SECTIONS 576-585 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 576-585

576. This article shall be known and may be cited as the University
of California Pest Research Act of 1990.

577. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) There is a need to develop and apply ecologically based pest
management alternatives that are environmentally sound to prevent,
control, and eradicate pests.
(b) The continuation of pest control technology in agriculture
which relies primarily on synthetic chemicals may be impractical,
given the dwindling number of newly registered chemicals, increasing
resistance of numerous pests to pesticides, public concern about
pesticide residues, and potential threats posed to environmental
quality and human health.
(c) To be adequately prepared for existing and new infestations of
agricultural pests, California needs to have a means of coordinating
and evaluating long-term basic and applied pest research, including
the impact of prevention, control, and eradication efforts upon
public health and the environment.
(d) The state should facilitate, promote, and support
collaborative pest research programs and projects by its agencies,
public and private universities, the federal government, and the
agricultural industry that work toward developing environmentally
sound, ecologically based pest management techniques.
(e) In order to strengthen pest prevention, control, and
eradication efforts, it is the intent of the Legislature that an
administrative structure be created within the University of
California which, in cooperation with California's public and private
universities, the state, the agricultural industry, and persons
experienced with environmentally sound, ecologically based pest
management alternatives, advances pest research and formulates
innovative solutions that better safeguard the environment and public
health.
Toward these ends, the Legislature requests that the Regents of
the University of California establish a pest research center which
will review and prioritize pest-related research activities conducted
through the university. It is the intent of the Legislature that
University of California programs engaged in pest research shall,
when applicable, follow the research priorities established by the
center. The center is encouraged to develop research priorities in
cooperation with other public and private universities and with
state, federal, and county agencies, including, but not limited to,
the Department of Food and Agriculture, State Department of Health
Services, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, county
agricultural commissioners, United States Department of Agriculture,
National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the
agricultural industry, and with environmental and public and
occupational health groups.

578. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this
section govern the construction of this article.
(a) "Center" means the University of California Center for Pest
Research.
(b) "Pest" means any of the following pests that are, or are
likely to become, dangerous or detrimental to the agricultural or
nonagricultural environment of the state.
(1) Any insect, nematode, or weed.
(2) Any form of terrestrial, aquatic, or aerial plant, virus,
fungus, bacteria, or other microorganism, except viruses, fungi,
bacteria, or other microorganisms on, or in, a living human or any
other living animal.

579. It is the intent of the Legislature that the responsibilities
of the center include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Establishing multidisciplinary, long-term research priorities
for the University of California which focus on the application of
ecologically based, environmentally sound prevention, control, and
eradication practices against pests which pose a significant threat
to the welfare of California's agricultural, forest, or urban
settings.
(b) Recommending how pest research funds obtained by the center on
or after January 1, 1991, should be allocated within the University
of California.
(c) Encouraging the use of biological controls, integrated pest
management, sustainable agriculture, and other alternative pest
management methods to combat pests, and, thereby, reducing exposure
to toxic substances in air, water, and soil.
(d) Supporting basic and applied pest research, including
practical field trials and awarding competitive grants, when
economically feasible, and other projects administered by the center.
(e) Developing information systems that enable academics, farmers,
and public policymakers to quickly analyze and apply pest research
data.
(f) Providing information and advice to the department, county
agricultural commissioners, the agricultural community, and other
interested parties concerning pest prevention and detection through
outreach consultation, information dissemination, education services,
demonstrations, seminars, and publications.
(g) Printing and distributing information related to
center-sponsored and other University of California pest management
research projects.

580. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the center,
through its director, develop a list of recommended pest management
research priorities for the University of California that emphasize
and encourage the development and implementation of biological
controls, sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management
strategies, agroecology, cultural and mechanical practices, and other
alternative pest management methods and programs which are
ecologically based and environmentally sound.
(b) In developing pest management research recommendations, the
center is encouraged to give high priority to alternative practices
and strategies that address the reduction, control, or eradication of
pests, including exotic pests, which represent the greatest threat
to public health and safety or the economy of the state.
(c) In developing recommended exotic pest research priorities, the
center is encouraged to give high priority to all of the following:
(1) Development of methods to determine the origin of exotic
pests.
(2) Determination of the age and origin of exotic pests.
(3) Geographic analysis of exotic pests to determine place of
origin, including acoustical fingerprinting.
(4) Improvements to existing exotic pest insect baits.
(5) An examination of the manner in which the sterile insect
technique actually works and improvements in sterile insect
technology.
(6) Assessments of wild exotic pest populations, and their
regulating biological agents.
(7) Studies of exotic pests and their natural enemies in climates
similar to that of the various regions in California.
(8) The exploration and introduction of natural enemies, including
those from foreign countries, if necessary.
(9) Computerization of all records of exotic pest captures.
(10) Improvements in detection technology, which include better
attractants.
(11) Compilation, maintenance, and updated data about exotic pest
research and exotic pest management programs operating within and
outside the state.

581. To the extent that it is economically and scientifically
feasible, it is the intent of the Legislature that the center shall
award pest research funds obtained by the center on or after January
1, 1991, based upon a competitive application process and peer
review. The center is encouraged to give high priority to exotic pest
research proposals.
In awarding pest research funds, the center shall give priority to
proposals that support pest control methods which use ecologically
based and environmentally sound alternatives to pesticides and other
chemicals, and eliminate or reduce pesticide use or eliminate or
minimize pesticide residues, protect the public health and
environment, and satisfy a majority of the following criteria:
(a) Are cost-effective.
(b) Improve the agricultural industry and the state economy.
(c) Do not significantly or extensively duplicate other research.

582. It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of
California appoint a director of the center who is knowledgeable
about pest management practices and research and alternative pest
management techniques.

583. (a) The University of California shall prepare an annual
report describing the activities of the center, major objectives and
significant accomplishments of pest management research and extension
programs at the University of California, and obstacles and
opportunities toward developing and implementing pest management
alternatives in the state. The report shall also include all of the
following:
(1) Identification and evaluation of major policy issues and needs
in pest management research in California.
(2) Identification of the long-range and short-term management
research priorities established by the center.
(3) Identification of environmentally sound, ecologically based
alternatives to pesticides that are possible or probable human
carcinogens or reproductive toxicants.
(4) A summary and status information on all research proposals
submitted through the center. The summary shall include both proposed
and approved research projects.
(b) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature not later
than October 15 of each year.

584. If the center is established by the Regents of the University
of California, it is the intent of the Legislature that the
administrative costs of establishing the center shall be supported
from existing resources of the university.

585. This article shall apply to the University of California only
to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by
resolution, make any of these provisions applicable to the
university.