(1) There is hereby levied upon citrus fruit and processed citrus products the following inspection fees:
(a) Upon each standard-packed box or equivalent, including hourly rate equivalent, thereof of citrus fruit inspected and certified for shipment in fresh form other than fruit on which a fee is imposed by paragraph (b), such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1. The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season, by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, which are directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4. The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amounts, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, plus a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, plus a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and plus all interest earned on the investment of the foregoing funds.
(b) Upon each unit, as defined by the Department of Citrus, of citrus fruit inspected and certified for shipment in fresh form as gift fruit or for sale at roadside retail fruit stands, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1. The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture which are directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4. The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amounts, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding shipping season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, plus a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, plus a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and all interest earned on the investment of the foregoing funds.
(c) Upon each standard-packed box or equivalent thereof of citrus fruit inspected and certified for processing, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1. The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3. A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4. The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amount, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding shipping season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and all interest earned on the investments of the foregoing funds.
(d) Upon each standard case of 24 No. 2 cans, or the equivalent thereof, of processed citrus products inspected and certified within this state, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1. The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection, through the cooperative agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture, in performing its duties with respect to processed citrus products; and
2. The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the fees collected under this paragraph during that season, or less the amount, if any, by which the fees collected under this paragraph during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season.
(2)(a) Costs and income required to be prorated under the terms of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (1) shall be prorated on the basis of the number of boxes on which fees were assessed under the particular paragraph as compared to the total number of boxes of citrus fruit delivered into the primary channel of trade during the particular shipping season. Expenditures of funds for estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture shall be for service and research work related to estimating and forecasting citrus production in Florida, including, but not limited to, tree counts, using aerial photography and ground surveys, fruit counts, fruit measurement, maturity and yield surveys, damage surveys, opinion surveys, season average price determinations, and related activities.
(b) If, after the release of the October citrus crop estimate, a subsequent citrus crop estimate is so substantially different that any of the foregoing fees fixed following the October estimate are determined by the Department of Agriculture to be insufficient to pay the estimated costs expected to be incurred as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, then the Department of Agriculture shall determine the fee necessary to pay such estimated costs based upon such revised citrus crop estimate and shall amend such fee accordingly.
(c) In fixing the foregoing fees, the Department of Agriculture shall provide for adequate reserves to pay costs expected to be incurred during those periods when costs are expected to exceed income.
(d) The computations of the fees provided for herein and information as to the data upon which they are based shall be furnished by the Department of Agriculture upon request to any person liable for fees hereunder.
(3)(a) All fees levied by this section shall be applicable retroactively to a date to be fixed by the Department of Agriculture. Such fees shall be paid to the Department of Agriculture or the payment thereof guaranteed by the person who is the owner or operator of the facility at which the citrus fruit or processed citrus products so certified are handled under the provisions of this chapter. Payment of such fees shall be due upon the certification of the citrus fruit or processed citrus products and shall be paid periodically under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Department of Agriculture. Payment shall be secured by the filing and posting of a bond or cash deposit in the form and amount required by the Department of Agriculture.
(b) All fees levied and collected under the provisions of this section shall be paid into the State Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month. Such moneys shall be deposited to and made a part of the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund and are hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to be used to pay the costs incurred in its performance of the duties of the Bureau of Citrus Inspection and under the cooperative agreements referred to in subsection (1) with respect to citrus fruit and processed citrus products.
(4)(a) All persons liable for the fees imposed by this section shall keep a complete and accurate record of the receipt, sale, shipment, and processing of citrus fruit and processed citrus products subject to the fees imposed hereby. Such records shall be preserved by such persons for a period of 1 year following the end of the shipping season to which they pertain and shall be offered for inspection at any time upon oral or written demand by the Department of Agriculture.
(b) All persons liable for the fees imposed by this section shall, at such times as the Department of Agriculture may by rule or regulation require, file with the Department of Agriculture a return certified as true and correct on forms to be prescribed and furnished by the Department of Agriculture stating the number of applicable units of citrus fruit and processed citrus products which were subject to fees hereunder during the period of time covered by the return.
(5) The Department of Agriculture may adopt rules providing for the imposition of special fees for inspections conducted during hours not contemplated by regular state work hours. The rules shall prescribe circumstances under which the fees levied pursuant to paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) would not apply and the fees imposed pursuant to such rules would apply. The rules shall require that such fees be levied when specifically actuated by contract between the Department of Agriculture and persons liable for the fees created by this subsection. The rules may not authorize fees that exceed the Department of Agriculture’s actual cost of the inspection to be made, nor may such fees be less than those imposed by paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).
(6) When any portion of the revenues deposited to the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund is not immediately needed for the purpose for which such funds are appropriated, the Chief Financial Officer shall invest and reinvest such funds, and the earnings thereon shall be deposited to and made a part of the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund.
(7) The duties of the Department of Agriculture shall include the duty to conduct hearings, through a hearing officer who shall be an attorney authorized to practice law within this state, on violations of this section and rules adopted thereunder. The hearing officer shall be selected by the Commissioner of Agriculture and shall be in addition to her or his regular legal staff authorized by law. The hearing officer shall, in addition to conducting such hearings, be available to the Division of Fruit and Vegetables for other legal services on matters pertaining to violations of this chapter and rules adopted thereunder.
History.—s. 28, ch. 25149, 1949; s. 16, ch. 26492, 1951; s. 5, ch. 29757, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-84; s. 1, ch. 59-15; ss. 7, 8, ch. 59-20; s. 1, ch. 61-97; s. 2, ch. 61-119; s. 1, ch. 63-108; ss. 1-4, ch. 65-2442; ss. 1-3, ch. 67-219; s. 1, ch. 69-226; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-185; s. 16, ch. 81-295; s. 1, ch. 86-61; s. 1, ch. 89-12; s. 53, ch. 92-291; s. 972, ch. 97-103; s. 3, ch. 97-118; s. 744, ch. 2003-261; s. 23, ch. 2012-182.