Existing law provides for the California Table Grape Commission, which comprises 21 grape producers and one public member appointed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. Existing law specifies the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the commission. Existing law levies an annual assessment on all fresh grapes during each marketing assessment, at an amount fixed by the commission not to exceed $0.006522 per pound. Existing law authorizes the commission to expend revenues from those assessments and all other moneys received by the commission, including from penalties for failing to pay the assessment and civil penalties for a violation of those provisions.
This bill would revise these provisions by, among other things, changing the membership of the commission to 3 producers from each of 6 districts and a public member appointed by the secretary. The bill would require the commission to annually compile and maintain a list of eligible producers who are qualified to vote in an election, and certify the list to the secretary at least 30 days before the date set for any meeting to nominate commissioners to office. The bill would expand the activities, powers, and duties of the commission to also include accepting and matching contributions of funds and making contributions of commission funds to other persons or agencies, and administering any program related to the table grape industry. The bill would increase the maximum amount of the above-described assessment to $0.02 per pound, thereby making an appropriation.
The bill would authorize a person aggrieved by an action of the commission to file a grievance with the commission or a duly authorized committee of the commission designated for that purpose, and appeal from decisions of the commission to the secretary. The bill would require an action by the commission for any violation of these provisions to be commenced within 2 years from the date of discovery of the alleged violation and would require an action against the commission by any person to be commenced within 2 years from the date of the act of which the person complains.

Statutes affected:
AB 482: 65500 FAC, 65527 FAC, 65528 FAC, 65532 FAC, 65533 FAC, 65550 FAC, 65552 FAC, 65553 FAC, 65554 FAC, 65555 FAC, 65556 FAC, 65558 FAC, 65559 FAC, 65559.5 FAC, 65560 FAC, 65561 FAC, 65562 FAC, 65563 FAC, 65565 FAC, 65566 FAC, 65569 FAC, 65570 FAC, 65572 FAC, 65573 FAC, 65574 FAC, 65575 FAC, 65575.1 FAC, 65575.2 FAC, 65600 FAC, 65601 FAC, 65603 FAC, 65650.5 FAC, 65652 FAC, 65660 FAC, 65661 FAC, 65662 FAC, 65663 FAC, 65670 FAC, 65673 FAC, 65675 FAC
02/10/25 - Introduced: 65500 FAC, 65527 FAC, 65528 FAC, 65532 FAC, 65533 FAC, 65550 FAC, 65552 FAC, 65553 FAC, 65554 FAC, 65555 FAC, 65556 FAC, 65558 FAC, 65559 FAC, 65559.5 FAC, 65560 FAC, 65561 FAC, 65562 FAC, 65563 FAC, 65565 FAC, 65566 FAC, 65569 FAC, 65570 FAC, 65572 FAC, 65573 FAC, 65574 FAC, 65575 FAC, 65575.1 FAC, 65575.2 FAC, 65600 FAC, 65601 FAC, 65603 FAC, 65650.5 FAC, 65652 FAC, 65660 FAC, 65661 FAC, 65662 FAC, 65663 FAC, 65670 FAC, 65673 FAC, 65675 FAC