AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 15, 2021

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 30, 2021

AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 20, 2021

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 10, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

93

CHAPTER 386

Statutes of 2021

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2021. ]

Introduced by Senator Hurtado

(Coauthors: Senators Borgeas, Caballero, and Eggman)

February 16, 2021

An act to add Chapter 4.9 (commencing with Section 89455) to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to agriculture, and making an appropriation therefor.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: yes   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The California State University comprises 23 campuses and 8 off-campus branches.

This bill would create the Agricultural Biosecurity Fund, the moneys in which would be continuously appropriated to the California State University Agricultural Research Institute for purposes of supporting research on biosecurity related to agriculture, and establishing best practices to mitigate the introduction and effects of infectious agents upon the animal and plant agricultural system of California. The bill would require the California State University Agricultural Research Institute to administer a grant program, with research grants to be awarded, as specified, to campuses of the California State University associated with the California State University Agricultural Research Institute. The bill would authorize federal, state, local, and private sources to be received by the Agricultural Biosecurity Fund.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 4.9 (commencing with Section 89455) is added to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

Chapter 4.9. California State University Agricultural Research Institute Grant Program

89455.

(a) (1) The Agricultural Biosecurity Fund is hereby created within the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the California State University Agricultural Research Institute for allocation without regard to fiscal year for purposes of supporting research on biosecurity related to agriculture, and establishing best practices to mitigate the introduction and effects of infectious agents upon the animal and plant agricultural system of California.

(2) The Agricultural Biosecurity Fund may receive funds from federal, state, local, and private sources.

(b) The California State University Agricultural Research Institute shall administer a grant program with moneys received in the Agricultural Biosecurity Fund for research on biosecurity related to agriculture, and establishing best practices to mitigate the introduction and effects of infectious agents upon the animal and plant agricultural system of California.

(1) All research grants shall be awarded to campuses of the California State University associated with the California State University Agricultural Research Institute, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

(B) California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

(C) California State University, Chico.

(D) California State University, Fresno.

(E) California State University, Humboldt.

(F) California State University, Monterey Bay.

(2) All research grants shall be awarded on the basis of scientific merit as determined by an open, competitive peer review process that ensures objectivity, consistency, and high quality. All qualified investigators affiliated with one of the campuses of the California State University listed in paragraph (1) shall have equal access and opportunity to compete for the grant funds.