Article 4. Administration of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 21. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.

The director shall administer and enforce this chapter and may exercise any or all of the administrative powers which are conferred by Sections 11180 to 11191, inclusive, of the Government Code upon the head of a department of the state.

In order to effectuate the declared purposes of this chapter, the director may issue, administer, and enforce the provisions of any marketing order issued pursuant to this chapter which regulates producer marketing or the handling of any commodity within this state.

The director may do all of the following:
  (a) Confer and cooperate with the legally constituted authorities of other states and of the United States, for the purpose of obtaining uniformity in the administration of federal and state marketing regulations, licenses, or orders.
  (b) Conduct joint hearings and issue joint or concurrent marketing orders for the purposes and within the standards which are set forth in this chapter.
  (c) Exercise any administrative authority which is prescribed by this chapter to effect such uniformity of administration and regulation.

The director may purchase general liability insurance for all marketing orders subject to the provisions of this chapter in an amount he or she determines as necessary. The cost of the insurance shall be paid by the affected marketing orders on a pro rata basis. The insurance policy shall name the director, in his or her official capacity, and all persons, collectively, that are subject to the marketing order as insured parties for claims made against the marketing order in its advisory capacity to the director or against the director regarding the activities of a marketing order. The director, after consultation with the Attorney General, may refer claims to the insurance carrier for appropriate action. In the alternative, the director may require that claims be handled in the manner otherwise specified in this chapter.