AB 958
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB 958 (Committee on Agriculture) – As Amended May 4, 2015
Policy Committee:
Agriculture
Vote:
9-0
Urgency: No
State Mandated Local Program: Yes
Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA) to conduct a
referendum on whether to increase the participation and representation of salmon handlers on the
California Salmon Council, with prescribed membership, powers, duties, and responsibilities, in
exchange for payment of a fee per pound of salmon handled. If approved, the salmon handlers
would hold equal representation on the Council with commercial salmon fishers and pay the
same fees. The bill specifies terms, procedures, timing, and conditions of the referendum.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable costs to DFA to conduct the referendum, estimated one-time fee income of
$2,000 from the California Salmon Council for referendum services.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose. According to the authors, California's salmon handlers desire to play a greater role
on the California Salmon Council and increase its budget. The council has nine voting
members, consisting of five commercial salmon fishermen, two handlers who are receivers or
processors, one handler who is an exporter or wholesaler, and one public member.
Supporters believe that while handlers have benefitted from the promotion and research of
the council, they now wish to join with equal membership to the fishermen and increase
salmon promotion and education.
AB 958 does not require handlers to increase council membership and pay the assessments, it
simply authorizes DFA to schedule an industry referendum. Salmon handlers will then have
an opportunity to vote for equal membership on the council in exchange for paying the full
assessments. The bill does not include a time table for the referendum.
2) Great Sushi Comes From Happy Salmon, and Happy Salmon Come From California.
Formed in 1989 to promote the marketing of California salmon and salmon products, the
California Salmon Council may, at the direction of DFA, conduct programs of education,
research, or public information to improve California salmon. California has over 20 such
boards and commissions under the direction of DFA, the best known of which are the
California Milk Advisory Board, which markets Real California Milk and Real California
Cheese through a series of popular ads, and the California Raisin Marketing Board, creator of
the famous California Raisins claymation R&B campaign.
Analysis Prepared by:
Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081