GOOD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMITTEE. FOR
TODAY, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM
THREE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY, CAL RECYCLE
THE DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC
SUBSTANCES CONTROL AND
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION WILL ALSO HEAR FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. WE HAVE SIX ITEMS
THAT ARE PLANNED FOR DISCUSSION
FOR EACH PRESENTATION ITEM. I'LL
ASK EACH OF THE WITNESSES IN THE
AGENDA TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR
TESTIMONY AT THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION ITEMS. MEMBERS OF
THIS SUBCOMITTEE AT THE END OF
THE PRESENTATION ITEMS, MEMBERS
OF THE SUB COMMITTEE MAY ASK
QUESTIONS, MAKE COMMENTS OR
REQUEST A PRESENTATION ON ANY OF
THE 13 NON PRESENTATION ITEMS.
WE WILL NOT BE TAKING A VOTE ON
ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AFTER ALL, THE ITEMS ARE HEARD.
WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR TESTIMONY TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU HAVE
COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC BUDGET
SOLUTIONS, NOT RELATED TO THE
DEPARTMENTS BEFORE US. PLEASE
REFER TO THE DAILY FILE FOR
WHICH SUB COMMITTEE HEARING THE
PERTINENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE
BEFORE THE EACH MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK. THERE WILL BE NÓ REMOTE
TESTIMONY. COULD WE PLEASE TAKE
ROLL? IT. HERE. CONNOLLY. FOR A
TEACHER, NORRIS WILSON. AND SO
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ISSUE
PANEL, CAL EPA DEPARTMENTS,
GENERAL FUND SOLUTIONS AND
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE.
CALIFORNIA. IN THE DEPARTMENT.
REGULATION. SUBSTANCE. CYCLE.
FINANCE. MOTORCYCLE BUDGET
PROPOSES. YOU HOW CYCLES THREE
0.4. THE PROGRAM BY SIX POINT
$800,000 ADMINISTRATION MAY BE
DIFFICULT. FOR BASED ON THE
PROGRAM. EARLY IN THE BUDGET
ALSO INCLUDES THE BUDGET. $5
MILLION. Tð 20. THANK YOU. $25
MILLION BUDGETARY LOAN FROM THE
UH, BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM
RESOURCES THAT WERE NOT
PROJECTED TO BE USED FOR
OPERATIONAL NEEDS CONSISTENT
WITH A SIMILAR LOAN THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT YEAR
BUDGET. THE BUDGET INCLUDES
PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE FOR THE NEW
LOAN, REQUIRING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO REPAY THE LOAN
EARLY IN THE EVENT THAT THERE
WOULD BE ANY PROJECTED
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS. HOWEVER AS
NOTED IN THE AGENDA, THE
ADMINISTRATION REPAID THE
CURRENT YEAR $100 MILLION DOLLAR
LOAN IN FEBRUARY. 26 MAKING THE
$25 MILLION REPAYMENT DEFERRAL
NÓ LONGER NEEDED AS SUCH, THE
ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO
CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE
VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET
YEAR LOAN AND WILL ADDRESS THIS
DURING THE MAY REVISION. FOR A
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION. THE BUDGET PROPOSES
TO REDUCE THE DEPARTMENT, UH,
PESTICIDE REGULATIONS. 2020
THREE 24 APPROPRIATION FOR THE
PESTICIDE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM BY
$2.6 MILLION. AND MAINTAIN 7.4
MILLION OR 74. THE $2.6 MILLION
REFLECTS ACTUAL SAVINGS FROM THE
PROJECT AND THUS WILL HAVE NÓ
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT. UH, LASTLY,
FOR DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC
SUBSTANCES CONTROL. THE BUDGET
PROPOSES TRAIL BILL LANGUAGE
THAT WOULD DELAY $175 MILLION
GENERAL FUND FROM THE FROM Dð Tð
S¼. C'S 2023 24 APPROPRIATION
FOR THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITY
TOXIC CLEANUP PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY THE TRAILER BILL.
LANGUAGE DELAYS $85 MILLION
UNTIL 2526 AND $90 MILLION UNTIL
2026 27. THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY
PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS EQUITY AND
TARGETS AND DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
CONTAMINATION. THE
ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TO
PROTECT ALL PROGRAM FUNDING BUT
IS PROPOSING TO DELAY 35% TO OUT
YEARS TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET
DEFICIT WHILE MINIMIZING PROGRAM
DISRUPTION WITH THAT HAPPY TO
WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO
ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS,
THE COMMITTEE MAY HAVE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MR
CHAIR, FRANK GIMENEZ WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE.
OVERALL WE FIND THAT THE
SOLUTIONS IN THIS DISCUSSION
ITEM HAVE MERIT. THE REDUCTIONS
TARGET ONE TIME FUNDING THAT HAS
NOT YET BEEN COMMITTED, WHICH
REPRESENTS A REASONABLE APPROACH
THAT IS LESS DISRUPTIVE THAN
REDUCING FUNDING THAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN AWARDED OR REDUCING
ONGOING BASE SPENDING. AS WE
HAVE NOTED IN PRIOR BUDGET
HEARINGS WITHIN THE SUB
COMMITTEE, ALL DELAYS PROVIDE
SHORT TERM BENEFITS. THEY ALSO
COMPLICATE THE STATE'S FUTURE
BUDGET SITUATION. UM FOR FUNDING
WITHIN THIS DISCUSSION ITEM, AND
, UM ACROSS THE RECENT ONE TIME
FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH THE
THEMATIC PACKAGES, WE PROVIDE
THE LEGISLATURE WITH ADDITIONAL
OPTIONS IT COULD IT COULD
CONSIDER TO THE EXTENT THAT
ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
ARE NEEDED, WHICH WE NOTE IN OUR
CLIMATE REPORT. UM THESE ARE NOT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE
REDUCTIONS, BUT ADDITIONAL
OPTIONS THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CONSIDER AS IT WEIGHS THE MERITS
OF VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES IN
SOLVING THE BUDGET PROBLEM,
WHICH WE BELIEVE COULD BE WORSE.
COME MAY REVISION. I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, UM I DO HAVE, UM THE
I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE CLEAN
UP, UH, IN VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE FUNDING.
AND, UM. RIGHT? FIRST I'D LIKE
TO GET AN IDEA OF JUST HOW ARE
WE EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF
DELIVERY, ET CETERA. COULD YOU
HELP US? WHAT IS THE WHAT ARE
THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, ET
CETERA FOR PEOPLE RECEIVING
THESE GRANTS? YEAH UM, THANK YOU
, UH, MR CHAIR. MY NAME IS BRIAN
BROWN. I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER FOR Dð. Tð S¼ èC HAPPY
TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. UM
SO, YEAH, SO WE DO HAVE FOR, UM,
THIS èC B èC PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY, UH E èC RG THE
UM, WHICH IS OUR CLEANUP GRANT
PROGRAM. THE NUMBER.
YOU KNOW? WE NEED THESE THINGS
ARE LIKE, UH, UH, THESE THINGS.
REMIND ME OF THOSE. IT'S NÓ
MATTER WHAT YOU DO. YOU'RE GONNA
END UP WITH A MICROPHONE IN THE
SAME SPOT. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TRY
IT THIS WAY OR THIS WAY. UH,
BUT, UH, AND I'M BEING REQUESTED
TO GET MY MICROPHONES DOWN, OK?
CAME IN A TIGER. ALL RIGHT, GO
AHEAD. BACK TO YOU. UM SO WE DO,
UH, FOR EACH OF THE, UH èC B
èC PROGRAMS. WE DO HAVE A
NUMBER OF, UH, DATA POINTS THAT
WE COLLECT. UM SO JUST, UH, AS
ONE EXAMPLE THE èC RG GRANT
PROGRAM. UM THIS IS, UH, A GRANT
THAT GOES OUT TO LOCAL, UM LOCAL
ENTITIES AND NONPROFIT GROUPS TO
DO LOCAL SITE ASSESSMENTS,
INVESTIGATIONS AND ULTIMATELY
CLEAN UP ACTIVITIES FOR EACH OF
THOSE. GRANTS THERE ARE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY REPORT
BACK TO US ON A QUARTERLY BASIS
ON THEIR ON THEIR PROGRESS THEIR
STATUS AT MEETING FOR THAT
INDIVIDUAL SITE AND TYPE OF
ACTIVITY WHAT THEIR PROGRESS AND
OUTCOMES ARE AND L Ó. HAVE ONE
SUGGESTION IN THERE INSTEAD OF
DELAYING THE 175 MILLION INSTEAD
TO JUST REDUCE IT, KNOWING THAT
WE COULD PUT IT BACK IN, IF WE
DO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS LATER,
WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF, UH
REDUCTION INSTEAD OF A DELAY OF
THAT FUNDING? YEAH SO, UM èC B
èC IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM THAT
WE'VE BEEN STANDING UP JUST IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND SO
WE ARE NOW WELL UNDERWAY FOR
EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS SO UNDER
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO DELAY
ALLOWS US TO KIND OF CONTINUE
THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. AN
ACTUAL REDUCTION OF THE 175
MILLION WOULD HAVE PRETTY SEVERE
IMPACTS ON OUR FUTURE PLANNED
ACTIVITIES. SO UM, ROUGHLY, UM.
OF THE 175 ABOUT 90 MILLION OF
IT CURRENTLY WOULD BE SLATED FOR
EC RG. SO AGAIN, THAT'S THE
GRANT PROGRAM TO LOCAL
COMMUNITIES IF THAT FUNDING WAS
REMOVED INSTEAD OF JUST DELAYED,
THAT'S PROBABLY THE EQUIVALENT
OF 40, OR 60 PROJECTS, CLEANUP
PROJECTS AND LOCAL DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES THAT WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO OCCUR. ANOTHER 80 OR SO
MILLION IS FOR OUR DISCOVERY AND
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. UM WHERE I
OUT THERE IDENTIFYING SITES THAT
NEED TO BE CLEANED UP. AND IF
THAT FUNDING WAS NÓ LONGER
AVAILABLE, THAT'D BE THE
EQUIVALENT TO PROBABLY 400 SITES
. GIVE OR TAKE. THAT WOULDN'T BE
EVALUATED. SO HèA HAVE HAVE HAVE
THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY
APPLICATIONS. ARE THEY OUT THERE
NOW? ALREADY YEAH, IN FACT, UM,
JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR A SECOND ROUND OF GRANT
AWARDS. SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT
WITH THIS FUNDING BEING DELAYED,
IT'S NOT CERTAIN THAT THAT THE
GRANTS ARE GOING TO BE COMING
IN. WELL SO WE'VE WE'VE MADE THE
SECOND ROUND OF, UH, AWARDS.
THERE'S SOME FUNDING STILL
AVAILABLE IN THE REMAINING FUNDS
THAT ARE NOT DELAYED. THAT WOULD
ALLOW US TO DO ANOTHER ROUND IN
THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. AND THEN
THAT WOULD ALLOW US BY 2526 TO
THEN CAN DO AN A SUBSEQUENT
ROUND COMMUNITY ARE NOT THEN
WORKING ON GRANTS FOR THE
DELAYED FUNDING YET IS THAT
CORRECT? NÓ I DON'T BELIEVE
THEY'RE LOOKING TO TWITTER.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE
CERTAIN ON. THANK YOU. AND THEN
UM, UH MY NEXT QUESTION MOVE
OVER TO THE CAL RECYCLE PROGRAM
ON ORGANIC WASTE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SIF, YOU KNOW, STATEWIDE
COUNTIES INTERESTED IN THIS NEW
PROGRAM IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
GET GET IT UP. AND SO, UM I
WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO DIVE INTO
THIS A LITTLE BIT HERE, UM,
AVERAGE AWARD FOR THIS PROGRAM.
GOOD MORNING, èC. SO SHORT TIME
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF CALVER
CYCLE AND SO YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY
ASKING ABOUT THE ORGANIC WASTE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM. UM
YEAH, SO THE AVERAGE UM AWARD
AMOUNT FOR THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT
$7 MILLION. OK, THANK YOU. AND
WHEN FACTORING IN THE
APPLICANT'S CONTRIBUTIONS, WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL COST OF
THE PROJECT IS A STATE PROVIDING
WITH THIS GRANT. ON AVERAGE.
WHAT'S WHAT'S OUR YEAH. SO ON
AVERAGE, THE STATE IS GENERALLY
PROVIDING THROUGH THE GRANT
PROGRAM, UM, ABOUT 70% OF THE
FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT. SO
WHILE THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY A
MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR THE GRANT
PROGRAM, IT DOES REQUIRE THAT
THE, UM THAT THE JURISDICTIONS
THE GRANTEES HAVE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE REMAINDER
OF THE PROJECT. SO AS PART OF
OUR PROCESS, WE ENSURE, UM, THAT
THOSE GRANTEES ARE ABLE TO COVER
THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THE
PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
GRANTS ARE GOING OUT AND ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE BREAKDOWN
BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. YEAH
SO IT'S ABOUT 35% THAT GO TO,
UM, PUBLIC GRANTEES AND ABOUT
65. THEY GO TO PRIVATE. AND, UM
WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK ARE YOU
GETTING FROM COUNTIES IN IN
TERMS OF THIS PROGRAM? YEAH, I
THINK GENERALLY, WE'RE RECEIVING
A LOT OF, UM UH, GOOD FEEDBACK.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN THE EARLY
STAGES, BUT, UM, JURISDICTIONS
HAVE GENERALLY BEEN PROVIDING,
UM, POSITIVE FEEDBACK REGARDING
THE GRANT. I THINK FOR MANY OF
THEM THIS FUNDING, UM, COVERS A
SIGN A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN
IMPLEMENTATION OF 1000 THREE 183
. SO WE HEAR A LOT OF EXAMPLES
ABOUT THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT
THEY ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT BY
SPENDING THIS FUNDING AND, UM,
HAVE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM THEM
THAT THERE'S INTEREST IN
CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF THIS,
UM, OF THIS FUNDING. UM, SO I
THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A CRITICAL
PIECE FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON THE
ON THE LOCAL SIDE AND THE NUMBER
OF GRANTS MADE UM, I THINK THE
TOTAL NUMBER UM, THAT WE AWARDED
, UM IS ABOUT 100 AND 30.6
MILLION. UM FOR THE ORGANIC, UM,
GRANT RECYCLING PROGRAM. UM I
THINK WE RECEIVED. I BELIEVE
IT'S 32 AND SOMEONE WILL COME UP
. AND UH, CORRECT ME. IF I'M
WRONG. WE HAVE 32 ELIGIBLE
APPLICATIONS THAT WE, UM,
RECEIVED FOR, UH, THIS LAST
SOLICITATION. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
DATA ON VENTURA COUNTY
SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU AND, UM I
DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION
AVAILABLE, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY,
UM, PROVIDE THAT TO YOUR STAFF.
AFTER I. I WOULD APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU, OF COURSE. AND
UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO, UH,
ISSUE TWO. I KNOW ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JUST ARRIVED. BUT DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ISSUE ONE?
GREAT. THANK YOU. WELCOME ALL
RIGHT. GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND, UM
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, STAFF
WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE TWO.
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. èC Dð F, UH,
GENERAL FUND SOLUTIONS AND
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR. AND UH,
MEMBERS. I'M JULIANNE ROLL FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. SO AS
YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA IS
CURRENTLY FACING A SIGNIFICANT
BUDGET DEFICIT, AND THE
ADMINISTRATION WORKED HARD TO
REDUCE THE, UM THE COMMITMENT OF
CURRENT YEAR GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS WITHOUT IMPACTING
ONGOING OPERATION OF ESSENTIAL
PROGRAMS. AND OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS, èC Dð FA HAS BEEN
APPROPRIATED NEARLY $1 BILLION
IN ONE TIME FUNDING FOR A WIDE
RANGE OF PROGRAMS. SO THIS
INCLUDES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS.
CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION AND COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE, SPECIFICALLY 100 AND
55 MILLION FOR THE HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM. 100 AND 20 MILLION FOR
THE STATE WATER EFFICIENCY AND
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. 80 MILLION
FOR THE LIVESTOCK METHANE
REDUCTION PROGRAM 90 MILLION FOR
THE CALIFORNIA FARM TO SCHOOL
PROGRAM 55 MILLION FOR THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM, OR èC, NIP AND 100 AND
50 MILLION FOR THE FAIRS AND
EXPOSITION RESILIENCY PROGRAM
AND THE CLIMATE. SMART
AGRICULTURE INVESTMENTS HAVE
FUNDED NEARLY THREE 1000
PROJECTS ACROSS THREE 100,000
ACRES IN CALIFORNIA. THESE
PROJECTS HAVE RESULTED IN 26.5
MILLION METRIC TONS OF CO TWO
EMISSION REDUCTION. THE
EQUIVALENT OF TAKING 5.9 MILLION
CARS OFF THE ROAD. THESE
PROJECTS HAVE ALSO SAVED 1.5
MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER. TO
DATE, THE INVESTMENTS IN THE
FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM HAVE
SERVED 1.5 MILLION. UH PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS, FEEDING THEM
AND EMPOWERING THEM WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NUTRITION AND
FOOD SYSTEMS THAT THEY TAKE HOME
. OTHER INVESTMENTS IN THE
OFFICE OF FARM TO FORK THROUGH
THE HEALTHY REFRIGERATION
PROGRAM IN THE CALIFORNIA
NUTRITION AND èC PROGRAM HAVE
PROVIDED FARM FRESH, NUTRITIOUS
FOOD TO HUNGRY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AT 543 CORNER STORES AND FARMERS
MARKETS AND HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE STATE. WE ARE PROUD OF THE
INVESTMENTS THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS MADE IN CLIMATE, RESILIENCY
AND NUTRITION, HOWEVER, IN AN
EFFORT TO HELP BALANCE
CALIFORNIA'S GENERAL FUND
DEFICIT, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
INCLUDES 100 AND 42.6 MILLION IN
REDUCTIONS TO ONE TIME GENERAL
FUND INVESTMENTS IN THE CURRENT
YEAR OR THAT ARE BEING
ELIMINATED AND 44.6 MILLION
THAT'S BEING SHIFTED FROM
GENERAL FUND TO GGRF. THE
FOLLOWING PROGRAMS WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THESE REDUCTIONS.
AND UM, THE FIRST ONE IS THE
FARM TO COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS
PROGRAM WITH THE REDUCTION OF
$14.4 MILLION AND THIS IS DUE TO
THE FACT THAT NÓ GRANTS HAVE
BEEN ADVERTISED YET. SO NÓ
CURRENT GRANTEES WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THESE CUTS. AND
WHILE IT NEED CERTAINLY EXISTS
FOR THIS TYPE OF FOOD SYSTEM
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PROGRAM
WOULD SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT.
UH OR THE ONGOING FUNDS WILL
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF UM OF
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE TYPES
OF PROGRAMS SO THAT NEW NEW
PROGRAMS CAN BE DEVELOPED IN THE
FUTURE. AND THEN THERE'S A
PROPOSED REDUCTION OF $8.5
MILLION FOR THE HEALTHY
REGISTRATION GRANT PROGRAM. AND
THIS IS, UM BECAUSE NÓ FUNDS
HAVE WILL BE COMMITTED UNTIL
FALL OF THIS YEAR AND SO THEY'RE
AVAILABLE TO BE REDUCED WITHOUT
IMPACTING EXISTING AWARDS. AND
THEN THERE IS A PROPOSED
REDUCTION OF THE CNET PROGRAM BY
30 THREE MILLION DOLLARS AND
THESE FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN
COMMITTED, SO THEY'RE AVAILABLE
TO BE REDUCED WITHOUT IMPACTING
EXISTING AWARDEES. AND THEN THE,
UM, THE ENTERIC METHANE
INCENTIVES PROGRAM THAT PROPOSED
REDUCTION FOR THAT PROGRAM IS
$23 MILLION. AND WHILE THIS IS
IMPORTANT FOR US REACHING OUR
METHANE REDUCTION GOALS, UM THE
THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE
ARE STILL FUNDING AND SO, UH,
THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MUCH THAT'S STILL NEEDS TO BE
DONE TO HELP MAKE SURE IT'S
SUCCESSFUL. UH, WE'RE
MAINTAINING A CERTAIN PORTION OF
THE FUNDS SO THAT THE F Dð A CAN
APPROVE AN ADDITIVE THAT CAN
HELP US ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF
THIS PROGRAM. AND SO CURRENTLY,
UH, THIS PROGRAM, WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT CAN TALK MORE ABOUT
WHY THIS MAKES TO CUT BUT
ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE WORKING HARD
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CUT
ANY EXISTING PROGRAMS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE BEFORE WE
GO TO L Ó. Ó THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR FRANK GIMENEZ AGAIN WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE.
UM OVERALL, WE FIND THAT THE
PROPOSED REDUCTIONS ARE
REASONABLE GIVEN THAT THEY
TARGET ONE TIME EXPENDITURES
WHERE FUNDS HAVE NOT YET BEEN
COMMITTED. AS I MENTIONED IN THE
EARLIER DISCUSSION ITEM, OUR
OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL
SOLUTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE
COULD CONSIDER. THIS INCLUDES
OPTIONS WITHIN èC Dð FA BUT
ALSO ACROSS THE THEMATIC ONE
TIME AUGMENTATIONS FOR OTHER
RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENTS. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
UM, HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
I'LL TRY TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH
THEM, UM HOW MANY APPLICATIONS
WERE THERE AWARDED IN THE FIRST
ROUND OF FUNDING? UM, TALKING
ABOUT THE SMALL FAMILY FARMS
WEREN'T ABLE TO GET, UH ALL
THEIR FUNDING TO THE CALIFORNIA
UNDERSERVED PRODUCER PROGRAM
BECAUSE IT WAS SO
OVERSUBSCRIBED. HOW
OVERSUBSCRIBED WAS IT? HOW MANY,
UH, APPLICATIONS WERE THERE. I'D
BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
CHAIR BENNETT AND GOOD MORNING,
UH, TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ARMA
COSINA I'M, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. UM IN THE
F. SO IF YOU RECALL, THERE WERE,
UM èC Dð FA RECEIVED FUNDS TO
PROVIDE THE ECONOMIC AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELIEF
RELATED TO THE DROUGHT IMPACTS
AND TWO TRANCHES OF FUNDING, BUT
BOTH WITHIN THE FISC THE 2223
BUDGET, SO WE RECEIVED SOME
AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND TO
DISPERSE THE INITIAL TRANCHE OF
FUNDING QUICKLY. èC Dð FA
GRANTED FUNDS TO THIRD PARTY
ENTITIES TO ADMINISTER THE
DIRECT TO FARMER GRANT PROGRAMS
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP FARMERS
RECOVER FROM SPECIFICALLY
DROUGHT AND THEN THAT BUDGET
THAT APPROPRIATION WAS AUGMENTED
TO A TOTAL POT OF $25 MILLION.
AND SO, UM WHEN THAT DROUGHT
FUNDING WAS INCREASED. WE ALSO
INCREASED THE CONTRACTS TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO OUR
EXISTING THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATORS. SO THERE WERE
SEVEN QUALIFIED APPLICANTS THAT
APPLIED FOR THAT PROGRAM FOR A
TOTAL OF ABOUT $8.4 MILLION IN
REQUESTED PROJECTS. SO IT'S A
LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT
UNDERSUBSCRIBED AND WE WERE ABLE
TO WORK WITH THOSE WITH THOSE
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO ASSESS
ANY ANY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT
THEY HAD ANY ADDITIONAL DEMAND
THAT THEY HAD IN THEIR AREA
AGAIN FOR THOSE SPECIFICALLY
DROUGHT RELATED IMPACTS AND THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THOSE
PROJECTS TO ABOUT $12 MILLION IN
DIRECT PERMA GRANT PROGRAMS, BUT
I WOULD NOTE THAT MANY OF THOSE
KIND OF THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATORS WERE ALSO
PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR
FARMERS AND RANCHERS LOOKING TO
APPLY FOR THE GOBI PROGRAM AS
WELL SO WE CAN ASSUME THAT THEIR
CAPACITY WAS SOMEWHAT LIMITED,
WITH TWO SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT
PROGRAMS MOVING AT THE SAME TIME
THAT SAID, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM
OUR CURRENT THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATORS THAT THEY HAVE
ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR THE
SPECIFIC DROUGHT RELIEF PROGRAM,
AND I KEEP STATING THAT BECAUSE
IT WAS A IT WAS A WEIRD YEAR IN
2220 THREE, RIGHT? WE SWAN
REALLY RAPIDLY AND I THINK THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO
SEE A LOT MORE MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE. WE SWUNG SO RAPIDLY FROM
DROUGHT TO FLOOD THAT IT WAS
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR FARMERS OR
REALLY ANYONE TO PARSE OUT WHICH
OF THESE IMPACTS WERE FROM JOB
AND WHICH WERE FROM BLOOD. THEY
REALLY COMPOUNDED ONE ANOTHER,
AND SO WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE
EXTREME WEATHER EVENT, IT WAS
REALLY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO
APPLY JUST FOR THE DROUGHT
PORTION OF THESE FUNDS, AND WE
DO THAT THERE WILL BE HIGHER
DEMAND FOR THE AMOUNT THAT A
LEADER THAT WAS MORE FLEXIBLE
FOR BOTH FLY TO AND ROUTE.
GREAT. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE
OTHER, UM QUICK QUESTION IF I
CAN, AND THEN, UM, I HAVE TO GO
OVER AND VOTE IN ELECTIONS AND
I'LL ASK YOU TO, UH JUST CON.
CONTINUE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE,
BUT I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS
HERE. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE
QUESTIONS, I'D JUST LIKE TO
PAUSE. IT'S GONNA TAKE ME ABOUT
60 SECONDS TO GO OVER. BUT MY
OTHER OTHER QUESTION BEFORE I
LEAVE IS THAT UH, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CONLEY AND MYSELF LAST
FALL. WE SENT A LETTER TO
SECRETARY ROSS. EXCUSE ME ARE
REQUESTING THE █15 MILLION
DOLLARS FOR THE FARM COMMUNITY
FOOD HUBS PROGRAM BE ALLOCATED
QUICKLY AND THE PROGRAM. UM BY
BLOOM MAY BE, UH UH 1009 WAS
SIGNED IN THE LAW IN 2021. BUT
THE ADMINISTRATION. HAS NOT
MOVED THE PROGRAM AND NOW IT'S
CUTTING 96% OF IT. WHY DID THE
PROGRAM NOT UH, GET ALLOCATED.
IF FROM 2021 UNTIL THE PRESIDENT
. EVEN WITH OUR, UH, REQUEST TO
TRY TO MOVE THAT PROGRAM FUNDING
FORWARD. THAT'S A REALLY
WONDERFUL QUESTION. UM èC Dð FE
IS REALLY DONE EVERYTHING IN ITS
POWER TO IMPLEMENT THE FARMER
COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS PROGRAM AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE
PROGRAMS RUN INTO SOME HURDLES.
GETTING THE PROGRAM STARTED. THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT HURDLE HAS BEEN
THAT THE PROGRAM IS REQUIRED TO
ESTABLISH A FORMAL ADVISORY
BOARD, WHICH IS REALLY LIMITED
OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE
PROGRAM EXPEDITIOUSLY. WE HAVE
TO ESTABLISH THE ADVISORY BOARD
BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE GRANT PROGRAM. AND WE'VE
OPENED THE ADVISORY BOARD
APPLICATIONS TWICE. BOTH TIMES.
WE'VE DIRECTLY INVITED KEY
STAKEHOLDERS TO JOIN THE BOARD.
UH, WE'VE DONE AS MUCH OUTREACH
AS WE CAN. UNFORTUNATELY èC Dð
FA HAS NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH
APPLICATIONS EITHER TIME TO FILL
THE REQUIRED ROLES, AND SO THE
PROGRAM COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD
AS QUICKLY AS WE ANTICIPATED. WE
WOULD NOT EVEN IF WE WERE ABLE
TO FILL THE ADVISORY BOARD.
THERE'S ANOTHER HURDLE, WHICH IS
THAT THE PROGRAM REQUIRES TWO
PHASES OF GRANTS TO BE MADE THE
FIRST PHASE FOCUSING ON PLANNING
AND THE SECOND PHASE FOCUS. ON
IMPLEMENTATION. I THINK WE CAN
SEE WHERE THE INTENTION OF THAT
PROGRAM WAS. BUT BY SPLITTING
THE PROGRAM INTO TWO, IT WOULD
HAVE. IT WOULD ALSO DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE GRANTS.
ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO ESTABLISH
THIS ADVISORY BOARD, AND THERE'S
A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CUT THE
FACT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN
ENOUGH INTEREST TO FILL THE
ADVISORY BOARD. YES BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL THE
ADVISORY BOARD. WE WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND I BELIEVE
THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THAT
INTENTION WAS. I DON'T WANT TO
SPEAK OUT OF TURN FOR MY Dð Ó F
COLLEAGUES. BUT, UM WE WILL SAY
THAT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF
FUNDING IS PROPOSED IN THE
GENERAL FUND SOLUTION, WE ARE
STILL COMMITTED TO MOVING FOOD
HUBS FORWARD AS INTENDED. WE ARE
ABLE TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL
INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM DIRECTLY
FUNDED FOR FOOD HUBS IN ITS MOST
RECENT ROUND OF AWARDS, AND THEN
WE WOULD HOPE TO MAINTAIN SOME
AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING
SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO
COORDINATE WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA'S FOOD HUB NETWORK
. WE CAN PROVIDE TRAINING AND
SUPPORT TO FOOD HUB PARTNERS,
AND WE CAN LEVERAGE FEDERAL
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. I BELIEVE
WE HAVE ONE IN THE RIGHT NOW,
THE WITH U S¼ Dð, A THE
RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, WHICH
HAS FOOD HUB DEVELOPMENT AS PART
OF THAT, SO I WAS TRYING TO MOVE
QUICKLY FOR YOU. CONLEY. THINGS.
YEAH. I WILL RECOGNIZE PETER
NORRIS. AS I WALK OUT, I, I
ACTUALLY HAVE TO OK, YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO. AND I APOLOGIZE.
I'LL I'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK
AFTER THAT. SO IT'S ALL YOU
AFTER THIS, UH YEAH. NÓ REALLY,
UM, WANNA EMPHASIZE THE FARM TO
COMMUNITY FOOD? UH, PROGRAM.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
THAT, UM ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BANNON
ASKED MY QUESTION ON THAT. BUT
LET'S KEEP THAT MOVING. MORE
BROADLY. CAN THE ADMINISTRATION
EXPLAIN THE DECISION TO CUT SOME
PROGRAMS ALMOST COMPLETELY LIKE
THE ONE WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT? AND THE CALIFORNIA
NUTRITION AND SANTA PROGRAM? WHY
THESE PROGRAMS AND NOT OTHERS
THAT HAVE HIGHER COSTS IN OUR
DIRECTLY FOCUSED ON HELPING
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS? WE ALSO
HEARD OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT.
SO UM SOME OF THE CUTS WERE
BECAUSE FUNDS HADN'T BEEN SPENT
YET. OR THE, UH, THE GRANTS
HAVEN'T BEEN ADVERTISED YET, SO
THEY WERE AVAILABLE TO MORE
EASILY THAN FOR EXISTING
PROGRAMS. AND SO THE PRIORITY
WAS TO, UM, TO FOCUS ON KEEPING
EXISTING IMPORTANT PROGRAMS AND
THEN ALLOWING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR NEWER
PROGRAMS LIKE THE FARM TO
COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS AND WHATNOT,
UM, TO MAINTAIN THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSE. IS SO
THAT THOSE PROGRAMS CAN
CONTINUALLY BE DEVELOPED. AND SO
THAT WHEN THERE IS FUNDING
AVAILABLE, THEY'RE READY TO
EXPEDITE THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS MUCH MORE QUICKLY. HAS
THE ADMINISTRATION VERIFIED THE
FINANCIAL HEALTH OF SMALL
FARMERS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR THIS
RELIEF AND NOT RECEIVED IT. IE
IS THERE ANY WAY OF REACHING TO
THOSE FOLKS AND, UH, FINDING OUT
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF
WITHHOLDING THE MONEY OR CUTTING
ABSOLUTELY SO DUE TO THE NATURE
OF THE PROGRAM WITH US FUNDING
THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS, UM
SO THAT THEY CAN ADMINISTER
THOSE DIRECT TO FARM FARMER
GRANT PROGRAMS, AND WE DID THAT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MORE
FLEXIBLE AND NIMBLE TO THE NEEDS
MORE FLEXIBLE WITH THE NEEDS OF
SMALL FARMERS AND RANCHERS. AND
SO DUE TO THE NATURE OF THAT THE
FINANCIAL HEALTH OF APPLICANTS
IS NOT VERIFIED THROUGH èC Dð
FA S¼ PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY,
HOWEVER, THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
THAT ARE SUPPORTED WITH èC Dð
FA FUNDING AND THAT ADMINISTER
THESE THIRD PARTY GRANT PROGRAMS
. THEY ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE THAT HELP SUCH AS
EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS RELATED
TO BUSINESS PLANNING, MARKETING
AND RISK MANAGEMENT, WHICH ARE
INTENDED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES
NECESSARY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
TO MAINTAIN THEIR FINANCIAL
HEALTH. IN ADDITION TO
ADMINISTERING THOSE THOSE DIRECT
TO FARMER GRANTS, UM ALL
QUALIFIED. I WILL SAY THERE WAS
A PIECE OF THAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
HAVE ALL THE FOLKS WHO RECEIVED
FUNDING OR WHO HAVE ASKED FOR
FUNDING RECEIVED FUNDING SO ON
THE èC Dð FA SIDE IN TERMS OF
THE REQUEST THAT WE'VE RECEIVED
ALL QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATORS WHO APPLIED TO
CUSP WERE FULLY FUNDED MORE THAN
FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE OF THE
BUDGET AUGMENTATION. UM AND TO
OUR KNOWLEDGE, NONE HAVE
REPORTED OVER SUBSCRIPTION OR
REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDS AGAIN
FOR THAT SPECIFIC DROUGHT RELIEF
POT. WE ARE RECEIVING REQUEST.
FOR THE MORE FLEXIBLE POT OF
FUNDING. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT WHAT HAS BEEN THE
DEPARTMENT'S GRANT DISTRIBUTION
SCHEDULE FOR AWARDS TO A SMALL,
UNDERSERVED FARMERS? THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION. SO THE DROUGHT
FUNDING FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021 22
WAS FULLY AWARDED, AND THAT
INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL
AUGMENTATION AND ADJUSTMENTS TO
THE CONTRACTS BY THE SPRING OF
2023 èC Dð FA ANTICIPATES A
WORDING THE ENTIRE $5 MILLION
FOR FISCAL FOR THE 2324 DROUGHT
AND FLOOD RELIEF FUNDING BY OF
THIS YEAR. SO IN THE COMING
MONTHS, AND THEN WE WILL NOTE
THAT JUST AS OUR PARTNERS IN OUR
GO BEZ PROGRAM, DR DROUGHT AND
FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAM THAT PIECE
THAT WAS MORE FLEXIBLE WAS
OVERSUBSCRIBED. ANECDOTALLY AND
BECAUSE OF THAT,
OVERSUBSCRIPTION, WE'RE
ANTICIPATING HIGH DEMAND FOR
THAT PROGRAM THAT'S GONNA ROLL
OUT IN THE COMING MONTHS. UH,
JUST A COUPLE MORE. UM COMMITTEE
STAFF NOTED THAT FUNDS HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY SLOW TO GET OUT OF THE
DOOR FOR SMALL FARMERS WHO
EXPERIENCE LOSSES DURING THE BIG
DROUGHT. UH, 2018 TO 2022. IS
THERE A REASON IT'S TAKEN SO
LONG TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS?
ARE THERE BARRIERS THAT CAN BE
REDUCED TO HELP THESE FUNDS GET
OUT THE DOOR FASTER IN THE
FUTURE? I. I CAN JUMP IN. SO UH,
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONNOLLY, SO I
THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS TO NOTE
HERE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I
THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM
THE COMMUNITY IS, UH, KIND OF,
UH UH, A GENERAL CONSENSUS OF
HOW THEY'RE FEELING RELATED TO
TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO
THERE'S THE GOBI PROGRAM. AND
THEN THERE'S THE èC Dð FA
PROGRAM. I THINK, AS MY
COLLEAGUE HAD MENTIONED FOR THE
èC Dð FA PROGRAM, UH, THERE WAS
KIND OF THE LIMITING FACTORS
ASSOCIATED WITH JUST THE
DROUGHT, UH, POT OF MONEY, AND
THEN THERE WAS ALSO THE KIND OF
THE OTHER IMPACTS ON THE GOBI
SIDE. THAT SPECIFICALLY, UH, HAD
KIND OF SLOWER ROLL OUT FOR A
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ISSUES. BUT
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE GOBI HERE,
UH, TO KIND OF ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, I DON'T WANNA GET
AHEAD OF THERE. UH, REASONING,
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH THEM AND GET YOU SOME
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT THERE. YEAH
THAT'D BE GREAT. I WOULD LOVE
THAT IF I COULD JUST PROVIDE ONE
BECAUSE AROUND, UH, BARRIERS
THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO
ADDRESS WE DID NOTE THAT YOU
KNOW, THE GOBI PROGRAM AND THE
CUS PROGRAM. THEY EACH FEEL
REALLY DIFFERENT NICHES, BUT
THEY RELY ON A LOT OF THE SAME
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS
AND SO IN THIS NEWEST ROUND OF
FUNDING, WE ARE TRYING TO
COORDINATE WITH THEM MORE AND
STAGGER. APPLICATIONS WHICH IS
WHY YOU SAW THAT GOBI FUNDING GO
OUT, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE OUR
FUNDING GO OUT AGAIN TO REDUCE
THOSE BARRIERS THAT THE LEAST,
THERE'S NOT COMPETING INTERESTS
THAT ARE MAKING IT OVER MORE
COMPLEX THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
GREAT AND THEN FINALLY,
STAKEHOLDERS HAVE SHARED THAT
THE STATE HAS ALREADY LOST
ACCESS TO $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL
MATCH TO THE CALIFORNIA IN SANTA
PROGRAM IN 2024 DUE TO THE
PROPOSED CUTS IN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. GIVEN THE TIMING OF THE
FEDERAL MATCH PROGRAMS R FA IS
THAT CORRECT? FIRST UH, YES.
WHAT LEVEL OF FUNDING DO WE NEED
TO MAINTAIN TO DRAW DOWN ON
FEDERAL FUNDS? AND IS THERE AN
ARGUMENT TO ME MAY THAT WE
SHOULD PRAY OR MAINTAINING
PROGRAMS THAT CAN BRING IN THOSE
KIND OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS. I
CAN START WITH THE INITIAL
QUESTION AROUND THE TIMELINE FOR
THE FEDERAL FUNDS, AND THEN I'LL
DEFER TO MY TO MY COLLEAGUES AT
DOF ABOUT THE SECOND PIECE ABOUT
PRIORITIZING PROGRAMS. SO, UM
YES. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE
TIMING OF THE FEDERAL GOSS NIP
INCENTIVE APPLICATION. THE
FEDERAL FUNDING IS ALREADY OFF
THE TABLE FOR THIS YEAR, SO THE
FEDERAL APPLICATION PERIOD IS
CURRENTLY OPEN AND IT CLOSES MAY
14TH WHICH MIGHT BE LEADING TO
SOME CONFUSION, RIGHT, IT'S
STILL OPEN. IT HASN'T CLOSED YET
, HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM
REQUIRES TWO ELEMENTS OF THE
TIMING OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE STATE
MATCHING FUNDS MUST BE FULLY
SECURED AT THE TIME OF
SUBMISSION, AND THE SECOND IS
THAT THE APPLICATION MUST
CLEARLY IDENTIFY OUR PARTNERS
AND THEIR ACTIVITIES SO THAT THE
FEDERAL PROGRAM CAN EVALUATE THE
DIVERSITY OF PARTNERSHIP. THE
UNIQUENESS OF OUR PROGRAM AND
THE REACH THAT THE PROGRAM WILL
HAVE AND SO TO IDENTIFY PARTNERS
, CDFA NEEDS TO ISSUE ITS OWN
COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM, AND
THERE IS NÓ LONGER TIME TO ISSUE
THAT REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
RECEIVE THE APPLICATION. SCORE
THEM MAKE AWARDS, ETCETERA IN
TIME TO MEET THAT MAY 14TH
DEADLINE. AND I'LL REFER TO MY
PARTNER ON. YEAH. CHRISTIAN
BELTRAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET
GOING ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, SO I
I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK UH, SO
ESSENTIALLY IN THE FEDERAL MATCH
WAS A 1 TO 1 MATCH. SO DEPENDING
ON HOW MUCH YOU ARE TRYING TO
LEVERAGE, WE, UH OBVIOUSLY CAN
WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN
TERMS OF LANDING ON A DOLLAR
AMOUNT MOVING FORWARD AS WE GO
THROUGH BUDGET, UH, HEARINGS AND
NEGOTIATIONS. SO IF THE
LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE TO
PRIORITIZE THAT I THINK THE
ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE OPEN TO
DISCUSSING IT WITH YOU. YEAH,
AND THAT'S OH, SORRY. I KNOW YOU
HAVE TO GO. THAT'S THAT'S FOR
CURRENT YEAR. I WANT TO CLARIFY
THAT WAS FOR CURRENT YEAR FUNDS.
BUDGET YEAR WE WOULD NEED
FUNDING SECURED WHEN THEY GOT
PROGRAM OPENS NEXT YEAR, WHICH
WOULD BE JANUARY 2025. PUT A
FINER POINT OF THAT. YEAH, YEAH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PG NORRIS. THANK
YOU. UH, GOOD MORNING. THANKS
FOR BEING HERE. I. I WANNA ASK
YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
FARM TO SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT
PROGRAM. UM WHICH I? I THINK IN
THE L A Ó ANALYSIS. YOU
HIGHLIGHTED THAT 50 MILLION? UH,
IT HAS, UH, YET TO BE. SO, YOU
KNOW YOU'VE YET TO SOLICIT GRANT
APPLICATIONS OR MAKE AWARDS FOR
ROUGHLY $50 MILLION. OK SO GIVEN
THAT WE'VE GOT INVESTMENTS IN
THE UNIVERSAL MAIL PROGRAM, THE
KITCHEN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS
PROGRAM, THE FARM TO COMMUNITY
HUBS PROGRAM, AS WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER. UM WHAT DOES THIS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISH? THAT'S NOT
ALREADY PROVIDED UNDER THESE
OTHER PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR QUESTION. AND HONESTLY,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LET US BRAG ABOUT OUR FARM TO
SCHOOL PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IF IT
WERE, IF IT WERE SECRETARY ROSS
UP HERE, YOU'D BE HERE FOR THE
REST OF THE DAY. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE ALL FEEL VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT. SO EACH OF THE PARTNER
PROGRAMS THAT YOU NAMED HELP
WITH KIND OF ONE PIECE OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO GET
HEALTHY LOCAL FOODS ONTO OUR
KIDS PLATES SO THE BUT THEY
DON'T FILL ALL THE GAPS RIGHT.
NÓ PRO PROGRAM CAN SO UNIVERSAL
FREE MEALS FUNDING ENSURES
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE
ACCESS TO TWO NUT. A DAY, TWO
NUTRITIOUS MEALS A DAY, BUT IT
DOESN'T REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO
SOURCE PRODUCE FROM CALIFORNIA
FOOD PRODUCERS. THE KITCHEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAINING
PROGRAM HELPS TRANSFORM
EQUIPMENT AND GENERAL SKILL
LEVEL IN OUR SCHOOL. ITS BUT THE
PROGRAM DOESN'T HELP SCHOOLS
NAVIGATE THE LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY.
UH, THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO OPEN
ACCESS TO NEW LOCAL FOOD PRO
PRODUCTS FROM CALIFORNIA FARMERS
AND THEN THE FARM TO COMMUNITY
FOOD HUBS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IS
A REALLY ESSENTIAL PROGRAM THAT
IF IT'S RECOVERED, WOULD HELP
SUPPORT THE EX THE CREATION OF
THREE NEW FOOD HUBS. IN
CALIFORNIA, BUT IT DOESN'T HELP
EXISTING FOOD HUBS OR INDIVIDUAL
PRODUCERS TO ACCESS NEW SCHOOL
MARKETS OR INVEST IN THE
NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE OR
STAFFING TO IMPROVE THE FARM TO
SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE
. SO WHAT THE FARM TO SCHOOL
INCUBATOR PROGRAM DOES IS THAT
THE ONLY INITIATIVE THAT REALLY
CONNECTS ALL OF THE DOTS
REGARDING EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM
TRANSFORMATION, SO LOCAL
SOURCING, FOOD AGGREGATION,
INFRASTRUCTURE, KITCHEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND STAFF
CAPACITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FARM
TO SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT
PROGRAM ALLOWS FARMS AND FOOD
HUB. TO APPLY FOR FUNDING. UH,
MEANING THAT THE PROGRAMS FUND
BOTH THE SUPPLY AND THE DEMAND
SIDE OF SCHOOL FOOD, SO BY
PROVIDING FUNDING TO FARMS AND
FOOD HUBS, WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, THE
INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM EMPOWERS
SUPPLY CHAIN EXPERTS TO SCALE UP
THEIR WORK TO MATCH THE DEMAND
OF SCHOOL FOOD BUYERS AND
RELATED THE CALIFORNIA FARM TO
SCHOOL INCUBATOR PROGRAM IS THE
ONLY PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES
RESOURCES ON SMALL FARMERS AND
RANCHERS, SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND FARMERS
THAT UTILIZE CLIMATE SMART.
CULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT SOURCING IN
THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS. THIS HELPS
CONNECT THE DOTS TO THOSE FOOD
SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE MOST RECENT
ROUND OF FUNDING, 50 FARMERS AND
FOUR FOOD HUBS RECEIVED AWARDS
IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL
AGENCIES, 94% OF THE THOSE
PRODUCER GRANTEES ARE SMALL TO
MID SIZE FARMERS OVER HALF ARE
WOMEN 42% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND 100% OF THEM USE CLIMATE,
SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. I
THINK THAT THE PIECE THAT GETS
US ALL SO EXCITED ABOUT PRIMARY
SCHOOL IS IT REALLY TAKES THAT
HOL APPROACH RELATED TO THE
SUPPLY SIDE, AND IT EXTENDS IT
TO THE NECESSARY NEXT STEP OF
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION
, SO THAT LAST PIECE IS REALLY
UNIQUE, AND IT'S PIVOTAL TO
ENSURE THAT STUDENTS TAKE THEIR
KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD, NUTRITION AND
THEIR LOCAL FARMS HOME TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES, AND THEN WITH THEM
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, UH
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR EARLY
CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT
RECEIVES FUNDING VIA THE FARM TO
SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM
IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HANDS ON
FOOD EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS. AND
PROCURE WHOLE OR MINIMALLY
PROCESSED FOODS FROM LOCAL
CALIFORNIA FOOD PRODUCERS. I
KNOW THAT'S MORE THAN YOU
BARGAINED FOR, BUT WE DO LOVE
FARM TO SCHOOL AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF FOOD NEXT SO AND LET ME SO
LET ME JUST LET ME ASK A COUPLE
OF FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. SO, UM
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF ARTICULATION OF ALL
THOSE SORTS OF PIECES OF THE
PUZZLE, BUT I DO WONDER IF THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE
SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
. I MEAN, AS YOU AS I THINK YOU
SAID, UM THE YOU KNOW, FARM TO
COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS PROGRAM
CAN'T EVEN GET OFF THE GROUND
BECAUSE YOU YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH
PEOPLE INTERESTED IN BEING PART
OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. IS THERE
A WAY TO MORE EFFICIENTLY
ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE GOALS? THE
IMPORTANT GOALS THAT YOU
ARTICULATED BY CONSOLIDATING
THIS AND IT REMOVING SOME OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SILOS? UM, THAT
JUST A YEAH. YEAH, A QUESTION.
AND PERHAPS A QUESTION I'D ASK
OF. A NUMBER OF THESE PROGRAMS.
THE OTHER QUESTION I DO WANT TO
ASK AND POINT I WANNA MAKE. I'M
NOT EVEN I DON'T THINK THE
UNIVERSAL MAIL PROGRAM IS NOT
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
BUDGET SUB CORRECT, BUT IT IS IN
YOUR PURVIEW. NÓ. IT'S NOT ALL
RIGHT. èC Dð FA. I SHALL MAKE
THAT POINT TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT
I THINK I THINK. SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS ARE SUPER WELL
INTENTIONED, BUT I KNOW IN THE
CASE OF THE UNIVERSAL MAIL
PROGRAM, WE ARE THROWING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE
GARBAGE EACH AND EVERY DAY
BECAUSE THERE'S MILLIONS OF KIDS
ACROSS THE STATE WHO NEED THIS.
THERE'S A LOT THAT DON'T AND SO
I. I DO THINK IN THIS BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT AND UNDERSTANDING
IT'S NOT IN YOUR PURVIEW. WE
GOTTA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
STUFF EVEN IF IT EVEN IF IT'S
STUFF THAT FEELS REALLY GOOD IF
WE'RE JUST WASTING MONEY, SO
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I HAD, UM
, QUESTIONS WHEN WE WERE VISITED
BY THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS JUST
YESTERDAY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
MILK, I. I AGREE WITH YOU. THE
MILK IS, UM IS THERE THERE. IT
IS NOT BEING USED AS EFFICIENTLY
AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. YEAH
YEAH, I YEAH, THERE'S JUST A LOT
OF SCHOOLS WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW,
MY KIDS REPORT THERE'S YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE GETS THEIR THING AND
JUST DUMPS IT IN THE TRASH. UM,
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR
US TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH HER FELLOW
BUDGET SETS. MAY I CLARIFY 11
ITEM? I'M SO SORRY. MY AS MY
COLLEAGUE REMINDED ME, I THINK
WE TALKED ABOUT THE TIMING OF
THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS AND HOW
MUCH IS STILL AVAILABLE IN THE
FARM SCHOOL PROGRAM. I WOULD
NOTE THAT THAT PROGRAM IS
CURRENTLY OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS
IN THE APPLICATION. PERIOD WILL
BE CLOSING SOON FOR FARM TO
SCHOOL. UH PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.
OK SO YOU HAVE OPENED THE
PROGRAMS. THERE'S KIND OF 50
MILLION OUTSTANDING. BUT UM,
APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
YES IT'S BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW
MONTHS. I WOULD DEFER TO MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE EXACT TIMING,
BUT A FEW MONTHS IN THE
CONVERSATIONS I HAD YESTERDAY
WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS. UM I
POINTED OUT THAT WHENEVER YOU
HAVE A COMPLETELY FREE RESOURCE,
IT DOESN'T GET ALLOCATED. WELL
AND THAT'S I THINK EXACTLY WHAT
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND I ARE
REFERRING TO THE REPORTS,
PARTICULARLY AT THE JUNIOR HIGH
LEVEL OF THE AMOUNT OF WASTE
THAT IS GOING ON AND THE REASON
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT SCHOOLS
ARE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE
WE CAN ACTUALLY GET GOOD HABITS
INTO SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT GETTING EXPOSED TO GOOD
EATING HABITS, SO IT'S A
TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE PROGRAM
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TARNISH
WITH CONSTANT REPORTS OF THE
AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT'S GOING ON
AT THE SAME TIME, SO BECAUSE
YOUR PASSIONATE ABOUT THE
PROGRAM BECAUSE SECRETARY ROSS
IS F OF THE PROGRAM. I WANT YOU
TO TRY TO PARTNER WITH US TO
SPECIFICALLY DEAL WITH THE
THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING WITH
THE EDUCATORS ABOUT YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY, UH, TO
MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE GET THE
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM AND NOT
THE EXCESS THAT COMES WITH.
GENERALLY ANY RESOURCE THAT IS
IDENTIFIED AS FREE. YOU JUST YOU
. IT CHANGES YOUR MENTALITY IN
TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT
PARTICULAR RESOURCE. I'D LIKE TO
SWITCH OVER TO METHANE QUICKLY
HERE, UM AND, UM GO THROUGH THE
BASICALLY, I'M JUST TRYING TO
GET A READ FROM YOU GUYS IN
TERMS OF THE DAIRY, UH, THE
DAIRIES AND THE METHANE WITH THE
DAIRIES, AND THAT IS WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF THE METHANE IS
BEING CAPTURED. WHAT WHAT IS THE
AMOUNT THAT WE'RE EXPECTING?
WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE CAPTURED
. HOW ARE WE MEASURING THE YOU
KNOW THE FUGITIVE. WHAT KIND OF
VERIFICATION DO WE HAVE? THAT
WE'RE ACTUALLY CAPTURING ALL OF
THAT, UH, THAT WE SUBMITTED SOME
QUESTIONS TO YOU IN ADVANCE, SO
YOU JUST FILL ME IN ON THAT
TOPIC OVERALL, SINCE, UH OK,
THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY I WILL DO
MY BEST AND THEN I'M SURE WE
WILL. WE WILL HAVE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS THIS
AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON ANY KIND
OF VERY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE IN WRITING, UM, SO OUT OF
THE TOTAL. THIS IS ONE OF THE
FEW MOMENTS I REALLY WISH I'D
HAD A DEGREE IN SCIENCE. SO OUT
OF THE TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS FROM ALL OF THE CAL
FROM ALL OF CALIFORNIA
AGRICULTURE èC Dð FA FUNDED
DAIRY DIGESTERS ARE REDUCING
EMISSIONS BY 7.9. FROM DAIRIES
AND RANCHES. SO ON PARTICIPATING
DAIRIES, THE èC Dð FA DAIRY
DIGESTER RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM REDUCES
METHANE FORMATION AND CAPTURES
EMITTED METHANE FOR THE
GENERATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
DIGESTER PROJECTS REDUCE METHANE
EMISSIONS. THE ATMOSPHERE BY
APPROXIMATELY 80% ON
PARTICIPATING DAIRIES. KATIE 80
CORRECT AND THEN, UM, MEASURING
AND MONITORING. WE TALKED ABOUT
MEASURING AND MONITORING A
LITTLE BIT IN THOSE QUESTIONS.
MEASURING A MODERN MONITORING
METHANE EMISSIONS ON EACH
INDIVIDUAL GRANT'S FARM WOULD BE
PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE USING
CURRENT METHODS, SO INSTEAD,
CDFA USES A SCIENCE AND DATABASE
QUANTIFICATION METHODOLOGY
DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES
BOARD TO CALCULATE EXPECTED
EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS FROM
DIGESTER PROJECTS AND WHEN
APPLYING FOR Dð, R, Dð P, OR
DAIRY DIGESTER RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRANTS. EACH
APPLICATION USES THE TOOL TO
ESTIMATE THE EMISSIONS
REDUCTIONS AND THEN èC Dð FA
VER. THAT EACH PROJECT IS
COMPLETED AS EXPECTED AS PART OF
OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM IN TERMS OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES
, èC Dð FA PROVIDES REPORTS TO
CARVE THE DETAIL THE BIO METHANE
IT, UM, OR ELECTRICITY PRODUCED
BY EACH COMPLETED PROJECT OVER A
FIVE YEAR PERIOD. AND THESE
NUMBERS ARE DIRECTLY CORRELATED
WITH METHANE CAPTURE CARBS.
RECENT REMOTE SENSING FLYOVERS
LOOK FOR METHANE EMISSIONS IN
CARBS. RECENT REMOTE SENSING
FLYOVERS TO LOOK FOR METHANE
EMISSION FLU PLUMES. NONE OF
CDFA IS, UM Dð Dð R Dð P FUNDED
PROJECT SHOWED LEAKS IN
INDICATED THAT THEY'RE WORKING
AS INTENDED. THEY SHOWED NÓ
LEAKS. NÓ LEAKS LEAKS. SO YOU
HAVE AN 80% CAPTURE. THERE MUST
BE A 20% LEAKAGE, SO IT'S AS
INTENDED SO NÓ LEAKS FROM THE
DAIRY DRES THEMSELVES. THAT'S
NOT TO SAY THAT THE DAIRY
DIGESTERS CAN CAPTURE ALL OF THE
METHANE THAT'S CREATED, UM, ON
THE DAIRY AS A WHOLE. THAT'S
JUST AFTER THE WASTE ENTERS THE
SYSTEM. OK, SO NÓ LEAK FROM THE
DIGESTER BUT IN TERMS OF THE
TOTAL CAPTURE OF THE METHANE,
WE'RE ESTIMATING. THAT'S 80% 80%
20% OF IT IS FUGITIVE. RIGHT?
OK, THANK YOU. UH, NÓ. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR, CHRISTIAN BELCHER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AGAIN. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO FLY
FOR YOU TO, UM, UH, WE COULD
DEFINITELY PROVIDE YOUR STAFF
WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT, UH,
WAS REFERRED TO, UH BY MY
COLLEAGUE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, UH, THAT
IS GENERATED BY THE AIR
RESOURCES BOARD ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS. THAT SPECIFICALLY
HIGHLIGHTS THE AMOUNT OF METRIC
TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE THAT'S
REDUCED ANNUALLY, OR, UH,
HOLISTICALLY FROM THE PROGRAMS
THAT WERE MENTIONED. THAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL. I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT NOT HAVING
MY AGREE AS A SCIENTIST IF I HAD
IF I IF I NEED TO CORRECT ANY OF
THOSE ITEMS WILL DO SO IN
WRITING, BUT IT I'M FAIRLY
CERTAIN THAT'S HOW DAIRY
DIGESTERS WORK. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. UM ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. UH, WE HAVE NÓ OTHER
QUESTIONS. WE'RE READY TO MOVE
ON TO ISSUE THREE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
GIVE ME A MOMENT BEFORE. YOU
START.
CONTINUING SAGA OF THE MILL FEE
SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR A LONG TIME. UM, BUT, UM GO
AHEAD, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
THEN BEGIN. UH, GOOD MORNING.
CHAIR, BENNETT. UM UH, I'M JULIE
HENDERSON. BRING THAT MICROPHONE
A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YEAH.
DOES THIS WORK? A LITTLE CLOSER.
STILL A LITTLE CLOSER. ALL
RIGHT, OK. IS THAT BETTER? OK UM
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. BENNETT I'M
JULIE HENDERSON. UH, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PESTICIDE REGULATION. AND UM,
DOCTOR KAREN MORRISON IS TO MY
LÀ SHES OUR CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, UM, HAPPY TO BE HERE
THIS MORNING. UM AS I THINK YOU
KNOW, OUR MISSION AT THE
DEPARTMENT IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE
IN THE ENVIRONMENT. UM BY
FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT AND BY REGULATING
PESTICIDES, PEST MANAGEMENT
PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE. AND THE
STABILITY OF CALIFORNIA'S
HEALTHY FOOD SUPPLY. IT SUPPORTS
GROWERS AND AGRICULTURAL
SUSTAINABILITY AND A PROTECTS
THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES
AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. PESTICIDES
ARE ONE FORM OF PEST MANAGEMENT.
THEY ARE SUBSTANCES THAT ARE
INTENDED TO CONTROL, DESTROY,
REPEL OR ATTRACT INSECTS, WEEDS,
RODENTS, DISEASES AND OTHER
PESTS. THEY INCLUDE INSECTICIDES
, HERBICIDES, RODENTICIDE,
FUNGICIDES, DISINFECTANTS,
PHEROMONES AND PLANT GROWTH
REGULATORS. SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT IS AN APPROACH THAT
BUILDS ON THE DECADES LONG
PRACTICE OF INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT OR I PM. WHICH IS AN
ECOSYSTEM BASED APPROACH THAT
FOCUSES ON PEST MAN ON ON, UM ON
PEST PREVENTION AND USES
PESTICIDES ONLY WHEN NECESSARY,
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
BUILDS ON INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT BY INCORPORATING
BROADER CONSIDERATIONS OF HUMAN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL EQUITY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
IMPACTS. THE DEPARTMENT'S ROLE
IN SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT IS INCREASINGLY
CRITICAL AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
SEVERE WEATHER INTRODUCED NEW
AND INCREASING P PRESSURES AND
AS CURRENT TOOLS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE THAT ARE LOWER RISK, LOSE
THEIR EFFICACY AND A SCIENTIFIC
STUDIES SHOW THAT ADDITIONAL
RISKS ARE PRESENT WITH HIGH RISK
PESTICIDES THAT REQUIRE
INCREASING RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR
USE. SEVERAL DECADES, THE
DEPARTMENT HAS EXPERIENCED AN
EXPANSION IN ITS STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAMMATIC
RESPONSIBILITIES. THOSE INCLUDE
THE SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION AND
REGISTRATION OF PESTICIDES AND
MITIGATION OF THEIR RISKS.
SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SAFE PEST MANAGEMENT
ALTERNATIVES AND THE ENFORCEMENT
OF PESTICIDE LAWS AND
REGULATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONERS AND INCREASED
COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR
STAKEHOLDERS. TO HOLISTICALLY
ADDRESS THE DYNAMIC. UH, PAST
PRESSURES AND PAST MANAGEMENT
NEEDS. THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS
STABLE, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO
CONTINUE OUR FOUNDATIONAL
FUNCTIONS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND
THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO SUPPORT
THE SAFE, EFFECTIVE PEST
MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO GET TO BRING
THOSE TOOLS TO MARKET FASTER AND
ALSO TO ENCOURAGE THE KIND OF
COLLABORATIONS THAT BROADLY
EXPAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR
THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. OUR
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE THE MILL
ASSESSMENT, UM COMES FROM THE
SALE OF PESTICIDES IN CALIFORNIA
AND THAT HAS BEEN FIXED FOR THE
LAST IN STATUTE FOR THE LAST 20
YEARS, AND IT NÓ LONGER
ADEQUATELY SUPPORTS THE
DEPARTMENT'S STATUTORY AND
PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND AS A RESULT, WE'RE OPERATING
WITH A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE.
ABOUT 80% OF OUR FUNDING COMES
FROM THE MILL ASSESSMENT. AND
THOSE ARE, UM, PESTICIDE
REGISTRATION FEES ACCOUNT FOR
ABOUT 15% IN LICENSING FEES
ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 3% AND THOSE
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING FEES
SUPPORT BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS,
AND THESE FEES ARE SET BY Tð BR
AND REGULATION. REVENUE
GENERATED FROM THE MILL
ASSESSMENT SUPPORTS OUR CORE
FUNCTIONS THAT INCLUDE THE
CONTINUOUS EVALUATION OF
PESTICIDE RISKS FOLLOWING
REGISTRATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF MITIGATION MEASURES TO
ADDRESS THOSE RISKS, PESTICIDE
USE ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
GRANTS THAT SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE ALTERNATIVES
. OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER UH UH,
ACCIDENTS THAT, UH, ARE PART OF
THE PESTICIDE REGULATORY
PROGRAM. THE MILL REVENUE ALSO
SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, THE
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR LOCAL
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND S¼, UM OF
PESTICIDE CONSULTATION AND
ANALYSIS. THE LEGISLATURE LAST
INCREASED THE MILL ASSESSMENT IN
2004, AND THAT LEVEL HAS NOT
KEPT PACE WITH THE EXPANSION OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND STATUTORY
RESPONSIBILITIES. AND TO SUPPORT
AAA THOROUGH EVALUATION OF OUR
PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS. UM THE
LEGISLATURE FUNDED THROUGH THE
2021 BUDGET ACT, AN INDEPENDENT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MILL
ASSESSMENT STUDY. WE RELEASED
THAT STUDY LAST FALL, AND IT
FOUND THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS
CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED. TO
PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH
STABLE LONG TERM FUNDING. THE
STUDY RECOMMENDED A FLAT FEE
PHASED IN INCREASE OF THE MILL
ASSESSMENT FROM THE CURRENT 2.1.
CENTS PER DOLLAR OF SALES, OR 21
, MILS UP TO 3.39. CENTS UM PER
DOLLAR IN SALES OR 30, THREE 0.9
MILS. THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET INCLUDES LEGISLATION TO
PHASE IN A MORE CONSERVATIVE
INCREASE IN THE MILL ASSESSMENT
AT BOTH Dð PR AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.
SPECIFICALLY THE LEGISLATION
PROPOSES A FLAT FEE INCREASE TO
THE MILL OVER A THREE YEAR
PERIOD FROM 2.6 CENTS PER DOLLAR
OF SALES OR 26 MILS IN FISCAL
YEAR 2425 TO 22.75 CENTS, OR
27.5 MILS IN FISCAL YEAR 2526
AND 2.86 CENTS OR 28.6 MILS IN
FISCAL YEAR 2627. AS PART OF
THAT PROPOSAL, WE'RE REQUESTING
117.4 POSITIONS AND 30 THREE
POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS 32.6
OF THAT IS IN THE Dð PR FUND
700,000 IN THE GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION FUND, AND THAT WOULD
BE PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS TO
SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL WORK. MORE
SPECIFICALLY, THE BUDGET WOULD
PROVIDE 17.9 MILLION IN Dð PR
FUND AND 64.2 POSITIONS TO
STREAMLINE PROCESSES, UM, TO
SUPPORT ALTERNATIVES, AND THAT
INCLUDES ACCELERATING OUR
PESTICIDE EVALUATION AND
REGISTRATION TIMELINES TO BRING
SAFER, MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
TO MARKET FASTER. UM AS WELL AS
EXTENDING EXPANDING OUR GRANT
PROGRAMS TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF SAFER ALTERNATIVES AND ALSO
EXPANDING THE ADOPTION OF
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT. THE
PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES 8.6
MILLION IN Dð PR FUND AND
592,000 IN GGRF, AS WELL AS 30
THREE 0.2 POSITIONS TO
STRENGTHEN OUR STATEWIDE
SERVICES AND THOSE SUPPORT
STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT AND CROSS
JURISDICTIONAL PESTICIDE USE
ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE,
PESTICIDE MONITORING AND DATA
EVALUATION AND RISK MITIGATION
AND REGUL. DEVELOPMENT AND THAT
WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO
STRENGTHEN OUR PESTICIDE USE
COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING AROUND
SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS ESTABLISHING
ONGOING ECOSYSTEM MONITORING AND
A COMMUNITY INFORMED PESTICIDE
MONITORING PROGRAM AND ALSO
ADDRESS GAPS IN WORKER HEALTH
AND SAFETY. WE ALSO ARE
REQUESTING 6.1 MILLION IN Dð PR
FUND AND 125,000 IN GGRF AND 20
POSITIONS TO PROVIDE CRITICAL
SUPPORT TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
AND COMMUNITIES AND ALL OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS, AND THAT INCLUDES
PESTICIDE USE ENFORCEMENT,
TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE. SUPPORT
FOR THE AG COMMISSIONERS AND
LOCAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL OF OUR
STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY, AND THIS
WILL ALLOW US TO IMPROVE OUR
MULTILINGUAL AND LANGUAGE ACCESS
NEEDS, IMPROVE, TRANSPARENT AND
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO INFORMATION
AS WELL AS OPERATING VISUAL DATA
SHARING TOOLS. IN SUMMARY. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDES THE
DEPARTMENT WITH ESSENTIAL LONG
TERM STABLE FUNDING THAT WE NEED
TO SUPPORT STATEWIDE PEST
MANAGEMENT THAT IS SAFE,
EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE FOR
EVERYONE. AND I'D NOW LIKE TO
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. UH, MR.
CHAIR CHRISTIAN BELTRAN WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. JUST
WANTED TO KIND OF UNDERSCORE A
COUPLE OF THE POINTS THAT MY
COLLEAGUE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PESTICIDES REGULATION NOTED THE
MIL FEE HAS NOT CHANGED FOR THE
PAST COUPLE OF DECADES AND HAS
SINCE LED TO A FUND. UH,
IMBALANCE OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS. IT'S CRITICAL TO NOTE
THAT OVER THE BUDGET, UH,
PROJECTED IN THE BUDGET YEAR
THAT THE Dð PR FUND IS PROJECTED
TO GO INTO A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT,
WHICH IS, UH, PRETTY CRITICAL TO
ADDRESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UH, SO, HAVING SAID THAT HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? L A Ó. UM WHEN IT
COMES TO THIS PROPOSAL, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE LEGISLATURE
PROVE A FLAT INCREASE TO THE
MILL ASSESSMENT THAT ADDRESSES
THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WITHIN
THE Dð PR FUND AND SUPPORTS HIGH
PRIORITY. PROGRAMMATIC
EXPANSIONS. WE FIND THAT A FLAT
INCREASE, AS THE GOVERNOR HAS
PROPOSED IS A REASONABLE
APPROACH AND HAS SEVERAL
BENEFITS, SUCH AS PROVIDING A
MORE PREDICTABLE REVENUE STREAM
AND BEING EASIER TO ADMINISTER.
A FLAT INCREASE TO THE MILL
ASSESSMENT ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, THE Dð
PR HIRED TO ASSESS THE
APPROPRIATE RATE AND STRUCTURE
OF THE MILL ASSESSMENT. ALONG
WITH THE FLAT INCREASE. WE ALSO
RECOMMEND THAT THE LEGISLATURE
INCORPORATE STATUTORY CAPS TO
THE MILL ASSESSMENT. THIS WILL
PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO ENSURE
THAT REVENUES ALIGN WITH
EXPENDITURES AUTHORIZED IN THE
BUDGET ACT EACH YEAR BY THE
LEGISLATURE. THE CAPS PROPOSED
BY THE GOVERNOR APPEAR TO BE
REASONABLE BUT LOWER. HIGHER
REPS. UM, CAPS IDENTIFIED BY THE
LEGISLATURE COULD BE JUST AS
REASONABLE AS WELL. WHEN IT
COMES TO THE PROGRAMMATIC
EXPANSIONS. WE RECOMMEND THAT
THE LEGISLATURE ENSURE THAT ITS
PRIORITIES ARE REFLECTED IN THE
SCOPE OF WORK AND THE ASSOCIATED
FUNDING PROVIDED THIS COULD
INCLUDE MODIFYING OR ADDING TO
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. IN OUR
REPORT. WE IDENTIFIED THREE
AREAS THE LEGISLATURE COULD
EXPLORE FURTHER DURING THE
SPRING BUDGET PROCESS. UM THE
FIRST BEING FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT
THE DEPARTMENT'S SUSTAINABLE
PEST MANAGEMENT ROADMAP. UM
THESE ACTIVITIES FOR THE ROAD
MAP INCLUDE ACCELERATING THE
REGISTRATION OF LOWER RISK
PESTICIDES AND IDENTIFYING
PRIORITY PESTICIDES, WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT AIMS TO ELIMINATE THE
USE OF BY 2050. WHILE THERE
COULD BE BENEFITS TO FUNDING THE
ACTIVITIES. WE NOTE THAT THE SYS
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT ROAD
MAP IS AN ADMINISTRATION LED
INITIATIVE. THE LEGISLATURE WILL
WANT TO ENSURE THAT THESE
ACTIVITIES ARE AMONG ITS HIGHEST
PRIORITIES AND WHETHER FURTHER
STATUTORY GUIDANCE IS NEEDED TO
ALIGN THESE ACTIVITIES WITH
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. UH,
SECOND. WE ALSO NOTE THAT THE
PROPOSAL DOESN'T INCLUDE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS AND
THEIR LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF
PESTICIDE USE LAWS AND
REGULATIONS. WE NOTE THAT THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS REPORT
FOUND THERE TO BE A $10 MILLION
NEED ACROSS THE STATE AND ALSO
THE LAST TIME THE LEGISLATURE
INCREASED THE MILL ASSESSMENT IN
2004 ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS
PROVIDED TO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONERS. WHILE Kò
ALLOTMENTS COULD BE SUFFICIENT,
UM THE OPPORTUNITY AROUND THESE
CONVERSATIONS AROUND ADJUSTING
THE MILL ASSESSMENT, WE FIND
THAT IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO REALLY
ENSURE WHETHER COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS ARE
SUFFICIENTLY RESOURCED TO CARRY
OUT THEIR STATUTORY DUTIES. UH,
THE PROPOSAL ALSO DOESN'T
INCLUDE FUNDING FOR RECENTLY
CHAPTERED LEGISLATION. THE
LEGISLATURE WILL WANT TO ENSURE
THAT IN THE FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE
THAT FUNDING FOR THESE
ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED. WE FIND
THIS TO BE IMPORTANT, GIVEN THAT
THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE AROUND
ENSURING THAT Dð PR IS
SUFFICIENTLY RESOURCED, UM, TO
ACCOMPLISH, YOU KNOW, STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS. WE NOTE THAT
NEARLY ALL OF THE PROGRAMMATIC
EXPANSIONS ARE FUNDED BY THE Dð
PR FUND. HOWEVER THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSES A SMALL AMOUNT OF
ONGOING FUNDING FROM THE
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND TO
SUPPORT UM COMMUNITY AIR
MONITORING AND OUTREACH. WE FIND
THAT GIVEN THAT THESE ARE CORE
DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDE
LARGER STATEWIDE SERVICES, IT'S
REASONABLE AND WE RECOMMEND TO
FUND THEM WITH THE Dð PR FUND
INSTEAD. WE ALSO NOTE THAT THIS
PROPOSAL REPRESENTS A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE
DEPARTMENT'S, UM TOTAL SPENDING.
OVERALL IT REPRESENTS A 25%
INCREASE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S
ONGOING BASELINE SPENDING. GIVEN
THE LARGE INCREASE, WE RECOMMEND
THAT THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDER
ADDING ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
AS A WAY TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT TO
ENSURE THAT FUNDING IS
SUPPORTING Dð PR AND MEETING
CORE OUTCOMES. AND THEN FINALLY,
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE APPROVE THE VARIOUS
POLICY CHANGES PROPOSED. WE FIND
THAT THEY ALIGN WITH THE INTENT
OF THE PROPOSAL AND COULD
IMPROVE STATE PROCESSES. UM,
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE LAO'S
ANALYSIS AND APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT'S, UM EFFORTS,
PARTICULARLY WITH WITH REGARDS
TO THE MALL FEE AND TRYING TO
BETTER ALIGN REVENUES WITH THAT.
I'D LIKE TO GO TO ACCOUNTABILITY
FIRST, UM AND, UM PARTICULARLY
THE ISSUE OF THE REGISTRATION
AND RE EVALUATION OF PESTICIDES,
YOU KNOW, IN THE, UH, IN THE
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL, UM AND
TO, UH HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH DOES
THE ACCOUNTABILITY YOU KNOW
WHAT? WHAT ARE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING
THE TIMELINES IN TERMS OF DOING
THOSE EVALUATIONS AND WHAT
HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T MEET THE
REGISTRATION AND THE RE
EVALUATION TIMELINES? ARE THERE
ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THE
DEPARTMENT? UM THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. CHAIR, BENNETT. SO, UM
THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE
PROPOSAL WITH THE FUNDING AND
RESOURCES THAT WE'VE REQUESTED
WILL ENABLE US TO ACHIEVE, UH,
THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'VE
IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSAL AND
WITH SPECIFIC RESPECT TO, UM,
THE REGISTRATION PROCESS. UM
THERE'S A HUGE EFFORT FOCUSED ON
STREAMLINING THAT PROCESS AND,
UH, BEING ABLE TO REPORT OUT ON
TIMELINE PROJECTIONS AND ALSO TO
BE ABLE TO, UH, GET RID THE
BACKLOG THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS
AND BE ABLE TO, UH BEGIN
EVALUATION SCIENTIFIC
EVALUATIONS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF
RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THAT
WE NEED, SO THE WAY IN WHICH
THAT WOULD WORK IS THAT WE WOULD
BE ABLE TO BETTER PREDICT
TIMELINES AND REPORT OUT ON
THOSE TIMELINES TO REGISTRANTS
TO APPLICANTS AS WELL AS TO ONCE
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR THE
BACKLOG WITH THE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO REPORT
OUT ON, UH OR TO BEGIN THE
SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION WITHIN 30
DAYS, ONE OF THE OTHER KEY
PIECES OF ACCOUNT WITH RESPECT
TO REGISTRATION IS BEING ABLE TO
DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR
EVALUATING NEW NOVEL AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIKE, UM
BIOLOGICALS, WHICH DON'T FIT
NEATLY INTO THE CURRENT
EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR CHEMICAL
PRODUCTS. UM IN TERMS OF, UM THE
EVALUATION OF PESTICIDES, WHICH
TAKES PLACE BOTH BEFORE
REGISTRATION, AS WELL AS AFTER,
UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN
TERMS OF, UM THAT THAT ONGOING
EVALUATION IS ESTABLISHING A
PUBLIC UM, SCIENCE BASED PROCESS
THAT WOULD PRIORITIZE, UH, THE
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH RISK
PESTICIDES AND BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE, UM, REPORTING OUT ON ON
OUR EVALUATION ON THOSE
PESTICIDES THAT ARE PRIORITIZED.
SO ARE ARE YOU OR IN IN IN
QUESTION FOR BOTH FINANCE AND
THE DEPARTMENT FINANCE AND L A
Ó, ARE YOU WHERE ARE THERE ANY
CONSEQUENCES IF THESE TIMELINES
HAVE NOT BEEN MET IN THE PAST?
SO THERE ARE NÓ STATUTORY
IMPACTS THE DEPARTMENT RELATIVE
TO TIMELINES. I'LL SAY THAT THE
WORK THAT WE DO WE HAVE TO
ENSURE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
REGISTRATION THAT WHEN WE
REGISTER A PRODUCT THAT THE
REQUIREMENTS ON THE LABEL ARE
SUFFICIENT TO MITIGATE RISKS TO
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
, AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE
IS, UH, AN URGENCY AROUND HAVING
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO
MANAGE PESTS, BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE COMPLETING
OUR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. AND
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT
VARIOUS METHODS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN DO THE PROCEDURAL
WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IN A
TIMELY FASHION AS WE CAN L A Ó
ANY WHERE AWARE OF ANY
CONSEQUENCES. NOT AWARE OF ANY
CONSEQUENCES, BUT I THINK TO OUR
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO, UM IMPLEMENT,
UH, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
OUTCOMES. THIS HELPS THE
LEGISLATURE AND TRACK SOME OF
THE KEY OUTCOMES THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND
ENSURING THAT YOU KNOW FUNDING
IS HAVING ITS INTENDED OUTCOMES.
AND ALSO, IT'S A WAY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO DESCRIBE TO THE
LEGISLATURE ANY SUCCESSES AND
CHALLENGES THAT IT'S BEEN FACING
. AND YOU KNOW, MEETING THOSE
OUTCOMES AND THAT WOULD HELP
GUIDE THE LEGISLATURE AND
DETERMINING IF ANY OTHER
PROGRAMMATIC OR POLICY CHANGES.
NEEDED TO IMPROVE PROGRAMS. II I
THINK I INCREASING THE AWARENESS
OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF RE EVALUATION WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR EVERYBODY. IT WOULD
HAVE THE DEPARTMENT REALIZE THEY
HAVE TO REPORT TO US THAT THEY
ARE THIS. THIS IS HOW FAR BEHIND
THEY ARE. WE CAN HAVE BETTER
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHY THAT'S
HAPPENING. WHAT DO WE NEED IN
TERMS OF RESOURCES? ETCETERA UM,
LET ME GO TO, UM, A B èC 652 AS
AN EXAMPLE UM, THAT'S UH,
RECENTLY SIGNED LEGISLATION.
DEPARTMENT UM THE ADMINISTRATION
DOES NOT INCLUDE RESOURCES
DEDICATED TO IMPLEMENTING A AB
652. CAN YOU TELL US WHY, AND
THEN I'M GONNA WANT TO ENGAGE
THAT ANSWER FOR, UH, CHRISTIAN
BELTRAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AGAIN. SO I JUST, UH,
WANTED TO KIND OF, UH, LOOK KIND
OF BROADER PICTURE AT THE
BUDGET. UM, THE ADMINISTRATION
DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE
SPECIFIC CHAPTER LEGISLATION,
WHICH WITH, UH, CHAPTER
LEGISLATION WITH VERY FEW
LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES. SO THIS
KIND OF FOLLOWS THAT SAME
APPROACH WHERE WE DO NOT INCLUDE
ANY RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH
ANY OF THE CHAPTER LEGISLATION
THAT IMPACTS THIS PARTICULAR
DEPARTMENT, AND THUS WE'RE JUST
FOLLOWING SUIT. BUT THE BUT THE
BILLS FUNDED BY THE MIL FEE
ASSESSMENT, THEY WON'T BE
IMPACTED BY WHETHER THE GENERAL
FUND DOES BETTER OR DOESN'T DO
BETTER, CORRECT AND IT UH AND
THAT'S CONSISTENT, THOUGH, WITH
OTHER, UH, CHAPTER LEGISLATION
THAT IMPACTS OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CALIFORNIA AIR
RESOURCES BOARD S¼ B 253 S¼ B
261. THOSE ARE NOT FUNDED
NECESSARILY BY THE GENERAL FUND,
EITHER. SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER
KIND OF ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF
HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT
PROPOSING ANYTHING AT THIS POINT
IN TIME RELATED TO ANY CHAPTER
LEGISLATION BROADLY, UH, ACROSS,
UH, THE SPECTRUM E, EVEN IF THE
EVEN IF THE MILKY EVEN IF WE DO
SUPPORT THIS INCREASE IN THE
MALL FEE CORRECT AND, UH AND THE
AND THE FUNDING WILL BE THERE.
WELL IT UH, SO TO CLARIFY THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DID INCLUDE IT
IN THE FALL, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD
TO LOOKING AT AND PRIORITIZING
SPECIFIC CHAPTER LEGISLATION
WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD THROUGH THE MAY REVISION
PROCESS, AND SO WE WILL KIND OF
TACKLE THAT AT THAT POINT IN
TIME AND A FINAL QUESTION. UM
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD WE'VE WE'VE
BEEN CHASING THIS MILKY, UH,
INCREASE ISSUE, AND I THINK THE
DEPARTMENTS MADE A AN EXCELLENT
CASE FOR WHY IT'S TIME AFTER
DECADES OF NOT CHANGING THE FEE,
UH, FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT
COULD YOU JUST IDENTIFY FOR US
IF THE LEGISLATURE CHOSE NOT TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MAIL FEE
INCREASE? WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD
BE THE, UH ADDITIONAL STEPS
YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE TO REDUCE
STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES.
EXPENDITURES FOLLOW THROUGH ON
THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION, CHAIR,
BENNETT. MAYBE I'LL JUST START
BY WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO SO FAR,
UM, WITH THE EXPANSION IN OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT
SUFFICIENT FUNDING, WE BASICALLY
HAD TO REDIRECT RESOURCES AND
EITHER DELAY OR SCALE BACK, UM,
OUR EXECUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AND THAT WOULD ONLY BE FURTHER
COMP. DID IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
GET THE FUNDING, UM, THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED, UM AND SO
IF WE WERE NOT TO GET THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE WOULD END
UP HAVING TO, UM, CONTINUE TO
REDIRECT RESOURCES CONTINUE TO
SCALE BACK. UM, OUR EXECUTION OF
RESPONSIBILITIES, EXTEND
TIMELINES AND NOT FEEL OPEN
POSITIONS AND THAT WOULD HAVE A
YOU KNOW, NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR
ABILITY TO IMPROVE REGISTRATION
TIMELINES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE.
UM SAFER ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS
AND ALSO DELAY IN TIMELINES ON
ON PESTICIDE REEVALUATIONS AND
OTHER RISK ASSESSMENTS AS WELL
AS DEVELOPING MITIGATION
MEASURES. UM AND ADDITIONAL, UM,
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR REGULATIONS,
WHETHER IT'S AROUND SCHOOLS OR
WITH OUR PESTICIDE USE
ENFORCEMENT. I'D LIKE TO USE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST REMIND
ALL OF US THAT WE HAVE A, UH, AN
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS
ISSUE OF PESTICIDES, AND THAT IS
WE WANT TO HAVE THE PROPER USE
OF PESTICIDES. IT BENEFITS THE
FARMERS, AND IT CAN BENEFIT THE
COMMUNITY. UM BUT THAT QUOTE
PROPER USE OF PESTICIDES RELIES
ON THE PROPER REGULATION AND
APPLICATION AND RE EVALUATION OF
THOSE PESTICIDES AS A SCIENCE
GETS BETTER, AND IF WE DON'T
FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND THAT
PROPER REGULATION, WE ARE
LETTING DOWN BOTH SIDES BECAUSE,
UM WHEN YOU START TO HAVE
PROBLEMS, AND I'VE SEEN THIS IN
OUR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WHEN YOU
HAVE A PESTICIDE PROBLEM IT IT
AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY. IT
AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH.
IT ALSO AFFECTS THE GROWERS WHO
THEN GET THE BACKLASH. UH AND SO
CONFIDENCE IN OUR PESTICIDE
REGULATION SYSTEM IS A SORT OF A
SACRED RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS. AND WE AS I
THINK THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE THE RESOURCES ARE THERE. UM
SO I, I PUT THAT OUT THERE
BECAUSE I THINK THIS HAS BEEN
AAA VERY IMPORTANT AND
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE FOR US, UH,
THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THE MILKY AS
WE GO FORWARD, SO MEMBERS OTHER
UH, JUST ONE COMMENT. I'LL JUST
I THINK BUILD ON A CHAIR, YOUR
POINT AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF US, UH,
ENSURING THAT WE BUILD IN SOME
BEST ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.
UM, AS PART AS PART OF US SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. FAMILY
MEMBER. THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANK
YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR BEING
HERE. UM I DO HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS. UM, AND JUST BRIEFLY,
UH, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING
IN CALIFORNIA SINCE THE
TWENTIES. UH, THEY CAME FROM
SOUTH DAKOTA. A FARM FROM STANS
COUNTY ALL THE WAY INTO KERN
COUNTY. SO AG IS VERY MUCH
SOMETHING THAT, UM WAS IN MY
BLOOD, SOMETHING THAT WE CARE
ABOUT. SO I DO WANNA DIG IN JUST
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, AND THE
CHAIR WAS ON THE RIGHT PATH. UM,
QUITE FRANKLY, KIND OF SOME OF
OUR CONCERNS. BUT FIRST
QUESTION, I GUESS YOU YOU
MENTIONED THAT THE RESOURCES
WERE REDIRECTED. UM BECAUSE OF A
STAFFING ISSUE, RIGHT? I'M
CURIOUS. WHERE WERE THEY
REDIRECTED TO? THANK THANK YOU
FOR THE CHAIR. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
I YOU KNOW IT THERE. THAT'S A
BROAD QUESTION. UM SO FOR, UM
I'LL JUST TAKE OUR REEVALUATIONS
, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE IF WE HAVE
MULTIPLE, DIFFERENT
REEVALUATIONS, OR RISK
ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING
OVER THE SAME TIME, WE'LL HAVE
STAFF COVERING MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT, UM, ASSESSMENTS AT
THE SAME TIME, AND SO THAT JUST
ENDS UP DELAYING, UM, AS WE'VE
HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A B 617 IN
THE COMMUNITY AIR PROTECTION
PROGRAM, WE'VE TAKEN STAFF FROM
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
DIVISION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO AND
COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS PART OF
THE COMMUNITY AIR PROTECTION
PROGRAMS, AND SO THOSE RESOURCES
HAVE BEEN BEEN DIRECTED TO
SUPPORT. UM, THAT PROGRAM
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AND SO IT'S JUST AS MORE AS AS
PROGRAMS HAVE EXPANDED, UM,
RESOURCES HAVE JUST BEEN SPREAD
MORE THINLY. UM BUT I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO DIRECTOR MORRISON. IF
THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, UM, JUST
TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE TO
THAT, UM, WE HAD SPECIFIC
TIMELINES WE NEEDED TO MEET
RELATIVE TO A RE EVALUATION FOR
NEONICOTINOIDS BACK IN 2018 AND
HAD TO REDIRECT STAFF WHO WERE
REGISTRATION EVALUATION
SPECIFICALLY TO COMPLETE THAT RE
EVALUATION ON THE TIMELINES THAT
WE WERE MANDATED BY STATUTE. AND
SO THAT CREATED BACKLOGS IN
REGISTRATION THAT WE HAVE THEN
BEEN CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH
AS WE MAINTAIN OUR PROGRAMS. A
LOT OF OUR RESOURCING IS AT, UM,
LEVELS TO MAINTAIN FLOW, BUT IF
WE DEVELOP BACKLOGS, IT'S VERY
HARD TO MOVE THROUGH THOSE
BACKLOGS WHILE CONTINUING TO
PROCESS THE DAY TO DAY WORK. AND
I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I DO.
UM WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS. I
MEAN, SEPTEMBER 26TH OF 2003.
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF OUR
COLLEAGUES SENT OUT A LETTER. UM
REQUESTING, YOU KNOW, THE COTTON
INDUSTRY HAS GOT A MAJOR ISSUE,
RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. BUT TO
THIS DAY THEY STILL HAVEN'T
RECEIVED A RESPONSE ON THEIR
CONCERNS. AND SO I REMEMBER. YOU
KNOW VINCE FONG AND JASMINE
BAIN. BOTH PUT THIS LETTER
TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, IT WAS A
BIPARTISAN LETTER TO THE
DEPARTMENT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A TIMELINE. AND THE CHAIR.
ASKED, LIKE, WHAT ARE THE
CONSEQUENCES? UM TO THIS AND TO
THE DEPARTMENT. THERE ISN'T
PARTICULARLY A CONSEQUENCE. UM
BUT THERE'S A HUGE CONSEQUENCE
TO THE AG BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHEN WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT IN YOUR PROPOSAL 65 NEW
POSITIONS 117 IN THE FOLLOWING
YEAR. I GUESS. WHAT CONFIDENCE
DO WE HAVE? THAT SOME OF THESE
TIMELINES ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE IN A WAY? BECAUSE I GET IT.
DEPARTMENTS DO DEPARTMENT THINGS
AND YOU ARE OVERWORKED AND
PROBABLY UNDERPAID, RIGHT IN A
LOT OF WAYS AND I. I RESPECT AND
UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IF WE'RE
GOING TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET
LIKE WE AS AN AD COMMUNITY
DESPERATELY NEED SOME SORT OF
WAITING FOR YEARS. SINCE YOU
KNOW, UM CHLORPYRIFOS HAS BEEN
BANNED FOR FOUR YEARS. WE STILL
HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING APPROVED TO
TAKE THE PLACE OF THAT, AND OUR
AG COMMUNITY IS JUST TRYING TO
SORT THAT OUT. COTTON IS GOING
TO HAVE MAJOR ISSUES. RIGHT? SO
I GUESS IF THIS GETS APPROVED
UM, WE NEED SOME SORT OF I JUST
ASSURANCE. THAT THE DEPARTMENT
IS GOING TO DO WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO SO OUR AG
COMMUNITY CAN MOVE FORWARD, ONE
OF THE BIGGEST KILLERS OF THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. IS A LACK OF
CERTAINTY. UM BUSINESSMEN AND
WOMEN THAT OWN BUSINESS IN THE
STATE ARE REALLY, REALLY SMART
AT WHAT THEY DO. BUT THEY CAN
ONLY DO THEIR JOBS IF THERE ARE
CERTAINLY CERTAINTY AND
STABILITY. RIGHT AND RIGHT NOW
THERE'S NOT A LOT WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT FROM THE AG
COMMUNITY, SO I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE US. UM, AS THIS THING
MOVES FORWARD, THERE ARE MANY
EXAMPLES THAT I DON'T WANT TO
TAKE THE CHAIR'S TIME, BUT WE'D
LOVE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD. UM I'M
NEW TO BUDGET NEW TO BUDGET SUB
FOUR, BUT IT IS GREAT TO MEET
WITH YOU. BUT LET'S CONTINUE
THIS CONVERSATION, AND I WOULD
JUST ASK FROM A PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVE FROM LIKE CENTRAL
VALLEY PERSPECTIVE. PLEASE HELP
US HELP YOU HELP US BE A PARTNER
WITH US, AND WE CAN'T BE A
PARTNER. IF WE'RE PUT ON ICE FOR
FOUR YEARS, AND THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NÓ CERTAINTY IN WHAT
THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING. THANK
YOU. UM THANK YOU SO MUCH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. AND MAYBE IF I
CAN JUST RESPOND TO, UM, A
COUPLE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU
HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE I THINK THEY
REALLY EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT WE
GRAPPLE WITH, AND I THINK THE
COTTON ISSUE THAT YOU IDENTIFIED
WAS ONE THAT WE TRIED TO RESPOND
TO VERY QUICKLY AND WE HEARD
FROM THE INDUSTRY THAT THERE WAS
A LACK OF A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND TO THIS INVASIVE PEST.
AND SO WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY,
UM, WITH MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY
AS WELL AS WITH OUR PARTNERS AT
U èC TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL
ALTERNATIVES. PART OF THE
CHALLENGE. UM IS THAT THE ONE
PRODUCT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BE EFFECTIVE IS TIED UP
IN LITIGATION AND SO PART OF THE
CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IN MOVING
PRODUCTS THROUGH A REGISTRATION
PROCESS. IS WE CAN GET IT
THROUGH TO A CERTAIN POINT, AND
IF IT'S CHALLENGED LEGALLY, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
LITIGATION PROCESS. AND SO WHAT
WE DID. AGAINST THAT LANDSCAPE,
UM, WAS WORK WITH U èC AND WITH
, UM MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY TO
LOOK AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES AND
THEN WORK TOGETHER TO GET
EXEMPTIONS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO
USE ANOTHER PRODUCT, UM, QUICKLY
, UM, TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO
THAT CRISIS, UM, IN THE CASE OF
CHLORPYRIFOS. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE RECOGNIZE IS THAT IT'S
VERY CHALLENGING TO YOUR POINT.
UM TO HAVE A PRODUCT CANCELED
AND NOT IMMEDIATELY HAVE
ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE AND SO
PART OF WHAT THE SUSTAINABLE
PEST MANAGEMENT WORK GROUP
LOOKED AT. PART OF THE ROAD MAP.
UM, THAT MY COLLEAGUE REFERRED
TO IN HIS REMARKS IS DEVELOPING
A PROCESS THAT COULD AS WE
IDENTIFY THAT THERE ARE RISKS
SIGNALING THAT VERY EARLY SO
THAT WE CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS IN
ALTERNATIVES IF THEY DON'T EXIST
, SO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN
IMPERFECT PROCESS, BUT ALSO VERY
MUCH UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES
AND PRESSURES THAT AGRICULTURE
FACES AND THE NEED THAT
AGRICULTURE HAS IN HAVING TOOLS
TO MANAGE ON THAT PROCESS, SO WE
REALLY TRIED TO, UM DEVELOP, UH,
A PROCESS THAT WOULD SUPPORT
THAT IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY,
I THINK, UM, BEING ABLE TO
REPORT OUT AS AS WE REFER TO A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER REPORTING ON
TIMELINES SO THAT THERE'S A
BETTER SENSE OF PREDICTABILITY
OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
BELIEVE WE CAN DO WITH THE FUNDS
THAT WE'VE REQUESTED AND THEN
BEING ABLE TO REPORT OUT ON ON
HOW WE'RE DOING ON THE OUTCOMES
THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED. SO DO YOU
ANTICIPATE THE DEPARTMENT LIKE
MAYBE BEING A LITTLE MORE? OPEN
TO TRANSPARENCY AND NOT
NECESSARILY IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
BUT JUST TO YOUR POINT OF LIKE
REPORTING WHERE WHERE THINGS ARE
OUT IN THE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO
GET INFORMATION, RIGHT. IT
REALLY IS. IT'S CHALLENGING,
EVEN FOR US AT TIMES LIKE I
MEAN, WE'RE FOUR YEARS INTO AND
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW. AND
THAT'S SORT OF WHY I ASKED THE
QUESTION. LIKE, WHERE WERE THESE
RESOURCES, YOU KNOW? MOVED
AROUND TO BECAUSE IF WE DO
IDENTIFY A PROBLEM LIKE WE BÀN A
SUBSTANCE, RIGHT THE PRODUCT.
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY AN
ALTERNATIVE AVAILABLE. DO WE
JUST PUT THAT PRODUCT ON ICE? OR
DO WE DOUBLE DOWN WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN THE SYSTEM, YOU
KNOW, WITH AND FIND ONE, RIGHT?
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF SOMETHING
DOES GET BANNED. THAT WE USE
LIKE AND THERE IS NÓ OTHER
ALTERNATIVE. WE'RE KIND OF
HOSED. AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO
SEE MORE OF A COMMITMENT FROM
THE DEPARTMENT. LIKE DOUBLING
DOWN ON THOSE EFFORTS. OK LIKE,
FINE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE TAKE THIS
OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE GONNA PUT IN PLACE OF IT
RIGHT? INSTEAD OF JUST FOUR
YEARS LATER, WE STILL HAVE
NOTHING. THAT'S NOT A GREAT
SOLUTION. ABSOLUTELY AND WE VERY
MUCH ARE COMMITTED TO THAT
TRANSPARENCY AND PART OF THIS
PUBLIC. UM EVALUATION PROCESS IS
LOOKING AT WHAT ALTERNATIVES DO
EXIST AND WHERE WE NEED TO
INVEST IN DEVELOPMENTS FOR
ALTERNATIVES AND EVALUATING IF
THERE ARE NÓ ALTERNATIVES.
EVALUATING WHAT MITIGATION UM,
LOOKS LIKE SO ALL OF THAT WOULD
BE PART OF A PUBLIC TRANSPARENT
PROCESS. THE ONE OTHER THING
I'LL JUST KNOW QUICKLY. UM, AND
IT GETS I THINK IT'S JUST
ANOTHER ELEMENT OF TRANSPARENCY
AND NOT AS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. UM
I LAST SUMMER, UM, I ALONG WITH
MY COLLEAGUE, UM, THE UNDER
SECRETARY AT THE FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT WENT OUT
AND MET WITH A LOT OF FOLKS
ACROSS THE STATE AND TALKED
ABOUT DEVELOPED THE NEED FOR
ALTERNATIVES AND WHAT
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
COULD LOOK LIKE, AND THAT KIND
OF ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING.
UM, WHAT CHALLENGES ARE ON THE
GROUND IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE,
AND I THINK ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT
RISKS THAT WE'RE SEEING. SO
THAT'S I THINK ANOTHER ELEMENT
OF THE TRANSPARENCY THAT THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH
THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL. I
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS. JUST 11. QUICK FOLLOW
UP QUESTION. UM SO I THINK AS A
RESULT OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE
LEGISLATURE THAT YOU KNOW YOUR
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS INCREASE
EVERY YEAR. WE ALWAYS ADD STUFF.
WE NEVER TAKE STUFF AWAY. AND I
DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.
BUT ARE THERE ANY PROGRAMS? ARE
THERE THINGS THAT YOU YOU'RE
BEING ASKED TO DO THAT AFTER YOU
KNOW, 20 OR 30 YEARS ON THE
BOOKS ARE NÓ LONGER NECESSARY
AND ARE OBSOLETE AND YOU KNOW,
AS PART OF THIS EVALUATION, WE
SHOULD CONSIDER REMOVING UM,
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. UM
VERY GOOD QUESTION. UH, YOU KNOW
, PART OF WHAT I THINK WE'VE
BEEN EXPERIENCING MORE IS THAT
STAFF HAVE JUST BEEN SPREAD THIN
. UM AND AS PART OF ASSESSING
HOW TO MOST EFFECTIVELY USE
RESOURCES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES
. WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE IF
THEY'RE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
ARE NÓ LONGER, EFFECTIVE OR
NECESSARY. WE'RE REALLY PULLING
PEOPLE AWAY FROM THAT ONE OF THE
PLACES THAT I THINK WE ARE
LOOKING AT. UM WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WERE
CREATED. YOU KNOW MANY YEARS AGO
AND ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THEIR
CURRENT MAKEUP IS WHAT THEIR
CURRENT PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE ALIGNING THOSE WITH
WHAT WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR IN THE
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL, SO I
THINK THAT JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF
LOOKING AT WHERE EXISTING
RESOURCES MAY NOT BE PERFECTLY
ALIGNED IN HOW WE CAN BETTER
ALIGN THOSE MOVING FORWARD.
RIGHT AND I THINK YOU KNOW,
WE'RE CERTAINLY TO THE EXTENT
THAT STATUTORY CHANGES ARE
REQUIRED TO MAKE GOOD ON ON
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. UM PLEASE.
LET'S CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, UM IMPORTANT
ISSUE IN TERMS OF PESTICIDE
REGULATIONS ALL THE WAY AROUND
AND AGAIN WE SEE FROM FROM BOTH
SIDES AND WE WISH YOU WELL AS WE
ALL TRY TO GET THIS PROBLEM
SOLVED. WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
GIVE US ONE MOMENT BEFORE YOU
START. ALL RIGHT. READY. HØI
CHAIR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. UH
CRAIG SHUL I THE CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC
SUBSTANCES CONTROL. UM, UH, I
JUST WANTED TO START US OFF
WITH, UM THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
OF 399 MILLION I. I KNOW THE
ITEM HERE TO FOCUS ON IS
HAZARDOUS WASTE, UM OR THE
GENERATOR HANDLING FEE, BUT I
JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, PART
OF THE GOVERNORS BUDGET PROPOSAL
INCLUDES YOU KNOW, OVER HALF OF
IT IS FOR CLEANUP SITES, WHICH I
KNOW HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF THIS
SUBCOMITTEE. AND UM, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL
PARTNER IN THAT SENSE, AND, UH,
THERE'S BUDGE ALSO INCLUDES AN
ADDITIONAL 27 MILLION FOR
PARKWAY CLEAN UP IN THE FORMER,
UH, EX SIDE. UH, RESIDENTIAL
COMMUNITY, WHICH I KNOW AGAIN
WAS SOMETHING IT WAS A PRIORITY
FOR THIS COMMITTEE, SO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HERE UM S¼ B
158 WAS OUR REFORM. UH, MEASURE
SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND THAT HAS
BEEN, UH, AN AMBITIOUS REFORM.
WE'RE LEARNING A LOT THROUGH
THAT LAST YEAR. UH, WE RELEASED
OUR HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
REPORT. NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE
RELEASING A HAZARDOUS PLACE
MANAGEMENT PLAN. UM AND I JUST
MENTIONED THOSE THINGS BECAUSE I
THINK THOSE WILL BE INCREDIBLY
INFORMATIVE FOR THE REST OF WHAT
THIS CONVERSATION AND FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR
DEPARTMENT ARE GONNA BE, UM, AND
WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERATOR
AND HANDLING FEE, WHICH IS THE
ITEM HERE, UH, I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS A PLACE
WHERE WE'RE LEARNING A LOT. MORE
UH, BRIAN, MY COLLEAGUE WILL
SPEAK MORE TO THAT, AND I JUST
WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING US FEEDBACK AND HAVE
BEEN ACTIVE PARTNERS IN HELPING
US. UM UH, APPLY THIS, UM, THIS
FEE. SO UH, WITH THAT I WILL
TURN OVER TO BRIAN BROWN BEFORE
YOU TURN IT OVER. I JUST PUT YOU
HIGHLIGHT. UM I'M I'M
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN IF
YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHTS AS YOU DO
YOUR PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO
THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THE
GENERATING OF REVENUE AND THE
SELF REPORTING, UH, ASPECT OF
THAT AND WHETHER THAT IS
AFFECTING, UH, THE ACTUAL
CHARGES THAT WE'RE COLLECTING
RELATIVE TO WHAT WE SHOULD BE
COLLECTING. THANK YOU. YES UH,
GOOD MORNING AGAIN. UH, MY NAME
IS BRIAN BROWN. I'M THE CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR Dð. Tð. S¼
èC. UM YEAH. SO THE ISSUE FOUR
ON YOUR AGENDA IS AN UPDATE ON
THE HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTROL
ACCOUNT AND SPECIFICALLY THE
SHORTFALL CAUSED BY THE LOWER
REVENUES COMING IN FROM THE
GENERATION AND HANDLING FEE. UM
SINCE THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL
ITEM, I THOUGHT I'D JUST GIVE
KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND AND THEN DESCRIBE
KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE
WE'RE WHERE WE'RE GOING ON THIS
TOPIC. UM, SO, AS MR SER NOTED
IN 2021, 158 WAS APPROVED BY THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
WITH THE OVERALL GOVERNANCE AND
FISCAL REFORM BILL FOR Dð Tð S¼
èC, SO THEY DID A NUMBER OF
THINGS LIKE CREATING THE BOARD
OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND ALSO
AMENDED A NUMBER OF OUR CORE
FEES. UM, AMONG THESE, UH, FEE
RELATED CHANGES. IT CREATED THE
GENERATION AND HANDLING FEE. SO
THIS IS A BRAND NEW FEE. UH,
UNDER SB 158, AND THE WAY IT'S
ESTABLISHED IS IT'S A FLAT RATE,
UH PER TON OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
GENERATED. IT'S CURRENTLY AT
$49.25. THAT'S WHAT WAS
ESTABLISHED IN ONE S¼ B 158, AND
THEN IT'S ALLOWED TO BE ADJUSTED
ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY. UM THE FEE
WAS CREATED INSTRUCTION THE WAY
IT WAS FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
ONE REASONS. ONE IT WAS THE
SIMPLIFY THE OVERALL STRUCTURE.
PREVIOUSLY WE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT
FEEDS THAT FED INTO THE HÌ W èC
. THOSE WERE CONSOLIDATED AND
REPLACE OR ELIMINATED AND
REPLACED WITH A SINGLE FEE.
PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THOUGH, THE FEE WAS DESIGNED TO
GENERATE MORE REVENUE FOR THE HÌ
W èC THOSE OLD 4 FT ALL
GENERATED AROUND $40 MILLION A
YEAR. THE INTENTION WAS THE NEW
GENERATION. HANDLING FEE WAS
GONNA, UH CREATE, UH, ABOUT
TWICE THAT AMOUNT. 81 MILLION
WAS THE ESTIMATE FOR LAST YEAR.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IT WAS BOTH MEANT TO, UH, RE TO
ELIMINATE GENERAL FUND BACKFILL
THAT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO KEEP
THE FUNDS SOLVENT PRIOR TO
REFORM. AND IT WAS MEANT TO
INCREASE OUR OVERALL
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY, UH, TO
MEET OUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
AND THE MISSION TO PROVIDE, UH,
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT OF IN THE
SAFE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS
WASTE IN THE STATE. AND THEN
LASTLY, THE STRUCTURE ITSELF BY
HAVING THAT FLAT RATE PER TON
THAT WAS REALLY DONE TO BE A
MORE EQUITABLE WAY TO DISTRIBUTE
THOSE OVERSIGHT MANAGEMENT COST
ACROSS THE GENERATOR COMMUNITY.
THE MOST ANALOGOUS AND THE
LARGEST OF THE PREVIOUS FEES WAS
THE GENERATOR FEE, BUT IT WAS
STRUCTURED SUCH THAT IT WAS
TIERED AND THEN CAPPED AT
$100,000, EVEN FOR THE LARGEST
GENERATOR, SO THAT HAD THE
EFFECT OF FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL
GENERATOR. THEY EFFECTIVE RATE
PER TON. CAN QUÊ VARY QUITE A
BIT ANYWHERE FROM $100 PER TON
OF DEPENDING WHERE THEY'VE SAT
IN ONE OF THOSE TIERS TO LESS
THAN $5 PER TON, SO BY HAVING
THIS FLAT RATE AND INSURE BETTER
INSURERS THAT GENERATOR PAIN IN
AN AMOUNT THAT IS MORE
CONSISTENT WITH THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL
WASTE STREAM. SO WITH THAT
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND KIND OF
, UH, THE PROBLEM STATEMENT IS
WHAT LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST
YEAR OF THIS NEW FEE AND WE
IDENTIFIED AS THE YEAR WENT
ALONG THAT IT WAS GENERATING
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS REVENUE THAN
WHAT HAD BEEN PROJECTED. UM SO
IN FACT IT GENERATED UH, I THINK
OUR ESTIMATES 40 THREE MILLION
DOLLARS PER YEAR SO REALLY MUCH
CLOSER TO THOSE OLD FEES. UH THE
TOTAL REVENUE FROM THE OLD FEES
AND WHAT HAD BEEN INTENDED IN
FEE REFORM. SO UM, THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR,
UH, APPROVED $55 MILLION IN
LOANS TO KEEP A SOLVENT FOR, UH,
TO BALANCE THE BOOK FOR LAST
YEAR AND KEEP IT SOLVENT FOR
THIS YEAR, AND WE DON'T REALLY
HAVE FIRM NUMBERS YET ON WHAT
OUR REVENUES ARE GONNA BE IN THE
CURRENT YEAR. THOSE UH, FINAL
FEE PAYMENTS WERE DUE TO OUR
COLLECTION AGENCY. UH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE
ADMINISTRATION. THOSE WERE DUE
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SO
WE'RE STILL WAITING TO GET THE
NUMBERS IN. BUT WE'RE
ANTICIPATING BASED ON THE
PREPAYMENTS THAT THE LEVEL OF
REVENUE WILL BE PROBABLY MORE.
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE GOT LAST
YEAR THAN WHAT HAD BEEN, UH, YOU
KNOW, ORIGINALLY HOPED FOR UM
AND SO WHAT? THAT REALLY MEANS,
OF COURSE, IS WE IDENTIFY THAT
THIS IS A STRUCTURAL, ONGOING
PROBLEM THAT WE NEED THAT WE
NEED TO ADDRESS. SO THERE HAVE
BEEN SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS FISCAL YEAR ALREADY TO TRY
TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL
MANAGEMENT AND THE RETURNS THAT
WE'RE WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE. UM
PART OF IT IS WE'VE BEEN DOING
THE ANALYSIS OF PRIOR YEAR DATA
LOOKING BOTH AT OUR DATA ON
MANIFESTED WASTE AS WELL AS CD
TFA DATA ON FEE PAYMENT, TRYING
TO RECONCILE THOSE DIFFERENT
DATA SETS TO IDENTIFY. WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO
THE SHORTFALL AND SOME OF THE
THING THAT WE IDENTIFIED
PRELIMINARILY LAST YEAR, I THINK
ARE BEARING OUT AS WE'VE DONE
MORE MORE ANALYSIS. SO FOR
EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A
SUBSET OF GENERATORS THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN IN COMPLIANCE. THEY
HAVE NOT PAID THEIR FEE OR NOT
PAID ON TIME. UM WE ALSO KNOW
THAT THERE, UM, FROM WHAT WE CAN
SEE THERE, THERE ARE A HANDFUL
THERE ARE ABOUT 10 EXEMPTIONS
AND EXCLUSIONS THAT ARE IN
STATUTE. THOSE APPEAR TO BE, UM,
UTILIZED QUITE A BIT AND
SOMETIMES NOT VERY CONSISTENTLY,
SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT SOME
OF THOSE ISSUES MORE CLOSELY,
BUT WE DO THAT? UM, WE DO HAVE
ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE
DATA CHALLENGES. SO UM, WHAT WE,
UH THE DATA THAT WE RELY ON IS
NOT REALLY MEANT FOR THIS KIND
OF ANALYSIS, AND SO, UM SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE èC Dð Tð FA DATA
SET AND THE Dð Tð S¼ èC
MANIFEST DATA AREN'T MEANT TO
KIND OF TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD IN SOME
IMPROVEMENTS SO THAT THE WE CAN
DO THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS IN
COMPARISON OF, UM, GENERATION
AND, UH, FEE PAYMENT SO THAT
GOING FORWARD. WE CAN DO MORE
AND BETTER OVERSIGHT. AND WITH
OUR èC Dð Tð FA PARTNERS, UM
IT'S ALSO SOME OF THE DATA IS
INCOMPLETE. IT UH IT DOESN'T
INCLUDE UNMAN THE DATA, FOR
EXAMPLE, OR UNMAN WASTE. UM IT
ALSO DOESN'T INCLUDE REPORTING
HISTORICALLY ON, UH, WHETHER A
GENERATOR THINKS THEY APPLY.
WHAT WHAT THEIR WASTE APPLIES
FOR, UM, AN EXEMPTION OR NOT. SO
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH èC Dð
Tð FA TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS
IN THOSE AREAS, AND WE'VE ALSO
BEEN DOING MORE OUTREACH. SO,
UH, RECOGNIZING TO THE NEW FEE,
NEW STRUCTURE AND WE HAVE
THOUSANDS OF GENERATORS ACROSS
THE STATE FROM DIFFERENT
INDUSTRIES. AND WITH DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF, UM YOU KNOW,
FAMILIARITY WITH WHAT HAPPENS AT
THE STATE LEVEL, SO WE'RE, UM
WE'VE DONE MORE COMMUNICATION,
DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS TO ALL THE
REGISTERED, UH, FEE PAYERS AND
GENERATORS. UH WE'VE UPDATED OUR
WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
INFORMATION WE PUT OUT IS
CONSISTENT WITH èC Dð Tð FA AND
WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER WEBCAST IN
JANUARY BEFORE THE FINAL
PAYMENTS WERE DUE. THAT WAS
ATTENDED BY ABOUT 3000 DIFFERENT
PARTICIPANTS. UM SO WITH THAT,
GIVEN, UM THAT WE DO THINK THIS
IS AN ONGOING SHORTFALL, WE DO
ANTICIPATE HAVING A PROPOSAL IN
THE MAY REVISION THAT IDENTIFIES
SOME SOLUTIONS FOR GOING
FORWARD. UM, GIVEN THAT STILL
UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW, I
CAN'T UH, THERE WOULD BE
PREMATURE TO SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT
THAT. BUT I, I DO THINK IT'S
HELPFUL, PERHAPS TO JUST NOTE
THAT FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S
PERSPECTIVE, WE DO THINK THAT,
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO
STAY CONSISTENT WITH THE
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM IN B 158. OBVIOUSLY IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FUND THAT IS
IN BALANCE, GOING FORWARD, UM
AND PROVIDE THE REVENUE
NECESSARY TO DELIVER OUR MISSION
FOR THE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE
AND ENVIRONMENT OF CALIFORNIA,
AND ALSO TO MAINTAIN THAT
PRINCIPLE OF FEE PAYER EQU. SO
THAT WE HAVE, UM, GENERATOR
COMMUNITY THAT WE NÓ SINGLE
GENERATOR OR GROUP OF GENERATORS
. UM YOU KNOW, AREN'T ABLE TO
BEAR THEIR KIND OF FAIR SHARE OF
THOSE THOSE OVERSIGHT COSTS. UM,
SO WITH THAT, UM WE'RE COMMITTED
TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE WITH STAKEHOLDERS
WITH THE BOARD TO IDENTIFY
SOLUTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT
WE CAN MAKE. BEFORE WE GO TO L A
Ó, COULD YOU DEFINED FOR ME A
LITTLE BIT BETTER THE TERM YOU
JUST USED GENERATOR EQUITY. YEAH
SO, UM, SO AS I WAS DESCRIBING
EARLIER, UM, THE PART OF THE
INTENTION AND IN CREATING THAT
FLAT TON, UH, RATE PER TON, UH,
IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE
GENERATORS THAT PRODUCE A LARGER
AMOUNT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE OR
BEARING CONE OF PROPORTIONAL
SHARE OF THE OVER OVER OVERALL
OVERSIGHT COST AT THE DEPARTMENT
FACED AND SO WE THINK THAT'S
SORT OF AN IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLE VERSUS GOING BACK TO
THE OLD TIERED SYSTEM. TIERED
AND CAP SYSTEM THAT, UM, UH,
RESULTED IN A MUCH WIDER
DISCREPANCY IN THE EFFECTIVE
COST PER TON. THANK YOU. A UM,
WHEN IT COMES TO THIS DISCUSSION
ITEM, WE RECOMMEND THE
LEGISLATURE USE THE SPRING
BUDGET PROCESS TO WEIGH ITS
OPTIONS IN ADDRESSING THE
SHORTFALLS WITH HÌ W èC EITHER
ON A ONE TIME OR ONGOING BASIS.
UH, THIS WOULD PUT THE
LEGISLATURE IN A BETTER, BETTER
POSITION TO WEIGH THE MERITS OF
THE GOVERNOR'S FORTHCOMING MAY
REVISION PROPOSAL AND WOULD
PROVIDE THE LEGISLATURE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE PROPOSAL TO ALIGN WITH
ITS OVERALL PRIORITIES GOING
FORWARD. THANK YOU, UM THIS WAS
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR
US TO GET RIGHT THIS SPRING. AND
SO, UH, MY COMMENTS ARE
PARTIALLY DIRECTED TO OUR STAFF
THAT THIS IS ONE. WE REALLY
WANNA ROLL OUR SLEEVES UP ON AND
MAKE SURE WE'RE PREPARED AS THE
ADMINISTRATION COMES FORWARD
WITH THEIR THEIR SOLUTION. UM,
BUT FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT THAT WE
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO FROM
THE GOVERNMENT SIDE OF THIS IS
TO TRY TO MATCH WHEREVER
POSSIBLE MATCH THE GENERATOR OF
THE EXPENSE WITH THE REVENUE
THAT NEEDS TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM
, SO IF PEOPLE ARE ARE
BENEFITING FROM DOING ANYTHING,
UM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC,
THEN THE EITHER THE PUBLIC WHO
CONSUMES THE PRODUCT OR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE BENEFITING AND
PROFITING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE REVENUE STREAM
MATCHES UH, THE EXPENSES THAT
THEY ARE THAT THEY ARE CREATING
FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, WE JUST IN
OUR LAST ISSUE ITEM JUST WENT
THROUGH THE SAME THING YOU KNOW,
WITH THE MIL FEE. AND WHAT
SHOULD THE MILKY BE, UH, TO TRY
TO SUPPORT THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE?
IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT HERE
WITH THIS HAZARDOUS WASTE SO
THAT THE COMBINATION OF THE
GENERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
MYSELF AS A CONSUMER OF HOW
HAZARDOUS WASTE. I WANT TO USE
HAZARDOUS WASTE PRODUCTS. I HAVE
TO MAKE SURE I'M PAYING, YOU
KNOW FOR THE, UH, THE DAMAGE
PENALTIES. SO THE PENALTY FOR
LATE AND NON PAYMENT IS 10% OF
THE AMOUNT FEE OF FEED OF FEE
OWED, UM, PLUS INTEREST, AND
THAT CAN BE, UM, AGAIN THAT CAN
BE ASSESSED EITHER. IF THEY ONCE
THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THAT SOMEONE
HAS NOT PAID WHAT THEY'VE OWED
IF THEY MADE THAT DETERMINATION,
OR IF THEY IF THEY PAY LATE SO
THERE'S A 10% PENALTY IF YOU
UNDER GROSSLY UNDER REPORT, THE
WORST THAT HAPPENS IS A 10%
PENALTY. ARE YOU CONSIDERING?
MODIFYING THOSE THOSE PENALTY
FEES AND YOUR SPRING.
MODIFICATIONS SO I THINK WE'RE
LOOKING AT ALL KIND OF FACETS OF
THE COLLECTION PROCESS. UM I
WILL NOTE THAT THAT PARTICULAR
PROVISION IS I UNDERSTAND
CORRECTLY IN STATUTE RIGHT NOW.
UM IT IT IT IT IT STRIKES ME AS
A FAIRLY LOW PENALTY FOR IF YOU
CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, UM UH,
KIND OF KIND OF CHARGE OUT THERE
AND AGAIN. WE, UH GOING BACK TO
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER'S COMMENTS.
WE WANT TO TRY TO HAVE THE TRUE
GENERATORS, MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE PAYING BEFORE WE RAISE
THE RATES TO EVERYBODY ELSE. SO,
UH, THAT THOSE PENALTIES ARE
PARTICULARLY WITH WITH SOMETHING
AS SERIOUS AS AS AS HAZARDOUS
WASTE IF YOU'RE, UH IF YOU'RE ON
A SELF REPORTING, UH, SET UP,
AND THAT'S THE OTHER THAT THE
OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS
THERE CAN WE COME UP WITH A
BETTER SYSTEM THAN A SELF
REPORTING SYSTEM, OR AT LEAST A
SYSTEM THAT HAS MUCH MORE
STRUCTURAL AUDITING SO THAT THE
SENSE OF COMPLIANCE THAT THAT
THAT COMPLYING COMPLYING
PROPERLY IS THE WISER BUSINESS
DECISION THAN TO, UH GO. HEY YOU
KNOW WHAT'S THE WORST THAT CAN
HAPPEN? WE PAY 10% MORE, BUT
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, UH A SERIOUS
ENOUGH. PROBLEM. UM, SO HOW
ABOUT, UM UH, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE REASONS
THAT WE I GUESS WE LOOK FORWARD
TO MORE OF THOSE REASONS. BUT
ANYTHING YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE
BIGGEST REASON WHY YOU THINK
FEES CAME IN LOWER THAN YOU
ESTIMATED. SO I THINK LARGELY
WHAT I SPOKE TO ALREADY AND KIND
OF WE HAD IDENTIFIED
PRELIMINARILY LAST YEAR IS THAT
THOSE THOSE NON COMPLIANCE AND
NON AND LATE PAYMENT AND THEN
THE KIND OF BROAD USE OF
EXEMPTIONS ON THOSE I THINK ARE
VALIDATED IT. WE'VE DONE A
COUPLE ADDITIONAL YEARS OF DATA
RECONCILIATION. UM, THAT SEEMS
TO VALIDATE THAT THOSE ARE KIND
OF KEY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS PLY.
WHERE ARE WE ON THE $40 MILLION
LOAN. THIS UH YOU'RE REFERRING
TO THE $40 MILLION FROM B èC RF
I MAYBE I'LL DEFER TO FINANCE ON
THIS ONE. SO THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET DOESN'T PROPOSE TO
SPECIFICALLY REPAY THAT IN THE
BUDGET YEAR, HOWEVER, IT IS
PLANNED TO BE REPAID. I BELIEVE
IN BUDGET YEAR PLUS ONE, WHICH
IS 2526. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
UM AND, UM I THINK THAT'S IT IN
TERMS OF MY QUESTIONS. ANYTHING
ELSE? ALL RIGHT, ISSUE FIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CRYSTAL SHO. I'M
ACTING DIRECTOR OF Kò CYCLE AND
I'M JOINED, UM TODAY WITH MY
CHIEF, UM, DIRECTOR, UH, MINDY
MCINTYRE. UM, I JUST WANT TO
START OFF BY HIGHLIGHTING SOME
OF THE WORK ON 1013 AS IT'S VERY
RELEVANT TO THE PROPOSAL AND
THEN KIND OF DIVE INTO THE
SPECIFIC B èC P. THAT'S UM, ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. UM SUPER
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE
KICKED OFF OUR FORMAL RULEMAKING
PROCESS FOR THE DEALER
REGISTRATION AND, UM, THE DEALER
REGISTRATION AND DEALER COOPER.
REGULATIONS I'M JUST ON FRIDAY.
UM AND SO THESE REGULATIONS
ESTABLISH OR REGISTRATION
PROCESS FOR BEVERAGE DEALERS AND
ESTABLISH A PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
FRAMEWORK FOR DEALERS TO FORM
DEALER COOPERATIVE'S, UM IN
UNSERVED CONVENIENCE ZONES TO
COLLECT BACK FROM CONSUMERS AND
THE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD
INTO THEIR LOCAL MARKETS. UM
WE'RE ALSO WORKING VERY
DILIGENTLY TO STAND UP SEVERAL
NEW GRANT PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED
WITH, UM BOTH S¼ B 1013, AS WELL
AS A B 179, WHICH INCLUDED
SEVERAL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE, UM
, KIND OF COUCHED WITHIN THE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE, AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE
ARE ON TRACK TO ENCUMBER MOST,
IF NOT ALL OF THOSE FUNDS IN THE
NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. UM AND OVER
THIS YEAR, UM I WANNA
SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT. UM ONE
GREAT SOLICITATION THAT IS OPEN
RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S 40 MILLION
IN THE RECYCLING INNOVATION
GRANTS. UM WE ANTICIPATE, UM
RELEASING, SO THAT'S OPEN. I
THINK WE'RE, UM OPEN THROUGH
APRIL, UM AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT
30. 5 MILLION, THEN THAT'S
REMAINING FROM THAT POT OF
FUNDING THAT WE ANTICIPATE IN
EARLY 2015 OR 2025 THAT WE WOULD
REALLY RELEASE AND THAT'S TO
ALLOW TIME FOR THE 1013
REGULATIONS TO GO THROUGH
PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
STILL HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE
ONCE THE DEALER COOPERATES, UM
ARE IN PLACE AND THEY'VE HAD TO
TIME TO DEVELOP THEIR REQUIRED
PLANS ON CONSUMER REDEMPTION
OPPORTUNITIES. SO WITH THAT
LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, AND THAT
BRINGS US TO THE BUDGET REQUEST
THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY. UM I
THINK AS IMPORTANT CONTEXT, OUR
STAFF CURRENTLY OVERSEAS OVER
950 GRANTS, UM, AWARDED UNDER 26
DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS
AMOUNTING TO OVER 255 MILLION
HOWEVER, WITH JUST THE NEW
GRANTS THAT ARE COMING IN UNDER
S¼, B 1013 AND A B 179 ALONE. WE
ARE ABOUT DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF
GRANTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS
OVERSEEING, UM AND RESPONSIBLE
FOR MOVING OUT INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES. UM AND SO BETWEEN
THOSE TWO WE'RE ADDING ABOUT 220
MILLION SO AGAIN ABOUT DOUBLE SO
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN EXCITING
LEVEL, UM, OF INVESTMENT IN SOME
REALLY CRITICAL PROGRAMS. UM BUT
IT'S ALSO AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT
OF WORKLOAD, UM, TO DEVELOP
GRANT CRITERIA APPLICATIONS.
SOLICITATIONS AND GRANT AWARDS,
UM, PROVIDING TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT COMPONENT. OBVIOUSLY
IN SEEING THESE, UM THESE GRANTS
BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITIES
AND ALSO IMPLEMENTING AND
OVERSEEING THE GRANT PROGRAMS
AND SO GIVEN OUR, UH SHARED, I
THINK HIGH PRIORITY AND
ACCELERATING, AWARDING AND
IMPLEMENTING THESE, UM ESSENTIAL
PROGRAMS. THE B èC P ON THE
AGENDA TODAY WERE REQUESTING SIX
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND THE
COST OF THOSE POSITIONS WOULD BE
ABSORBED WITHIN EXISTING VERSUS
BOTH FROM B èC RF, AND ALSO
THERE WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
ALLOWANCE, INCLUDING AN A B 179.
SO THIS IS FOR POSITION
AUTHORITY. ONLY SO WITH THAT I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
GREAT. UM APPRECIATE PROGRAM IS
IMPORTANT, AND PARTICULARLY
TRYING TO GET THIS INDUSTRY SORT
OF OFF THE GROUND AND STRUCTURED
PROPERLY AND GET A PROPER
INCENTIVES. AND ALL OF THAT, UM,
CAN YOU TELL ME, UM, ABOUT THE
COMMINGLED RATE, AND, UM, YOUR
UH, DESIRE TO WAIT A YEAR. UH
BEFORE YOU START TO DO
REIMBURSEMENTS IN TERMS OF THAT,
WHAT'S THEIR RATIONALE FOR
CALORIE CYCLE? YEAH ABSOLUTELY.
SO EVERY YEAR, A COW RECYCLE
ENGAGES IN A RATE DETERMINING TO
THE DETERMINATION STUDY. UM AND
THAT IS TO SET RATES FOR
RECYCLING CENTERS, COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS AND OUR VARIOUS KIND OF
COLLECTION PROGRAMS. THE STUDY,
HOWEVER, TAKES APPROXIMATELY A
YEAR. UM, AND PART OF THAT IS
BECAUSE AS PART OF DETERMINING
WHETHER WE'RE RECALCULATING THE
KING GO RIGHT? UM, IN ADDITION
TO, UM, ENGAGING WITH EACH OF
THOSE DIFFERENT KIND OF
COLLECTION TYPES, THE SURVEY IS
ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
LOCATION AND, UM, SEASONALITY
AND PROGRAM SIZE AND ULTIMATELY,
UM, LOOKING AT, UM THE
PROPORTIONS OF èC R VÆ
CONTAINERS TO NON èC R VÆ
CONTAINERS, SO THE PURPOSE OF
THAT KIND OF TIMELINE IS TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM ACCURATE
INFORMATION ABOUT CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR. AND SO, UM, IN IN
DECEMBER, WE SORT OF LOOKED AT,
UM HEAD INTO OUR NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE WE USE THE PRIOR 12
MONTHS TO MAKE THAT
DETERMINATION, AND THERE'S A
COUPLE UM, FACTORS THAT ARE
INFLUENCING OUR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE AN ACCURATE COM GOLD
RATE. AND UM 1013, AS WE JUST
DISCUSSED IS ONE OF THOSE
FACTORS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A BIG
CHANGE TO THE PROGRAM TO BE
BRINGING WINE AND DISTILLED
SPIRITS INTO IT. AND AT THIS
POINT WE DON'T HAVE A YEAR'S
WORTH OF INFORMATION OR ANYWHERE
CLOSE TO A YEAR'S INFORMATION ON
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR, I THINK ALSO, UM S¼ B
THREE 53, WHICH ADDED, UM, WITH,
UH, WHICH ADDED THE, UM LARGE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES ALSO,
UM, AGAIN, THAT'S NEW
LEGISLATION WE DON'T HAVE. WE
HAVEN'T HAD TIME AT THIS POINT
TO EVALUATE, UM OVER KIND OF THE
STUDY PERIOD. AND SO WE DON'T
HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION AGAIN
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT
UPDATING THE KING GOLD RATE, SO
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF
COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION AND
WE FULLY INTEND ON CONTINUING
THAT EVALUATION AND ULTIMATELY
UPDATING THE RATE. UM IN EARLY
2025. SO UPDATING RATES IN EARLY
2025 ARE PEOPLE RECEIVING
PAYMENTS BASED ON THE OLD RATES
AT THIS POINT IN TIME? CORRECT
SO THE COMMINGLED RATE WAS LAST
RECALCULATED IN JULY 2020 THREE.
SO UM, WE STILL HAVE PAYMENTS
THAT ARE GOING OUT BASED OFF OF
KIND OF THE RATES THAT ARE IN
PLACE, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T BE
RECALCULATED UNTIL WE'RE ABLE
TO, UM, PROVIDE, UM ACCURATE
INFORMATION TO ENSURE THE
INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM. AND
THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UH
YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT SPOT THAN
OTHERS AND THAT YOU DO HAVE THIS
. I IMPROVED REVENUE STREAM AND
STUFF. BUT WHAT? WHAT'S THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR CALVARY
CYCLE RIGHT NOW? AND I
APPRECIATE THAT. YOU'RE IN THE
ACTING POSITION AND SO NEW IN
THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE, BUT, UH,
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR
CALORIE CYCLE FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE? PARTICULARLY WITH
THIS OR JUST IN GENERAL GENERAL
CYCLE. YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, I UH
AND I, MY CHIEF DEPUTY IS BUILT,
UH, CAN FEEL FREE TO ADD
ANYTHING. I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING NEW
LEGISLATION. UM THAT'S PASSED,
UM, RECENTLY SO WITH S¼ B 54
WITH SV 1013. AND SO THAT'S
REALLY EXCITING. I THINK, UM
IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY
AND A GREAT POINT IN TIME AT
CYCLE WHERE WE'RE REALLY MOVING
THE BALL FORWARD ON REACHING OUR
BALLS AND MOVEMENT TOWARDS
CIRCULAR ECONOMY, BUT IT ALSO
MEANS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
WORKLOAD. THERE'S A LOT OF, UM,
UM YOU KNOW, THIS IS SORT OF
UNPRECEDENTED IN A LOT, AND YOU
KNOW FOR A LOT OF THIS
LEGISLATION, AND SO WE'RE REALLY
AT THE FOREFRONT OF TRYING TO
WORK THROUGH, UM WHAT SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE AND
BROADLY EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSE. EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS. UM I
THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF
KNOWLEDGE. UM, AT THE DEPARTMENT
THAT PUTS US IN A GOOD POSITION
TO BE MOVING FORWARD AND BE THE
LEADERS NOT JUST IN BUT
NATIONWIDE ON THIS, BUT
OBVIOUSLY THAT POSES A LOT OF
CHALLENGES. UM YOU KNOW THAT WE
HAVE TO WORK THROUGH AND SO I
THINK. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A
REALLY GOOD SYSTEM SET UP WHERE
WE DO A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
AND A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR
STAKEHOLDERS AND COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, A LOT
OF THESE AREN'T GONNA BE
PERFECT. RIGHT UM, SINCE WE'RE
KIND OF LEADING THE WAY ON ON
ESTABLISHING THESE NEW PROGRAMS,
SO YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW THERE
ARE CHALLENGES, OF COURSE. AND I
THINK THAT JUST BROADLY, UM
THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT
WORKING THROUGH, BUT IT'S ALSO A
REALLY INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY
FOR US, LIKE I SAID, TO MOVE,
MOVE THE STATE FORWARD ON
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WITH THESE
TWO PROGRAMS WHAT WHAT'S THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON 1013 IN
PARTICULAR AND IN 179? BOTH OF
THEM. YEAH SO I AM ON 1013. I
WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM
THE LEGISLATION ITSELF IS VERY
AMBITIOUS, RIGHT? AND IT SETS
TIMELINES FOR US IN ORDER TO
MOVE FORWARD IN IMPLEMENTING THE
PROGRAM, HOWEVER, BECAUSE WE
ALSO HAVE AMBITIOUS TIMELINES.
AND THEN THERE'S THE REALITY OF
KIND OF THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE
TO GO THROUGH. SO IN SOME CASES,
THERE'S NOT, UH, YOU KNOW.
ALIGNMENT BETWEEN YOU KNOW
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN THE
LEGISLATION VERSUS OUR
REGULATORY PROCESS, WHICH HAS TO
GO THROUGH KIND OF THE FULL YEAR
CYCLE. SO THERE ARE, UM, CASES
WHERE THERE'S NOT. THEY'RE NOT
PERFECTLY ALIGNING THEM. I THINK
WE'RE SEEING THIS, FOR EXAMPLE,
ON LIKE LABELING REQUIREMENTS
FOR WINE IN PARTICULAR WHERE YOU
KNOW THERE'S A REQUIREMENT. THAT
COLLECTION IS HAPPENING, BUT WE
ALSO DON'T HAVE THE REGULATIONS
IN PLACE ON SOME OF THE LABELING
REQUIREMENTS, AND SO I THINK
THAT'S POSING CHALLENGES AND
CONFUSION, FRANKLY, FOR OUR
STAKEHOLDERS, AND IT'S SOMETHING
WE'RE DEFINITELY AWARE OF. AND I
THINK WE'RE TRYING BE NOT JUST
WITH THIS PROGRAM, BUT PROGRAMS
MORE GENERALLY TRYING TO BE
FLEXIBLE WHERE WE CAN KNOWING
THAT YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE
SOME HICCUPS AS WE'RE KIND OF
TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, IN
PROCESS. UM L A Ó. DID YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
THE PROPOSAL RAISED NÓ CONCERNS
FOR US. THE SIX POSITIONS SEEM
JUSTIFIED. YEAH I DO. I DO HAVE
A COUPLE QUESTIONS. UM, AND I
THINK I KIND OF WANT TO TAKE A
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A OF A
STEP BACK. SO, UM IF I
UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY, DID
YOU SAY YOU'RE MANAGING 96
DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS? UM
THERE ARE 26 DIFFERENT GRANT
PROGRAMS WITH 950 GRANTS. 900.
ALL RIGHT. I DID A LITTLE OK 950
GRANTS AND 26 GRANT PROGRAMS.
AND, UM WELL, I GUESS HOW HOW
ARE YOU EVALUATING? THE COST
EFFECTIVENESS OR THE COST
BENEFIT OF THESE 26 PROGRAMS AND
WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES DO
YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR THE
GRANTEES? YEAH, AND I MIGHT HAVE
, UH, MY CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR
WEIGH IN ON THIS, BUT I THINK
JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL, YOU KNOW
WELL, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL
OF THE ADDITIONAL GRANTS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN RIGHT
THROUGH 1013 AND THAT SORT OF
THING, BUT I THINK AS WE'RE
DEVELOPING CRITERIA, AND AS WE
HAVE DEVELOPED CRITERIA, IT KIND
OF GOES INTO THE PROGRAM. UM
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM
CRITERIA WE PUT IN KIND OF
MEASURES FOR, UM YOU KNOW
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
GRANTEES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SO WE CAN ENSURE
THAT, UM, THEY'RE MEETING THE
GOALS OF THE APPROPRIATION THAT
WAS PROVIDED, BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF, UM IF, YEAH, SO JUST TO ADD,
UH YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GRANTS
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. WE HAVE
VERY SMALL GRANTS WHERE WE'RE
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY COMPOST,
AND THEN WE HAVE VERY LARGE
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS WITHIN
THOSE 900, ET CETERA GRANTS, SO
EACH OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY IT
IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR
EACH OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT IT IS
WRITTEN INTO THE GRANTS AND OUR
GRANTS TEAM IS VERY GOOD AT
WORKING WITH OUR OUR GRANTEES,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF
COMMUNICATION THAT GOES BACK AND
FORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
HITTING NUMBERS ON EACH OF OUR
GRANTS SO WE CAN PROVIDE MORE
DETAIL. IF YOU HAVE DETAILED
QUESTIONS. YEAH, I WOULD BE
REALLY I WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW
WE'RE EVALUATING THAT, UM, I
THINK THIS POINT IS NOT RELEVANT
JUST FOR CALVARY CYCLE. I THINK
IT'S RELEVANT FOR SOME OF OUR
AGENCIES. MORE BROADLY, UM AS IN
ANY HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU HAVE
SOMETHING NEW THAT YOU WANNA DO.
YOU USUALLY DON'T JUST ADD IT ON
TO THE PILE OF STUFF YOU'RE
DOING. YOU'VE GOT TO STOP DOING
SOMETHING ELSE. AND UM, I, I
KNOW THAT SOMETIMES YOU'RE JUST
RESPONDING TO YOUR REQUEST FROM
THE LEGISLATURE AND STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS, BUT I THINK
PARTICULARLY IN THIS BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT. IT'S A REALLY,
REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US
ALL TO TAKE A STEP BACK. AND ASK
OF THOSE 26 GRANT PROGRAMS. ARE
THERE SOME THAT REALLY JUST
DON'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO
CONTINUE DOING LIKE, WHERE ARE
WE ACTUALLY SEEING A GOOD RETURN
ON INVESTMENT? AND WHERE ARE WE?
NOT? UM AND ARE THERE
OPPORTUNITIES THEREFORE, RATHER
THAN US, ADDING NEW STAFF TO
STAFF THESE PROGRAMS FOR US TO
DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE?
EFFICIENTLY WITH THE CURRENT
STAFF THAT YOU HAVE, UM SO
BECAUSE HOW MANY HOW MANY STAFF
MEMBERS ARE WORKING, UM ON LIKE
THE BOTTLE BELL TYPE PROGRAMS.
IT'S SEVERAL 100, RIGHT BEVERAGE
CONTAINER TOTAL. YES. YES WE CAN
GET THE EXACT NUMBER FOR YOU. I
BELIEVE IT'S 280. THAT SEEMS
LIKE A LOT. LIKE THAT SEEMS LIKE
A LOT OF PEOPLE. UM AND I KNOW
THAT THERE ARE SOME COMPARISONS
TO STAFFING LEVELS FOR VERY
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN OTHER
STATES AND COUNTRIES. WHERE LIKE
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN IN
VANCOUVER, I THINK THEY RUN
THEIR ENTIRE RECYCLING PROGRAM
WITH LIKE FOUR PEOPLE. SO WHILE
I KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHY YOU
NEED THESE NEW PEOPLE, I WOULD
REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGE YOU TO
TAKE A STEP BACK AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT ARE THOSE SEVERAL 100
PEOPLE DOING? AND HOW CAN WE
DEPLOY THAT THAT STAFF MORE
EFFECTIVELY TO MEET THE GOALS
THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKING TO ASK
TO MEET AND EQUALLY? WHERE ARE
THE THINGS WHERE STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
GIVEN TO YOU BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE LAST 20 YEARS, PERHAPS
NEED TO BE RECONSIDERED BECAUSE,
I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE ALL NEED TO
BE HAVING IN THIS BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT, NOT GOSH, WE JUST
HAVE TO KEEP DOING ALL THIS
STUFF. WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP
DOING ALL THIS STUFF. I WOULD
CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE A STEP
BACK AND FIGURE OUT. HOW DO YOU
DEPLOY THE RESOURCES THAT YOU
HAVE, UM MORE EFFICIENTLY? YEAH,
I. I APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE
THAT COMMENT. I WILL JUST SAY A
COUPLE OF THINGS AND I THINK
YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. I
THINK ONE WE DEFINITELY EVALUATE
AND SORT OF MAKE DETERMINATIONS
ABOUT WHETHER OUR GRANT PROGRAMS
ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHETHER THERE'S
INTEREST IN IT, WHETHER OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES, OUR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS ARE BENEFITING
FROM IT AND WHETHER THAT'S
REALLY KIND OF WHERE THEIR NEEDS
ARE AT. AND I THINK, UM, WE EVEN
THIS LAST YEAR, I THINK WE RE
REDIRECTED FUNDING FROM ONE OF
THE ONE OF THE PROGRAMS TO
ANOTHER. I THINK WE DID THAT FOR
A COUPLE OF THEM WHERE WE WERE.
THAT UM WE REALLY WEREN'T
GETTING KIND OF THE BANG FOR THE
BUCK AND THE INTEREST THAT WE,
UM THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO BE
GETTING FROM LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. AND SO WE
DEFINITELY MOVE THINGS AROUND
WHEN THERE'S FLEXIBILITY FOR US
TO DO THAT, I THINK ON THE
POSITION SIDE AND WITH THIS
PROPOSAL IN PARTICULAR, WE TOOK
A REALLY HARD LOOK BECAUSE I
AGREE WITH YOU, ESPECIALLY IN
THIS, UM, IN THIS BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA
BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE
PROPOSALS THAT WERE COMING TO
YOU WITH AND SO ONE. THAT'S YOU
KNOW, WE LOOKED FOR WAYS THAT WE
COULD COVER THE COSTS WITHIN
EXISTING RESOURCES. AND WE'RE
ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO I'M
HAPPY THAT WE'RE COMING FORWARD
WITH JUST A POSITION ONLY, UM,
AUTHORITY ONLY REQUEST, BUT ALSO
OUR NEED IS LARGER THAN THE SIX
POSITIONS. IT'S ACTUALLY 18
POSITIONS. AND SO WHAT WE DID IS
AN INTERNAL EVALUATION TO
DETERMINE WHERE DO WE HAVE
VACANCIES? WHERE CAN WE MOVE
PEOPLE AROUND SO THAT WE CAN
LIMIT UM, EXPANSION OF THE
PROGRAM WHEN WE CAN AND SO I
KNOW THAT DOESN'T FULLY ADDRESS
KIND OF YOUR COMMENTS, BUT
WANTED TO, UM, SHARE THAT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? YEAH,
NÓ. I. I APPRECIATE THAT AND
APPRECIATE THAT CONTEXT. UM, I
THINK I WOULD FIND IT SUPER
HELPFUL AS WE'RE CONSIDERING
THIS. I THINK TO HAVE KIND OF
TWO THINGS AND FOLLOW UP NUMBER
ONE IS AT THE LIST OF THE 26
GRANT PROGRAMS AND THE I GUESS
METRICS BY WHICH YOU'RE
EVALUATING KIND OF THE SUCCESS
OF THOSE AND, YOU KNOW, BRIEF
SUMMARY OF THAT, UM, AS WELL AS
JUST A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE YOU
KNOW, 200 PLUS OR, HOWEVER MANY
100 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON THE BOTTLE BILL
PROGRAM LIKE WHAT THEIR ROLES
ACTUALLY ARE, UM, SO BOTH OF
THOSE THINGS I THINK WOULD BE
REALLY HELPFUL. UM FOR ME, AS WE
CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL FOR
ADDITIONAL STAFFING. I FINANCE?
YEAH ASSEMBLY MEMBER. I ALSO
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UM,
LAST YEAR, THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE LEGISLATURE ALSO KIND OF
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CHALLENGE
AT CALVER CYCLES POSED WITH IN
TERMS OF THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN JUST
RECENTLY ENACTED AND IMPACTING
THE DEPARTMENT. AND REALLY, WE
PURSUED A PROPOSAL AND ACTUALLY
FUNDED A PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP
KIND OF A ZERO WASTE PLAN ON
STATE ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL. UM,
THAT'S REALLY GONNA KIND OF HELP
GUIDE THE DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF
LOOKING AT THE REGULATORY
FRAMEWORKS THAT THEY'RE DEALING
WITH. IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS
ADDITIONAL NEW CHAPTER
LEGISLATION THAT THEY'RE HAVING
TO IMPLEMENT. AND SO REALLY,
THAT PLAN IS GONNA KIND OF HELP
GUIDE THE DEPARTMENT FORWARD AND
KIND OF A KIND OF HIGHER LEVEL.
AND SO THAT WAS JUST SOME
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT I WANTED TO,
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I
ALSO I RECOGNIZE, LIKE THIS HAS
TO BE A TWO WAY CONVERSATION
BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT OFTEN
TIMES THE REASON THAT YOU'RE
HAVING TO STUFF UP. THE REASON
THAT COSTS ARE GROWING ARE
BECAUSE OF BILLS THAT WERE
PASSING IN THE LEGISLATURE. AND
SO I THINK, PARTICULARLY IN THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, WE'VE GOT TO BE
REALLY FRANK AND HONEST WITH ONE
ANOTHER. UM AND MAKE SOME SOME
HARD CHOICES ABOUT THINGS THAT
WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO
MOVING FORWARD. UM, SO YOU KNOW,
BOTH FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR
THE OTHERS THAT ARE GONNA COME
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE. UM, II. I
REALLY WELCOME THAT. THAT TWO
WAY CONVERSATION. SO THANK YOU.
WE WOULD WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO
GET THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER? THE
INFORMATION THAT SHE JUST ASKED
FOR WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE 200 PEOPLE AND THE 26
GRANTS? I THINK SO. IT MIGHT
TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT,
UH, WE'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. WE'D
APPRECIATE THAT. I DO WANT TO
FURTHER THIS CONVERSATION BY BY
POINTING OUT ONE THING THAT, UH,
AS YOU BRING UP VANCOUVER UM AND
I THINK IT FITS EXACTLY WITH
WHAT YOU YOU YOU'RE YOU'RE
TRYING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT PART
OF WHY VANCOUVER CAN GET AWAY
WITH ONLY FOUR PEOPLE IN THEIR
PROGRAM IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A
VERY COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM. SO WHAT
YOU'RE NOT SEEING IS HOW MUCH
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE BEING
EMPLOYED BY THE PRODUCERS TO DO
THE THINGS SO THAT YOU ONLY NEED
TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE MANAGING IT
IN VANCOUVER. BUT THE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT IS, IF IT IS A PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY, THEN THE
PRODUCERS HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO
AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
MANAGE THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAM,
SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW
THEY'RE THEY'RE GONNA DO A COST
BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON EACH
EMPLOYEE THAT THEY BRING IN. BUT
YOU HAVE A DISCONNECT WHEN YOU
DON'T HAVE PRODUCERS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
RECYCLING THAT THEY IN OTHER
COUNTRIES SAY THEY SHOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEN WHEN YOU
TRY TO DO THAT, AT THE
GOVERNMENT LEVEL NOW YOU HAVE
THIS DISCONNECT BECAUSE YOU HAVE
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO SORT OF PICK
UP THE WASTE THAT WAS GENERATED
BY SOMEBODY ELSE AND TRYING TO
CREATE THE RIGHT INCENTIVES AND
YOU'RE LESS LIKELY AS SOON AS
YOU MAKE THAT DISCONNECT. YOU'RE
LESS LIKELY TO BE AS EFFICIENT
IN TERMS OF MANAGING THAT, AND
SO ONE OF THE THINGS FOR US TO
LOOK AT IN THE LONG RUN IS TO
EXPAND OUR PRODUCER RESPON SIDE
OF IT BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE MORE
EFFICIENT COLLECTION AND YOU SEE
THAT UP THERE, THEY'RE JUST
THEY'RE JUST MUCH MORE
EFFICIENT. UH, RATHER THAN
HAVING A NUMBER OF BUREAUCRATS
OUT THERE, SO I WELCOME THIS
CONTINUED. LOOK AT THIS. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE'RE
ON TO OUR LAST ISSUE, AND THAT'S
UH, ISSUE SIX AND THE BLYTHE
BORDER PATROL STATION
REPLACEMENT. THANKS. YEAH. GOOD
JOB. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD. WELCOME WELL, THANK
YOU. INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND HØI.
UH, MY NAME'S ARMA KINA. I'M
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. I'M DEPUTY
SECRETARY FOR FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU SO
MUCH CHAIR BENNETT AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL
RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION TO BLYTHE?
ABSOLUTELY IN TERMS OF SO èC Dð
FA IS REQUESTING A ONE TIME
INCREASE OF 90 APPROXIMATELY
$99.1 MILLION IN PUB, PUBLIC
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FUND OR
BOND FUNDS TO BEGIN THE
CONSTRUCTION PHASES IS THE FINAL
PHASE FOR THE BLITHE BORDER
PROTECTION STATION RELOCATION
PROJECT. SO THE EXISTING BLYTHE
BORDER PROTECTION STATION. IT'S
WHERE MY FAMILY'S FROM, SO I'VE
BEEN THROUGH THERE A FEW TIMES
AND IT WAS BUILT IN 1958. AND IT
WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO
ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 600,000
VEHICLES, WHICH IS, AS YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE INADEQUATE FOR MODERN
TRAFFIC LEVELS. SO IN 1959, ITS
FIRST FULL YEAR IN OPERATION,
THE TOTAL TRAFFIC SURPASSED THE
DIVINE CAPAS DESIGN CAPACITY AT
MORE THAN 747,000 VEHICLES IN
2021 TRAFFIC MEASURED AT MORE
THAN 4 MILLION VEHICLES, ALMOST
SEVEN TIMES THE TRAFFIC VOLUME
THE STATION WAS DESIGNED TO
ACCOMMODATE AND IF YOU'VE EVER
BEEN THROUGH THERE, IT'S RIGHT
ACROSS THE RIVER. SO THERE IS A
BRIDGE RIGHT THERE, SO IT'S A
SAFETY CONCERN TO HAVE TRAFFIC
BACKED UP IN THAT MANNER. SO A
NEW BORDER PROTECTION SE
DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE
CURRENT AND FUTURE TRAFFIC
VOLUMES IS ESSENTIAL TO
ACCOMPLISH THE PROGRAM'S MISSION
OF PROMOTING AND PROTECTING
CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURE THROUGH
THE EXCLUSION OF DESTRUCTIVE
AGRICULTURAL PESTS ENTERING THE
STATE BY A MAJOR ROADWAYS. THE
CONSTRUCTION FEES IS ANTICIPATED
TO BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER OF
2027. THANK YOU, UM THE $100
MILLION TO REPLACE THE STATION.
UM, JUST GIVE US THE MAJOR
REASONS WHY, AND IS THAT THE
TOTAL COST OR IS THAT THE
BEGINNING COST OR WHERE? WHAT
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S THE
CONSTRUCTION PHASE. SO èC Dð A
IS RECEIVED NINE POINT THREE
MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL FUND
FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND.
THAT'S JUST DOWN THE PROPERTY
THAT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN
2018 2019 $2.1 MILLION GENERAL
FUND FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS IN
2220 THREE AND 2.7 MILLION FOR
WORKING DRAWINGS IN 20, THREE 24
AND BASED ON THOSE WORKING
DRAWINGS THAT THAT'S WHAT THAT
99. $1 MILLION IS BASED ON TO BE
THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. THEN
WHAT WILL BE THE OTHER EXPENSES
AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE?
THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST PHASE OF
THE PROCESS. GOOD. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, L, A Ó. UM NÓ
CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSAL.
WE'VE BEEN TRACKING IT THROUGH
ITS DEVELOPMENT PHASE, AND WE
FIND THAT THE FUNDING FOR
CONSTRUCTION IS REASONABLE.
GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
HAVE NÓ, UH, OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS HERE AND SO WE
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK
WITH THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. AND
WE ARE DONE WITH OUR
PRESENTATION ITEMS WERE AT NON
PRESENTS ITEMS. WE HAVE NÓ
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE TO ASK
QUESTIONS ON THE NON ITEMS, AND
SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND, UH PLEASE. UH COME
UP, IDENTIFY YOURSELF, AND YOU
HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. YES. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR BENNETT. MY NAME IS MINNIE
FORMAN, AND I'M THE FOOD AND
FARMING PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE
ECOLOGY CENTER IN BERKELEY. I'M
HERE TODAY TO IN SUPPORT OF THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM, AS YOU ARE AWARE OF. IT
IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT
SERVES MORE THAN 500,000. CALI
CALIFORNIANS LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS WITH FRESH FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES. EVERY YEAR WE
DISTRIBUTE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM
ABOUT 38 MILLION SERVINGS OF
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, SO IT'S A
BIG IMPACT. BUT THIS CUT I WANNA
BE VERY CLEAR WOULD BE A KILLING
CUT. TO THE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH
THERE IS A LITTLE MONEY LEFT TO
KEEP THE CDFA STAFF THEY THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE A PROGRAM TO
ADMINISTER. SO THAT MEANS THAT
PROGRAMS LIKE THE CENTER, WHICH
IS A SUB SUB AWARDEE OF THE èC
Dð FA TO ADMINISTER THIS RUN
THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD NÓ LONGER
IT WOULD BE IRREPARABLE. SO IF
THIS IS NOT FUNDED, IT TRULY
MEANS, UH, KILLING CUT, SO I
JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
THAT. AND AGAIN, AS YOU KNOW,
THERE'S FEDERAL MASS DOLLARS
AVAILABLE, SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MR CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS, UH, MARK MURRAY WITH
THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP
CALIFORNIA'S AGAINST WASTE
REGARDING THE CAL RECYCLE BUDGET
AND ISSUE ITEM THAT YOU BROUGHT
UP. I GUESS THE FIRST POINT IS
TO STATE THE OBVIOUS THAT THIS
IS A 100% SELF FUNDED PROGRAM.
THERE ARE NÓ GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS THAT GO INTO FUNDING THE
BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
PROGRAM, AND IN FACT, THIS
PROGRAM HAS BEEN A CONTRIBUTOR
FOR GOOD OR ILL TO OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. SO WHAT
CAL RECYCLE DOES WITH THEIR
MONEY HAS ZERO IMPACT ON THE
GENERAL FUND. UM, WE THINK THE
STAFF OF CALVER CYCLE IS DOING A
PRETTY GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF
THEIR MISSION IN TERMS OF THE
BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
PROGRAM. UM BUT WE DO HAVE A
CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMINGLED
RATE. WHICH ISSUE WHICH YOU
RAISED, UM, CAL RECYCLE. DOES
SURVEYING OF CURBSIDE RECYCLING
PROGRAMS YEAR ROUND. THEY DON'T
HAVE TO DO A NEW SURVEY. THEY'RE
CONSTANTLY DOING SURVEYS OF
CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAMS.
THEY HAVE THE SURVEY OF THAT
THEY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE USED TO
ESTABLISH A NEW CO MINGLED RATE.
ON JANUARY 1ST. THEY COMPLETED
THE SURVEY, AND THEY CHOSE NOT
TO USE THAT SURVEY. THAT SURVEY
BREAKS DOWN THE NEW CONTAINERS
THAT WERE ADDED AS A RESULT OF
10,013. IT SHOWS PRECISELY HOW
MANY OF THOSE CONTAINERS ARE IN
THE ST IN IN THE CURBSIDE
RECYCLING STREAM, AND THEY ARE
CHOOSING NOT TO APPLY THAT
NUMBER. NOW THEY THEY HOPE THEY
BELIEVE THAT THAT NUMBER MAY
CHANGE OVER TIME. THEY CAN
CHANGE THAT NUMBER. ANY TIME
THEY WANT THE LEGISLATION
PROVIDES THEM WITH THE AUTHORITY
TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER AS
FREQUENTLY AS THEY WOULD LIKE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR. UM MICHAEL JARRE
ON BEHALF OF NEXT GEN.
CALIFORNIA AND OVER 100 AND 60
ORGANIZATIONS. WE URGENTLY
REQUEST THAT YOU REJECT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUT OF $33
MILLION TO THE CALIFORNIA
NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND
MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM. UM WE WISH
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD
APPLIED FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT WAS AVAILABLE, UH, THIS
YEAR? UM èC N IS A VERY
POWERFUL TOOL TO FIGHT FOOD
INSECURITY BY PROVIDING
INCENTIVES TO CALIFORNIA'S MOST
VULNERABLE LOW INCOME FAMILIES
TO PURCHASE LOCAL FRESH FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES. WE AS WELL AS
OUR PARTNERS AT THE CENTER FOR
EQUAL LITERACY, ALSO SUPPORT
PROTECTING THE FARM TO SCHOOL
PROGRAM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH
FISHER. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH
EARTH JUSTICE, SUPPLEMENTING MY
WRITTEN COMMENTS. WHY IS A
POLICY THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR FARM WORKER
FAMILIES TO SEEK REVIEW OF
PESTICIDE PERMITS PART OF A
BUDGET TRAILER BILL? SECTION 14
OF THE MILL FEE BILL WOULD
CHANGE EXISTING LAW BY NARROWING
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE
REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE MOST
DANGEROUS CATEGORY OF PESTICIDES
, INCLUDING TOXIC CANCER,
CAUSING FUMIGANTS THAT CAN DRIFT
WELL BEYOND ONE MILE FROM
APPLICATION SITES. THERE WOULD
BE NÓ RIGHT TO APPEAL PERMITTING
DECISIONS UNLESS SOMEONE HAS A
RESIDENCE, CROPS, PROPERTY OR
WATER SOURCE WITHIN HALF A MILE
FROM AN APPLICATION SITE,
THEREBY EXCLUDING FARM WORKERS,
TEACHERS, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND
RESIDENTS AFFECTED AT GREATER
DISTANCES. AS A BURDEN OF
PESTICIDES. PESTICIDE EXPOSURE
FALLS PREDOMINANTLY ON LATINO
FARM WORKER COMMUNITIES,
LIMITING THEIR VOICE IN
PESTICIDE PERMITTING MATTERS IS
SIMPLY WRONG. PLEASE REMOVE THE
DEFINITION OF DIRECTLY AFFECTED
FROM THE TRAILER BILL OR LYING
THROUGH DIRECTLY AFFECTED AND
REPLACE IT WITH INTERESTED
PERSON AND CONSIDER OUR WRITTEN
COMMENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD MORNING,
MR CHAIR, CHRISTOPHER FELLI ON
BEHALF OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION,
SPEAKING TO THE ITEM RELATIVE TO
Dð PR TODAY, UM, OUR INDUSTRY
INCLUDES MANUFACTURERS OF NON
AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES LIKE
DISINFECTANTS USED IN HOMES AND
SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS, PET CARE
PRODUCTS LIKE FLEA AND TICK
PRODUCTS AND LAWN AND GARDEN
CARE, THIS NON AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSE OF PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTES
ROUGHLY HALF OF THE TOTAL MILL
ASSESSMENT COLLECTED BY Dð PR
EACH YEAR. FIRST WE WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO OUR MEMBERS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION IS WELL RESOURCED SO
THEY CAN CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.
WE SUPPORT A WELL FUNCTIONING
DEPARTMENT, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE AS PART OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS OUR MEASURES PUT IN
PLACE TO IMPROVE THE
REGISTRATION PROCESS. WHERE TIME
FRAMES TO GET PRODUCT APPROVED
BY Dð PR HAVE CONTINUOUSLY
INCREASED, MAKING IT EXCEEDINGLY
DIFFICULT FOR OUR MEMBERS TO
PREDICT WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO DELIVER PRODUCTS TO
CONSUMERS. WOULD LIKE TO SEE
STATUTORY REGISTRATION
TIMELINES. WHICH IS SOMETHING
THAT IS DONE AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, UM
ALL PESTICIDES VERY MUCH YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HELLO
UH, MY NAME IS ASHA SHARMA,
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PESTICIDE
ACTION NETWORK ON ISSUE THREE,
FIRST WANTED TO ALIGN OURSELVES
WITH EARTH JUSTICES COMMENTS
THAT YOU JUST HEARD, UM WE ALSO
SUPPORT L A'S ASSESSMENT TO
INCLUDE FUNDING FOR A B 652, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE IN THE MIL PROPOSAL.
WE ALSO AGREE WITH L A Ó THAT
THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD REVIEW
THE SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD BE FUNDED
SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE FUNDS
SHOULD BE USED TO ESTABLISH A
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
GRANT PROGRAM AT èC Dð. TO GET
RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO FARMERS TO
ADOPT SAFER, SAFER PEST
MANAGEMENT. UM AND LASTLY, THE
LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED $1
MILLION TO FUND A STUDY ON THE
MILL FEE, WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT
IT BE INCREASED TO 30 THREE 0.9
MILS BY 2027 WHAT'S BEEN
RECOMMENDED BY Dð PR S¼ TO ONLY
INCREASE IT BY 28.6 MIL. SO WE
RECOMMEND THAT INSTEAD THE
INCREASE ALIGN WITH WHAT THE
THIRD PARTY STUDY RECOMMENDED.
UM, WE ALSO URGE YOU TO PLEASE
REJECT CUTS. ORGANIC TRANSITION.
THE CALIFORNIA NUTRITION
INCENTIVE PROGRAM FARM TO
COMMUNITY HUBS AND A èC PROGRAM
. I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR
ORGANIZATION COULD PESTICIDE
ACTION NETWORK. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MR CHAIR
LOUIS BROWN HERE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA GROCERS
ASSOCIATION SIMPLY, BUT WE'RE
ASKING YOU TO REJECT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO
LOAN 125 MILLION FROM THE
BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
FUND. YOU HEARD THE EXPANSION OF
THE BOTTLE BILL THAT'S OCCURRING
, UH, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF DEALER COOPERATIVE'S. WE SAW
THIS HAPPEN IN 2009. WHEN A LOAN
WAS MADE, THE ADMINISTRATION
DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE ANY
IMPACT ON THE OPERATIONAL
FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND
THAT RESULTED IN A PROPORTIONAL
REDUCTION TO THE FUND IMPACTING
ALL STAKE. UH, WITH THE
EXPANSION OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS,
WE NEED THIS FUND TO REMAIN
HEALTHY AND ASK FOR YOU TO
REJECT THAT PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
PROPORTIONAL GETTING TO
PROPORTIONAL REDUCTION ALSO, AND
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
MR CHAIR, TAYLOR ROSEN ON BEHALF
OF VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATIONS IN CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING CALIFORNIA, CITRUS
MUTUAL AND THE CALIFORNIA
STRAWBERRY COMMISSION. UM WE'D
LIKE TO SPEAK ON ISSUE THREE. AG
SUPPORTS A STRONG PROPERLY
RESOURCED Dð PR. UM BUT WE'D
LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DEPARTMENT
IS REQUESTING A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF NEW RESOURCES AND
STAFF WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY MEASURES WHICH
YOU'VE ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED. UH
TO THAT END, WE OBJECT TO THE
LEGISLATURE CEDING ITS AUTHORITY
TO DICTATE THE MILL MAXIMUM
ABOVE YEAR THREE TO Dð PR.
THOUGH THE MILL IS FLAT, IT IS
INDEXED TO DOLLAR SALES, SO THE
MILL RATE AT YEAR WILL PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL BUFFER RESOURCES
ABOVE WHAT THE P èC P PROJECTS
TO COVER A NEW LEGISLATIVE
MANDATES AND SOME OF THE
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES THAT YOU
NOTED IN YOUR COMMENTS. UH, WE
BELIEVE IF, AFTER A 30 YEAR 3%
30% INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET AND
STAFF, AS THEY'VE REQUESTED,
THEY SHOULD RETURN THE
LEGISLATURE DEMONSTRATE WHAT
THEY'VE DONE AND SUBSTANTIATE
THAT THEY NEED MORE.
ADDITIONALLY WE SUPPORT MANY OF
THE COMMENTS TODAY TO
INCORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TIMELINES INTO REGISTRATION.
YOUR QUESTION WAS INSTRUCTIVE,
MR CHAIR, UM THERE ARE NÓ
TIMELINES IMPOSED AND NÓ
CONSEQUENCES FOR DELAY SO WE
WOULD ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE
TO IN THIS NEW FUNDING ON
REGISTRATION TIMELINES AND
TRANSPARENCY MEASURES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. MR CHAIRMAN.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRIS
REARDON. I REPRESENT THE
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
FEDERATION. UH WE'RE HERE TO
TALK AS WELL ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT OF PEST REGULATIONS.
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL. UH AS
YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. LOOK, WE
SUPPORT UM, UM, A STRONG AND
VIBRANT UH, DPR HOWEVER, WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING AT LEAST THEIR
PROPOSAL 30 THREE $0.3 MILLION
117 POSITIONS. HALF OF THAT MEAL
. GENTLEMAN JUST TALKED ABOUT,
UM, ON THE CONSUMER SIDE. WE PAY
THE OTHER HALF OF THAT M. WE
REPRESENT PRIMARILY SMALL AND
MEDIUM SIZED FARMERS. THAT IS A
TAX. THIS IS CLEAR. IT IS A MILL
TAX THAT WE HAVE TO PAY. SO WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME
CHALLENGES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
IN TERMS OF NEEDS, BUT, UM, BUT
I THINK OUR FOLKS PRIMARILY AND
ADVISE YOU TO LOOK AT BOTH. UM
UM, THE IMBALANCE THE DEPARTMENT
CURRENTLY FACES THEN. SECONDLY
UM THE WHOLE ISSUE OF
REGISTRATION EFFICIENT,
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION IN THE
STATE. UH, SO WE, WE WOULD
SUPPORT THAT AND THE OTHER
THING. THE LAST THING I WOULD
SAY TO YOU AS IT RELATES TO THIS
NEW PROGRAM, S¼ PM. LET'S FIX
WHAT WE CURRENTLY, UM, ARE
FACING WITHIN AN APARTMENT
INSTEAD OF CREATING A NEW
PROGRAM THAT NÓ ONE ELSE HAS HAD
POLICY DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THIS
BODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY. UH, GOOD MORNING
, MR CHAIR. I'M MATTHEW ALLEN
WITH WESTERN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
. I REALLY WOULD DISASSOCIATE MY
COMMENTS, UH, WITH, UH TAYLOR
ROSIN, UH, ON SOME OF THE A
COMMENTS AND JUST SAY THE
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES ARE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR
THE DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE A
SPECIAL FOCUS ON, UH, MAKING
SURE THAT THE REGISTRATION
PROCESS ITSELF IS MUCH MORE
TIMELY BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY
WANT TO MAINTAIN AS MANY TOOLS
IN THE TOOLBOXES AS WE CAN, UH,
AS NEW PRODUCTS COME ONLINE, AND
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO
THAT ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL
CLAIBORNE WITH LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN A DEFICIT YEAR
. WE'RE SURPRISED AND
DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PROPOSAL
TO FULLY PRESERVE FUNDING FOR
LIVESTOCK METHANE REDUCTION
FUNDING FOR CLIMATE, RESILIENCE
CENTERS, TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE
COMMUNITIES, EQUITABLE BUILDING,
DARB. A NUMBER OF OTHER EJ
PRIORITIES ARE ON THE CHOPPING
BLOCK THIS YEAR. IT ADDS INSULT
TO INJURY TO FULLY FUND THE
LIVESTOCK METHANE REDUCTION
PROGRAM, WHICH INCENTIVIZES THE
CONCENTRATION OF EVER LARGER
HERDS NEAR DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES AND HARMS, UH, THE
DRINK. AND AIR QUALITY OF
COMMUNITIES NEARBY. ONE LAST
NOTE IN RESPONSE TO CHAIR
BENNETT'S INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS.
THE RESPONSE THAT DAIRY
DIGESTERS CAPTURE CAPTURE 80% OF
DAIRY METHANE IS MISLEADING AND
INACCURATE BECAUSE IT IGNORES,
UH, ENTERIC EMISSIONS FROM
DAIRIES, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY
50% OF THE EMISSIONS. WE'D URGE
THE COMMITTEE TO ZERO OUT THIS
FUNDING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
UH, MICRO AND ON BEHALF OF THE
GLASS PACKAGING TO REGARDING THE
BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
PROGRAM. UM I, I WANNA CON, UH,
ASSOCIATE MY COMMENTS WITH THE
COMMENTS MADE BY LOUIS BROWN FOR
THE GROCERS ON ON THE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE LOAN AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF PROPORTIONAL
REDUCTION. APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR
RESPONSE ON THAT. UM I WANNA
DISAGREE WITH THE TESTIMONY
PROVIDED BY CALIFORNIA AGAINST
WASTE ON THE COMMINGLED RAY AND
THE AND THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED,
ARE THAT THE CHAIR ASKED ON THE
ON THE COMING GREAT. UM, THE
GLASS PACKAGING INSTITUTE WOULD
WOULD WOULD ACTUALLY AGREE WITH
CALORIE CYCLE THAT YOU KNOW TO
PROCEED WITH CAUTION ON ON
MAKING ANY CHANGES COMING, OLD
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE CHANGES
IN THE COMING RIGHT, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT THERE'S
CHANGES TO HOW GLASS IS
PROCESSED, COMING OUT OF OUT OF
THE MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITY.
THERE HAS TO BE A QUALITY A
STANDARD FOR QUALITY OF GLASS,
UM, MOVING FROM A MURPH TO A
PROCESSOR BEFORE YOU START
MAKING CHANGES. COMING RIGHT?
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH
YOU. YOU YOUR STAFF CAL RECYCLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HØI UH,
JANE ZEN CALIFORNIANS FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM ON ISSUE THREE.
UM I ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE
COMMENTS OF PESTICIDE ACTION
NETWORK AND EARTH JUSTICE. OUR
COALITION IS UNITED IN OPPOSING
THE INCLUSION OF LANGUAGE THAT
WOULD PREVENT IMPACTED COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FROM REQUESTING REVIEW
OF PERMITS FOR RESTRICTED
MATERIAL PESTICIDES, WHICH WOULD
EXCLUDE FARM WORKERS, STUDENTS,
TEACHERS AND MANY MORE FROM
ELIGIBILITY. WE AGREE WITH THE
LAO ASSESSMENT AND YOUR STAFF
COMMENTS THAT THE POLICY
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROPOSAL
ARE SUBSTANTIVE ENOUGH THAT IT
SHOULD PROPERLY GO THROUGH THE
POLICY PROCESS VIA A B 2113. WE
ALSO STRONGLY AGREE WITH THE L A
Ó ASSESSMENT ON PAGE 30. THE Dð
PR MUST HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY VIA
ENFORCE ENFORCEABLE TARGETS FOR
COMPLETING AND NOT JUST MANAGING
RE EVALUATIONS AND RISK
ASSESSMENTS AS YOU CHAIR. THANK
YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. THERE
ARE CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN IN
RE EVALUATION SINCE THE 19
NINETIES. THE GOVERNANCE
PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE AMBITIOUS
TARGETS FOR INCREASING
REGISTRATION ACTIONS ARE
COALITION SUPPORTS EXPEDITED
REGISTRATION ONLY FOR PESTICIDES
ALREADY FIGHT FOR ORGANIC USE.
THANK YOU. I MISSED YOUR
ORGANIZATION. CALIFORNIANS FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR. EMILY GARCIA
ON BEHALF OF N R Dð èC N R Dð
èC SUPPORTS INCREASED FUNDING
FOR Dð PR IN LINE WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CROSS
STUDY PROVIDED A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THE FUNDS, SUPPORT
COMMITMENTS AND INCREASE FUNDING
FOR OVERSIGHT OF PESTICIDE USE,
INCLUDING REEVALUATIONS AND RISK
ASSESSMENT AND INITIATING
OVERSIGHT FOR PESTICIDE TREATED
DISEASE. WE ALIGN WITH èC PR ON
THE NEED FOR FUNDING AND
COMMITMENTS ON RISK ASSESSMENT
AND RE EVALUATION AND WITH PAN
ON THE NEED FOR S¼ P N. S¼ PM
GRANT FUNDING. WE ALSO SUPPORT
FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN
ADDITION, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
THE LEGISLATURE REINSTATE
ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE
NUTRITION INCENTIVES PROGRAM,
FARM TO COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS
PROGRAM AND THE CALIFORNIA
UNDERSERVED AND SMALL PRODUCERS
PROGRAM. WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT
THE PLANNED FUNDING FOR THE
LIVESTOCK METHANE REPRODUCTION
PROGRAM BE SHIFTED INSTEAD TO
THE ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM AT èC Dð FA, WHICH
HELPS FARMERS ADOPT PROVEN
METHANE, REDUCTIVE STRATEGIES.
LASTLY WE MUST CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THE ENTIRE SUITE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAMS
FOR èC Dð FA TO HELP FIGHT
CLIMATE CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. MORNING GOOD MORNING CHAIR
JAMIE F ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY, ALLIANCE, FAMILY
FARMERS OR CALF. UM REGARDING
CUSP. WE JUST DISPUTE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S ASSERTIONS
ABOUT THE LACK OF DEMAND FOR
CUSP, DROUGHT FUNDING IN
PARTICULAR, WE'VE BEEN CLEAR
THAT OUR FARMERS, INCLUDING MANY
SMALL ORGANIC DAIRIES, STILL
NEED RELIEF AND èC FUNDS WOULD
GET THE FUNDING TO FARMERS
FASTER. THESE ARE EMERGENCY
FUNDS AND SHOULD NEVER BE CUT
REGARDING THE FARM TO COMMUNITY
FOOD HUBS PROGRAM IN THE THREE
YEAR èC Dð FA HAS BEEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR STANDING UP THIS
PROGRAM. THEY HAVEN'T ASKED FOR
A SINGLE AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS
THE CHALLENGES AROUND THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. HOWEVER
WE'RE VERY WILLING TO WORK WITH
THEM TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES
. CALIFORNIA HAS LESS FOOD HUBS
THAN MANY SMALLER STATES, AND
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUPPORT
OUR LOCAL FARMERS WITH THAT SAID
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
LEGISLATURE REJECT, UH, THE
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE CUSP
PROGRAM AND THE FOOD HUBS
PROGRAM. èC ALSO SUPPORTS THE
MILL FEE INCREASE WITH REQUESTS
FOR SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO
SUPPORT FARMERS TRANSITION TO
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR. MY NAME IS BETH
SMOKER. I'M WITH THE CALIFORNIA
FOOD AND FARMING NETWORK, WHERE
A NETWORK OF ABOUT 4050
ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT
SMALL FARMERS, FARM WORKERS AND
ANTI HUNGER COMMUNITIES. UM AND
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REJECT
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY DISINVEST IN
OUR REGIONAL SMALL FARMERS. UM
FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING REJECTING CUTS TO THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM AND ALIGN OUR COMMENTS
WITH THE ECOLOGY CENTER, WHO
SPOKE FIRST, UM DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT. UM REJECT CUTS TO THE
FARM TO COMMUNITY FOOD HUB
PROGRAM, ALIGNING OUR COMMENTS
WITH JAMIE FOOSE AT CALF, WHO
JUST SPOKE AS WELL AS REJECTING
CUTS TO THE CALIFORNIA
UNDERSERVED AND SMALL PRODUCER
PROGRAM. UM WE ALSO SUPPORT WITH
AMENDMENTS. THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED PESTICIDE MIL FEE AND A
LINER COMMENTS WITH PESTICIDE
ACTION NETWORK IN CALIFORNIANS
FOR PESTICIDE REFORM, WHO JUST
PROVIDED COMMENTS. UM AND
ESPECIALLY ASK THAT THE MILKY UM
UH, PROVIDE FUNDING AND
INVESTMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS
PASSED LAST YEAR. AND LASTLY, WE
ASK THAT YOU MAINTAIN FUNDING
FOR THE FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT
PROGRAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. CHAIR BENNETT.
MICHAEL BODOR ON BEHALF OF THE
AG ENERGY CONSUMERS. I WANNA
JUST ADD A LITTLE CONTEXT TO èC
Dð FA S¼ COMMENTS ON THE
SUCCESSFUL DAIRY METHANE
REDUCTION PROGRAMS. PUT IT IN
CONTEXT. WE'RE TRYING TO GET A
40% REDUCTION IN MANURE METHANE
BY 2030. WE HAVE ACHIEVED WITH
THE PROGRAMS AT CDFA AND THE
REDUCTION IN DAIRY HERD SIZE IN
CALIFORNIA, 35. TOWARDS THE 40%
SO WE'RE ALMOST THERE ON THE
MANURE SIDE. WHICH BRINGS ME TO
MY SECOND POINT ON ENTERIC.
REPLENISHING THE FUNDS THAT
SENATOR BECKER, YOUR COUNTERPART
ON THE SENATE SIDE WAS
SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IN FOR THE
PROGRAM WILL BE CRITICAL BECAUSE
LESS PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON
THE ENTERIC SIDE. BUT WE'RE
GONNA HAVE OUR FIRST FEED
ADDITIVE PRODUCT AVAILABLE LATER
THIS YEAR APPROVED BY F Dð A AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SO WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
ENTERIC TO MATCH THE PROGRESS ON
, UH, MANURE SIDE SO CRITICAL
THAT THAT FUNDING GET RESTORED
THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. DAWN KEPKE WITH
MCHUGH KEPKE PADRONE ON THE
FIRST ITEM ITEM NUMBER THREE FOR
THE CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS AND
TE TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION, UH,
WITH REGARD TO P MANAGEMENT, AND
, UH, THE MILL, UH, TAX FEE, WE
WOULD ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH
THE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION AND OUR AG
COLLEAGUES, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH,
INTEREST IN KIND OF ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS, UH, ON THE ISSUE OF
THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER FUND ON
BEHALF OF THE STRATEGIC
MATERIALS. UH UH. INK UH,
LARGEST GLASS PROCESSOR RECYCLER
IN CALIFORNIA. WOULD ALSO ECHO
CONCERNS ABOUT LOANS FROM THE
BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM FOR
NON BEVERAGE CONTAINER PURPOSES.
AND THEN FINALLY, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
BALANCE. UH, WE WOULD ALSO JUST
LIKE TO, UM UH, SUGGEST, UH, AND
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY THE
CHAIR, UH BY MEMBER
PETRIE-NORRIS RELATED TO THE
HOUSES, WASTE CONTROL ACCOUNT
CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, THE GAP IN
FEES, UH, RECEIVED, UH, SEE WAS
AT THE TABLE WITH THAT
NEGOTIATION ON S¼ B 1158 ARE
MEMBERS HAVE SEEN UNDERSTOOD
THERE WOULD BE INCREASES IN FEES
TO THE TUNE OF 2 TO 300% BUT WE
DO REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
CONTINUING TO INCREASE THOSE
FEES, UH ACROSS THOSE FEE PAYERS
AND WOULD WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO TALK ABOUT
EXCEPT THANK YOU. REBECCA MARCUS
, REPRESENTING THE CENTER FOR
FOOD SAFETY, AND THE CALIFORNIA
CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ISSUE
THREE PESTICIDE MILKY AS Dð PR
WORKS TO REDUCE THE USE OF THE
MOST TOXIC PESTICIDES WE NEED TO
ENSURE FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO
SAFER ALTERNATIVES. èC èC Ó.
F THOUGH, IS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE
THAT THE MILKY PROPOSAL INCLUDES
A FAT FLAT FEE RATHER THAN TIER,
SO THE MOST TOXIC TOXIC
PESTICIDES ARE ASSESSED AT A
HIGHER RATE. WE STRONGLY URGE
THE STATE TO FAST TRACK ORGANIC
APPROVED ACTIVE INGREDIENTS TO
ENSURE FARMERS HAVE THESE SAFER
ALTERNATIVES, UM, ALSO ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE AND AG
NETWORK, èC èC Ó F AND èC F
S¼. WE SUPPORT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO
RETAIN, UH, FUNDING FOR SWEET,
HEALTHY SOILS AND ORGANIC
TRANSITION. WE ALSO URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER INVESTING IN THE
ALTERNATIVE MANURE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A COST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO REMOVE DAIRY
METHANE AT SMALL AND MEDIUM
SIZED FARMS AND RESTORE FUNDING
TO THE FOOD HUBS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HØI. I'M JOHN Y, UH,
WITH HUNGER ACTION IN LOS
ANGELES. I'M A MARKET METRO
OPERATOR FOR POMONA AND DOWNTOWN
LOS ANGELES. I'M HERE TODAY TO
PROTEST THE PROPOSED 43.2
MILLION IN CUTS TO THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM. UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. MARK
METRIC BENEFIT BOTH THE FARMERS
AND, UH, BOTH THE FARMER VENDORS
AND THE LOW INCOME CALIFORNIAN.
MARK HAD MATCH PROGRAM IS COST
EFFECTIVE MARKET METRO PROGRAM.
MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT,
UH FUN TO FOOD MONEY AND WILL
STAY IN CALIFORNIA TO US THE
FARMERS. AND UH, EVERYTHING. THE
SECRETARY OF THE AGRICULTURAL
DEPARTMENT SAID DEFENDING THEIR
GOAL. IS ALL WRONG. EVERYTHING
SHE SAID, IS WRONG. AND PLEASE
KEEP OUR PROGRAM AROUND FOR THE
PEOPLE. AND, UH, DO I STILL HAVE
TIME? YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS. BY
YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS ELEANOR.
KENZI UM, I REPRESENT THE ECO
FARM INITIATIVE OF THE
INTEGRATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND
INITIATIVE. UM SO ECOLOGICAL,
COMMUNITY ORIENTED FARMING AND
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION. UM I I'M
THE LEAD STEWARD OF THE
COMMUNITY FARM AND CULTURAL
CENTER. UM WE ALSO PARTICIPATED.
THE F POMONA FARMERS MARKET AND
THIS, UH, CUT WOULD DEEPLY
IMPACT OUR PROGRAMS. UM TO, UH,
MARKET MATCH. UM 27% OF OUR
SALES COME FROM EB Tð AND, UH,
MATCH TRANSACTIONS. UM AND WE
ONLY EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY
BECAUSE WE ARE SPECIFICALLY
TARGETING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
FOR SUPPORTING WE ARE ALSO
APPLICANTS A PLANNED APPLICANTS
FOR THE FARM TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
PROGRAM AND FARM TO SCHOOL. UM
PROGRAMS. UH WE SERVE COMMUNITY
AT THE 96 PERCENTILE. POVERTY
THESE PROGRAMS ARE ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL FOR OUR EXISTENCE. OUR
MODEL RELIES ON PROGRAMS LIKE
MARKET MATCH. IT IS NOT AN
UNFUNDED PROGRAM THAT COULD JUST
BE PULLED. IT HAS 15 YEARS OF
HISTORY THAT HAS BUILT UP FROM
14 MARKETS TO ALMOST THREE 100.
THIS WILL DISMANTLE A NETWORK
THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER 15.
IT'S NOT JUST A PROGRAM. YOU CAN
PULL $33 MILLION OUT OF YOUR
TIME'S UP. BUT TELL ME YOUR
ORGANIZATION AGAIN, PLEASE. MY
ORGANIZATION IS CALLED THE
INTEGRATIVE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE, AND THE PROGRAM IS
THE ECOLOGICAL AND COMMUNITY
ORIENTED FARMING AND RESOURCE
MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE. NEXT
SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ALEXA NORSTAD,
REPRESENTING THE CENTER FOR ECO
LITERACY AND 47 OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE
FARM TO SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT
PROGRAM. PRIMARY SCHOOL IS AN
ESSENTIAL COMPLEMENT TO THE
OTHER INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOL
NUTRITION, BECAUSE IT BECAUSE IT
IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT
DIRECTLY FUNDS, STUDENT
EDUCATION AND FARMS. CREATING
POWERFUL AND LASTING CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIAS
AND GARDENS. WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET THAT
FULLY FUNDS THE FARM TO SCHOOL
INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM. LASTLY
THE CENTER FOR ECO LITERACY IS
IN SUPPORT OF PROTECTING THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO, MR CHAIR, ANDREW. WE HERE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
HEART ASSOCIATION. ON BEHALF OF
WHO THE AMERICAN HEART
ASSOCIATION GOT IT. HERE TO JOIN
THE CHORUS OF TESTIFIERS ALREADY
SPOKEN IN DETAIL, URGING THAT
THIS SUBCOMITTEE REJECT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS TO THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION. INCENTIVE
PROGRAM AND THE MARKET MATCH
PROGRAM, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY
THAT OVERALL PROGRAM. I WILL. I
PREPARED REMARKS HERE, BUT THE
POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE
VERY WELL ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF
THE PROGRAM. I JUST, UH MAYBE
END WITH A REQUEST THAT THIS NOT
BE INCLUDED IN ANY PACKAGE OF
EARLY BUDGET ACTIONS COMING OUT
OF THIS HOUSE, WE'VE BEEN LED TO
BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE HAS NOT
INCLUDED THIS CUT IN THEIR
PACKAGE OF EARLY BUDGET ACTIONS.
AND WITH THAT THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. HELLO I'M
AMBER STOTT. I AM THE èC E Ó
OF THE SACRAMENTO BASED
NONPROFIT FOOD LITERACY CENTER,
WHERE WE INSPIRE KIDS TO EAT
THEIR VEGETABLES. I'M HERE
ASKING FOR THE CONTINUED FUNDING
OF èC Dð F A'S FARM TO SCHOOL
INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM IN 2017.
I ADVOCATED FOR THIS PROGRAM TO
BE CREATED BECAUSE CALIFORNIA
HAS A MASSIVE NEED OUR COOKING
AND NUTRITION PROGRAM AT
SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS THE NUMBER ONE MOST
REQUESTED PROGRAM IN OUR
DISTRICT. WE REACHED 20 TITLE,
ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND WE
CANNOT KEEP UP WITH DEMAND THE
RATE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION
INSECURITY TRIPLED IN FAMILIES
WITH KIDS DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND REMAINS HIGH. WE CAN'T DO
THIS WORK ALONE, AND WE NEED THE
SUPPORT OF THE STATE'S FARM TO
SCHOOL GRANTS TO SUPPORT NOT
ONLY OUR PROGRAM, BUT MANY
PROGRAMS LIKE OURS THAT ARE
ACROSS THE STATE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WITH
THAT WE'RE DONE WITH OUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY AND I WILL ADJOURN
THIS MEETING. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY.