Article 2.5. Seed Advisory Board of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 18. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.5.

There is in the department a Seed Advisory Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the secretary, seven of whom shall be labelers registered under the provisions of this chapter, two of whom shall be persons who receive or possess seed for sale in this state, and two of whom shall be members of the public. The members of the board who are labelers registered under the provisions of this chapter shall be representative of the functions of seed production, conditioning, marketing, or utilization.

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that labelers appointed to the Seed Advisory Board pursuant to this article are intended to represent and further the interest of a particular agricultural industry concerned, and that such representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to such board, the particular agricultural industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.

The term of office for each member of the board is three years. Vacancies shall be filled by the secretary for an unexpired term.

Members of the board shall receive no salary but may be allowed per diem in accordance with California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board rules for attendance at meetings and other board activities authorized by the board and approved by the director.

The board shall be advisory to the secretary and may make recommendations on all matters pertaining to this chapter including, but not limited to, seed law and regulations, enforcement, seed laboratory diagnostics and annual budgets required to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. The board shall be advisory as to the scope of the program funded by industry and recommend the dollar volume assessments, which, when combined with the registration fee required by this chapter, shall provide adequate funds to support the program.

The board shall annually elect a chairman from its membership, and from time to time such other officers as it may deem advisable.

The board shall meet at the call of its chairman or the director, or at the request of any four members of the board. The board shall meet at least once a year to review budget proposals and fiscal matters related to such proposals.