(a) There is in the department the California Citrus Advisory Committee.
(b) The committee shall be comprised as follows:
(1) Eight producers.
(A) Five producer members shall be engaged in the production of navel or Valencia oranges; four of which shall be engaged in the production of navel or Valencia oranges in the San Joaquin Valley, and two of the four members shall be engaged in the production of navel or Valencia oranges in Tulare County.
(B) Two producer members shall be engaged in the production of lemons, one of which is engaged in the production of lemons in Ventura County.
(C) One of the members shall be engaged in the production of mandarin citrus.
(2) Four handlers, which have their principal place of business located in one of the following counties: Fresno, Kern, Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Tulare, and Ventura.
(A) Two handler members shall be located in the San Joaquin Valley.
(B) One handler member shall be engaged in the handling of lemons in Ventura County.
(c) The committee shall be appointed by the secretary from nominations submitted to the secretary by members of the navel orange, Valencia orange, lemon, and mandarin citrus industries group.
(d) Committee members may be compensated for reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, as determined by the committee and concurred in by the secretary.
(e) The committee shall meet at the request of the secretary, the committee chairperson, or upon the request of three committee members.
(f) The committee shall appoint a chairperson, one or more vice chairpersons, and any other officers it deems necessary.
(g) The committee shall develop and make recommendations to the secretary on all matters regarding the implementation of this chapter including:
(1) The assessment rate as specified in Section 48002.
(2) Procedures for implementing an inspection program that shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) Mandatory hold for inspection prior to shipping, following a citrus freeze.
(B) The minimum number of inspections to be conducted, and the duration of each inspection period.
(C) The minimum number of samples to be taken.
(D) Statistical analysis of compliance levels and determination of an acceptable level of compliance.
(E) Documentation of inspection data including the number of inspectors, number of inspections performed, and budget information relating to expenses of personnel, mileage, and overhead costs.
(F) Monitoring and postevaluation of program effectiveness by the secretary.
(G) Development of a single memorandum of understanding between the department and all county agricultural commissioners for the counties specified in subdivision (b).
(3) Determinations as to which counties have met the inspection requirements.
(4) Procedures for implementing a state crop estimating and acreage survey.
(h) The secretary shall accept the recommendations of the committee if he or she determines that the recommendations are practicable and in the interest of the industry and the public. The secretary shall provide the committee within 30 days of receipt of the recommendations with a written statement of reasons if he or she does not accept any of the recommendations.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 365, Sec. 1. (AB 1795) Effective January 1, 2011.)