Article 8. Garlic And Onion Dehydrator Advisory Committee of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 16. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 8.

As used in this article, "committee" means the Garlic and Onion Dehydrator Advisory Committee.

There is in the department the Garlic and Onion Dehydrator Advisory Committee, which consists of 11 members and their alternates. The secretary shall appoint five members and their alternates, who shall be growers of garlic or onions for dehydrating, five members and their alternates, who shall be representatives of handlers engaged in the dehydrating of garlic or onions, and one public member and an alternate, both of whom shall have no direct economic interest in the growing or dehydrating of garlic or onions. An alternate member shall serve at a committee meeting only in the absence of, and shall have the same powers and duties as, the member for whom he or she is designated as alternate.

In selecting the membership of the committee, the secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of organizations and associations of producers of garlic and onions for dehydrating and of handlers of garlic or onions for dehydrating.

The term of office of the members of the committee is three years. Appointment of the first members of the committee shall be so made that the terms of office of three of such members, of which one shall be a public member, shall expire at the end of one year, four at the end of two years, and four at the end of three years. Thereafter appointments shall be for full three-year terms. Any vacancies which occur during an unexpired term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.

The committee shall be advisory to the secretary on all matters pertaining to quality standards for garlic and onions for dehydrating purposes. The committee may do any of the following:
  (a) Recommend to the secretary the adoption or amendment of the quality standards for garlic or onions suitable for dehydration purposes.
  (b) Recommend to the secretary administrative regulations that relate to methods and procedures of selecting samples of lots, loads, or containers of garlic or onions for dehydrating purposes.
  (c) Recommend to the secretary administrative regulations that relate to the methods and procedures for the determination of moisture content in deliveries of garlic or onions for dehydration purposes.
  (d) Recommend to the secretary administrative regulations that relate to the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
  (e) Recommend to the secretary administrative regulations concerning the place of inspection and location of inspection stations.
  (f) Recommend to the secretary the institution and promotion of scientific research.
  (g) Recommend to the secretary whether or not there shall be sampling and inspection for conditions not shown on the certificate of inspection for dehydrated garlic or onions.
  (h) Advise the secretary on all matters pertaining to this chapter, including training and supervision of inspectors and the annual budget and revenue necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

(a) In order to operate economically and reduce the expenses that may adversely impact persons subject to this chapter, the committee may, on or before January 15 of any year, request the secretary to contract with any government agency or private entity, to provide services, as determined by the secretary, to be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this chapter. Those services may include, but are not limited to, both of the following:
  (1) Providing staff for inspection and research.
  (2) Providing office space, equipment, and other necessary supplies.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the secretary shall be responsible for the enforcement of this chapter, the establishment of enforcement procedures, and the uniformity, accuracy, and integrity of inspection.

(a) The secretary may establish rules and procedures to be used by the government agency or private entity in administering this chapter. The procedures may include both of the following:
  (1) The employment, training, supervision, and compensation of inspectors.
  (2) The use of existing, and the acquisition of additional, equipment, supplies, and office space.
  (b) This section is not subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

The committee shall not recommend and the secretary shall not utilize, a private entity a majority of whose officers and employees are persons regulated by this chapter.

The government agency or private entity shall keep an accurate record of expenses incurred in performing its responsibilities. Those records shall be available for not less than three years for audit during regular business hours upon request of the secretary.

The secretary may require the government agency or private entity to correct or cease any activity or function that is determined by the secretary not to be in the public interest or is in violation of this chapter, and shall notify the government agency or private entity in writing of these specific acts.

The secretary shall reimburse the government agency or private entity, upon receipt of an invoice approved by the secretary, for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the agency or entity in performing the services contracted for pursuant to this chapter.

All expenses incurred in carrying out Section 41865.1 shall be paid from fees collected under this chapter.

The committee shall meet at the call of its chairperson or at the request to the secretary of any three members of the committee. It shall meet at least once each year.

Each member of the committee, any alternate member serving in the absence of a regular member, and any member of an advisory committee appointed by the chairman of the committee, with approval of the secretary, may be reimbursed for the actual necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. Any reimbursement shall be made at the rate permitted under the rules of the Department of Human Resources and a member shall not receive any other compensation.