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT 16
DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPIRATION
LABELS. THIS IS JUST VERY, VERY
SIMPLE FOR PEAK FRESHNESS BEST
IF USED BY OR USED BY FOR FOOD
SAFETY, AND I THINK ONCE WE HAVE
AGAIN, YOU KNOW I'LL KEEP GOING
BACK TO THIS IS WHAT THE
INDUSTRY CAME UP WITH. AFTER A,
YOU KNOW RESPONSIBLY CAME UP
WITH AFTER A SURVEY OF ALL THEIR
MEMBERS TO SIMPLIFY LABELING,
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S IF
IT'S VOLUNTARY. WE DON'T GET
ENOUGH. FOLKS TO COMPLY, SO I
THINK WE CAN GO NOW TO THE I
DON'T THINK THERE ARE HOME AT
CLASSES ANYMORE. BUT YOU KNOW,
ONE TRIP TO THE HUGE PROBLEM
THAT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT BUT
BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW, WITH
THE NUMBER OF LABELS THERE ARE
IT'S COMPLETELY NONSENSICAL, AND
IT IS REALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO
DETERMINE SO Tð LABELS AND
STANDARDIZED. I THINK EVERYBODY
WILL PICK UP ON IT PRETTY
QUICKLY. I ALWAYS FIND IT
INTERESTING, TOO, WITH SOME OF
THESE THINGS, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES
WITH THINGS LIKE EGGS AND MILK
AND OTHER PRODUCTS. IT ALL
DEPENDS ON WHAT TEMPERATURE YOU
HAVE YOUR REFRIGERATOR SET OUT
AS WELL. AND THAT GOES AGAIN
INTO THE EDUCATION BECAUSE IF
YOU GIVE A COLD FRIDGE SOMETIMES
THESE THINGS LAST A LOT LONGER
VERSUS IF YOU DON'T IF YOU LOOK
AT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MILK RIGHT
NOW, BECAUSE I HAPPENED, I DID
GO TO THE STORE, AND THEY
ALREADY USED AT LEAST THE ONES
THAT I SAW ALREADY USED BEST. IF
USED BY THAT YOU'RE RIGHT IF IT
WAS LEFT OUT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
FOR A DAY, THEN YOU ALSO HAVE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN VERY RURAL
AREAS THAT STILL FREEZE THAT OUR
MILK TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE
SOME IN THE FREEZER JUST IN CASE
THEY RUN OUT OR HAVE A FLOOD OR
GET SNOWED IN. SO WE HAVE THOSE
ISSUES AS WELL. UM I'LL SEE
HERE. ARE YOU PLANNING ON
PUTTING ANY TIMELINE INTO THIS
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, AS IS
GIVING, MAKE SURE INDUSTRY HAS
TIME TO KIND OF PUT THIS
TOGETHER. WHAT'S YOUR PLAN WITH
THAT? WE WILL BE WORKING. WE
WILL BE WORKING COOPERATIVELY
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO
MAKE SURE THAT I MEAN, THAT'S
HOW WE DO ALL OUR BILLS TO MAKE
SURE THAT, UM THAT ANY LAWS THAT
WE PASSED OUR, UM LAMENTABLE. IN
A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. I JUST
HAVE I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS
RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH
INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
HOW IT'S GOING WITH CASH GOING
UP AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND
AGAIN THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE OF
IT, TOO, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW. SO
HMM. WITH THAT? I BELIEVE WE DO
HAVE WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO YOU
FOR A CLOSE JUST WOULD REFLECT
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS
AND, UM AND YOU KNOW I WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, MR
MATHIS. NO PRESSURE THERE. YOU
KNOW MY STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS
A NO. BUT SEEING THAT YOU ARE
WILLING TO WORK WITH THE
CONCERNS OF THE OPPOSITION. AH!
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU DOING THAT
. I WILL SUPPORT THIS BILL
MOVING FORWARD TODAY. UM AND IF
IT GETS WONKY EYE WILL BE
REQUESTING THAT IT GETS PULLED
BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE. AND WITH
THAT, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. ON A B 6 60, OR IRWIN
MOTION IS DUE PASS TO THE HEALTH
COMMITTEE. RIVAS MATHIS IS I
AGREE A CURRY? AGUIAR-CURRY
IOLANI. SH. ALLEN IS NOT VOTING
CONNOLLY. FINALLY I FLORA IRWIN
IRWIN I JOAN SAWYER. SORIA SORIA
. IVY VALLAPUDUA. GOOD WALL. I
WOULD WOULD I? VILLAS OUT 70.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR THE
ROBUST CONVERSATION. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU'RE
ABLE TO DO WITH THIS. MR. WE
WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED, MR
MATHIS. YES AND WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND, UH, MEMBERS BEFORE YOU
LEAVE, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND HAVE THE SECRETARY CALL
THROUGH FOR ABSENT MEMBERS OR
MEMBERS WHOSE FLIGHTS GOT
DELAYED. SO ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. MATHIS I DESIRE THAT'S
OUT ON THE COMMITTEE RULES.
MATHIS I. ON A B 552 BENNETT. UH
THIS MANTAS AYE. THOSE OUT, ALL
RIGHT? ALL THE BILLS ARE OUT.
THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TO
THE FIRST EGG HEARING. WE ARE
NOW ADJOURNED.