The secretary shall establish a Pest Science and Technology Screening Committee, which shall function as a scientific peer review committee on exotic pest research proposals submitted pursuant to Section 12798. The screening committee shall conduct and provide a thorough evaluation of the scientific merit, environmental soundness, and economic viability of each proposal. The committee shall meet at the request of the secretary and after reviewing all current proposals shall make recommendations to the Pest Management Research Committee established pursuant to Section 12798 as to which proposals should be funded. The committee shall consist of the following members:
(a) Five members who represent California’s public and private colleges and universities or private research community, each of whom possesses a degree in entomology, plant pathology, or environmental studies, and who are knowledgeable, technically qualified, and experienced in exotic pest biology and pest exclusion, detection, and eradication research.
(b) One member who represents the department, with experience in pest prevention.
(c) One member who represents the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, with experience in public health or toxicology.
(d) One member who represents the State Department of Health Services, with experience in public health.
(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 545, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1995.)