Inventory of the California State Senate Agriculture Committee Records

Processed by Veronica Lara

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the California State Senate Agriculture Committee Records

Collection number: LP472:1-104

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Veronica Lara
Date Completed:: 1 June 2016
Encoded by:: Veronica Lara

Descriptive Summary

Title: California State Senate Agriculture Committee Records

Dates: 2005-2010

Collection number: See series descriptions for LP numbers.

Creator: Senate Agriculture Committee

Collection Size: 4 cubic feet, including audiovisual material and electronic resources.

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Abstract: The Senate Agriculture Committee is the most current Senate committee overseeing legislation on agricultural issues. The Senate Agriculture Committee records consist of Senate and Assembly Bill Files, 2005-2008, Hearing Files, 2005-2008, Subject Files, 2005, Chronological Correspondence, 2005-2008, and Committee Records, 2005-2008. The Senate Food and Agriculture Committee records consist of Senate and Assembly Bill Files, 2009-2010, Hearing Files, 2009-2010, Chronological Correspondence, 2009-2010, and Committee Records, 2009-2010.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Senate Agriculture Committee Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

The State Archives received these records in accordance with California Government Code 9080(b) which requires legislative committees to transfer their records to the State Archives when they are no longer needed by the committee.

Biography/Organization History

The Senate Agriculture Committee is the most current Senate committee overseeing legislation on agricultural issues. According to 2004 Senate Resolution 4, it replaced the Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee in this capacity, while legislation relating to water was taken over by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The Senate Agriculture Committee consists of 5 members. During the 2009-2010 legislative session, Senate Resolution 12 officially expanded the focus of this committee to include “food processing and marketing,” while also renaming it to the Senate Food and Agriculture Committee.

The chairs of these committees from 2005-2010 were:

Senate Agriculture Committee, 2005-2008

Denham, Jeffrey (Rep.), 2005-2006

Maldonado, Abel Jr. (Rep.), 2007-2008

Senate Food and Agriculture Committee, 2009-2010

Florez, Dean (Dem.), 2009-2010

Scope and Content

The Senate Agriculture Committee records consist of Senate and Assembly Bill Files, 2005-2008, Hearing Files, 2005-2008, Subject Files, 2005, Chronological Correspondence, 2005-2008, and Committee Records, 2005-2008. The Senate Food and Agriculture Committee records consist of Senate and Assembly Bill Files, 2009-2010, Hearing Files, 2009-2010, Chronological Correspondence, 2009-2010, and Committee Records, 2009-2010.

The most significant series is the Bill Files, which constitute more than half of the collection. The bill files consist of any bills heard by the committee, and usually include materials such as bill analyses, letters of support or opposition, amendments, and other working papers. Within the purview of agriculture, the committee members heard bills on various subjects including, but not limited to pesticide and fertilizer regulation, humane euthanasia and slaughter of livestock, seed laws, hemp, and food safety. The committee kept files on the bill and informational hearings they held. These Hearing Files contain background material, expert opinion and evidence, and witness testimony. The collection contains only one Subject File on Ag Day 2005. The Chronological Files consist of letters and correspondence written by the chair of the committee. Many of these letters are requests for appearances at hearings, or thanking individuals for testimony. Committee Records comprise bill statuses, amendments, roll calls, disposition reports, and hearing results.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Agriculture - California

Pesticides - California

Fertilizers

Hemp

Animal industry - California

Food industry and trade

Related Material at the California State Archives

Senate Agriculture and Water Committee Records, 1972-2004

Assembly Agriculture Committee Records, 1853-2010

Jeffrey Denham Papers

Abel Maldonado Papers

Dean Florez Papers

See Scope and Content for LP Numbers

Series 1 Bill Files 2005-2010.

Physical Description: 47 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files consist of any bills heard by the committee, and usually include materials such as bill analyses, letters of support or opposition, amendments, record of votes, and other working papers. Within the purview of agriculture, the committee members heard bills on various subjects including, but not limited to pesticide and fertilizer regulation, humane euthanasia and slaughter of livestock, seed laws, hemp, food safety, and air and water quality.

A subject frequently addressed by legislation within this series is the well-being of egg-laying hens. For example AB1437 (2009-2010) prohibited the sale of eggs from chickens not kept in accordance with existing humane standards. Thanks to much community support, the bill passed. The bill was chaptered on July 6, 2010.

Senate Agriculture Committee

2005-2006: SB284-SB1551, SJR16; AB85-AB2958, AJR45 (17ff) LP472:1-17

2007-2008: SB107-SB1723, SCR87; AB472-AB2881, ACR117 (16ff) LP472:18-33

Senate Food and Agriculture Committee

2009-2010: SB2-SB1321, SJR22, SR35; AB472-AB2881, ACR117 (16ff) LP472:34-47

See Appendix A for LP numbers

Series 2 Hearing Files 2005-2010

Physical Description: 57 file folders, 19 audiocassettes, 5 videocassettes (VHS), 31 audiodiscs (CD), and 17 videodiscs (DVD)

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Scope and Content Note

The committee kept files on the bill and informational hearings they held. These Hearing Files contain background material, expert opinion and evidence, and witness testimony. Several files also contain hearing transcripts. These files encompass both bill hearings, such as the May 15, 2007 hearing on SB556 regarding the light brown apple moth, and informational hearings, like that held on March 15, 2005 regarding air quality and emissions of agricultural equipment.

Please see Appendix A in Additional Series Information for a complete listing of hearing files.

Additional Series Information

Appendix A: List of Hearing Files

LP472:105

Series 3 Subject Files 2005

Physical Description: 1 file folder, 1 videocassette (VHS)

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Access Information

Access to audiovisual materials requires the production of use copies.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains only one Subject File on Ag Day 2005. California recognizes National Agriculture Day with an educational and celebratory daytime festival on the steps of the Capital building. This commemorative day focuses on California agriculture by honoring California farmers and showcasing many of California’s locally grown products and livestock.

Ag Day, 2005 (1ff, 1 VHS) LP472:105

LP472:106-109

Series 4 Chronological Files 2005-2010

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of correspondence.

Scope and Content Note

The Chronological Files consists of letters and correspondence written by the chair of the committee. Many of these letters are requests for hearing appearance and/or testimony, or thanking individuals for testimonies.

LP472:110-113

Series 5 Committee Records 2005-2010

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by legislative session.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of general information and tracking of legislative bills and hearings. Records included bill status, bill amendments, roll calls, disposition reports, and hearing results arranged by bill number and author.