The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) The state’s agricultural business economy could be seriously damaged if measures are not taken to prevent the transmittal of the plant killing bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease and to contain its vectors, particularly the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and if measures are not taken to prevent or inhibit infestations by other designated pests and diseases. Furthermore, progress made by winegrape growers and others in the adoption of integrated pest management and sustainable farming practices is threatened by these destructive pests and diseases.
(b) The funding to accomplish the purposes of this article shall be derived from an assessment on all grapes grown in California and crushed for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(c) This article is not intended to establish a precedent, or to supersede, or to reduce or in any way alter government funding of the effort to combat Pierce’s disease and other pests in this state.
(d) The purposes of this article are enhanced by the many and varied efforts of other agricultural commodities’ industries to combat this bacterium and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases.
(e) This article is enacted for the protection of the winegrape industry and is also declared to be enacted in the public interest and in the exercise of the police power of the state for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state.
(f) The assessments shall be collected and expended for purposes consistent with Sections 6046 and 6047.30.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 325, Sec. 2. (SB 2) Effective January 1, 2010. Conditionally inoperative on March 1, 2016, as provided in Sections 6047.20 and 6047.27. Repealed as of March 1, 2021, pursuant to Section 6047.19.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018