State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > California > Fac > 54442-54447FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
SECTION 54442-54447
54442. (a) To aid in preparation of the report required under this chapter, the secretary shall establish an advisory committee consisting of the following persons: (1) Six representatives of cooperative bargaining associations from names submitted by cooperative bargaining associations, two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and two of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (2) Six representatives of processors from names submitted by processors, two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and two of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (b) The members of the advisory committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration pursuant to Section 19820 of the Government Code for attendance at a meeting approved by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. 54443. The advisory committee shall study and report on all of the following issues: (a) Unfair trade practices. (b) Licensing. (c) Funding. (d) Investigation and hearing procedures. (e) The need for a mechanism to resolve bargaining disputes. (f) Any other issues relating to this chapter. (g) Any recommended changes to this chapter. 54444. The advisory committee shall meet not less than once annually. 54445. The advisory committee shall prepare and transmit a report to the secretary at a time fixed by the secretary so as to meet his or her obligation under this article. 54446. (a) The advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report to the secretary who, in turn, shall report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of subdivisions (a) and (e) of Section 54431 in successfully aiding the bargaining process between processors and cooperative bargaining associations. The secretary shall include any recommended changes to subdivisions (a) and (e) of Section 54431 as part of the report. (b) After receiving the report, the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture may hold hearings on the report. (c) The report shall, among other things, focus on any specific abuses of subdivisions (a) and (e) of Section 54431. (d) Annual progress reports on the report shall be submitted by the advisory committee to the secretary. 54447. This article shall be construed as a continuation of former Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Division 20.
