California Nursery Producers Commission.

(1) Existing law establishes various commissions to promote agricultural products from the state. This bill would create the California Nursery Producers Commission in state government with a prescribed membership, and would specify the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the commission. The commission would be authorized to carry out programs of outreach, education, promotion, marketing, and research relating to nursery products. The bill would authorize the commission to levy an annual assessment, not to exceed a specified amount, on producers of nursery products, and would authorize the expenditure of those funds for purposes of implementing and administering the bill's provisions, thereby making an appropriation. The bill, except as necessary to conduct an election, would not become operative until eligible producers, by referendum, vote in favor of the bill's provisions, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the commission to levy a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 on a person who willfully renders or furnishes false reports or records, fails to render or furnish a report or record, or secretes, destroys, or alters records, as specified. The bill would authorize the commission to bring civil actions and other remedies to enforce the bill's provisions and regulations adopted pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also provide for the continuation and suspension of the operation of its provisions and for concluding the operations of the commission. (2) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.