In mid-June the Senate Agriculture Committee members voted unanimously to pass legislation re-authorizing the Pierce’s Disease Control Program, the PD/GWSS Board, the PD Advisory Task Force, and the winegrape assessment. If enacted, AB 1642 would provide for a referendum to be held in 2015 allowing California winegrape growers to decide if they want the PD/GWSS assessment and PD/GWSS Board to continue for another five years. Wine industry groups sponsoring the bill include California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), Family Winemakers of California, and the Wine Institute.
Allied Grape Growers, while not a sponsor of the bill, does support the referendum.
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