The powers and duties of the commission, subject to Sections 68052 and 68053, include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) To adopt and, from time to time, alter, rescind, modify, and amend all proper and necessary bylaws, rules, regulations, and orders for carrying out this chapter, including appeals from any bylaw, rule, regulation, or order of the commission in a manner established by the commission.

(b) To administer and enforce this chapter, and to do and perform all acts and exercise all powers incidental to, or in connection with or deemed reasonably necessary for, the proper or advisable effectuation of the purposes of this chapter.

(c) To appoint its own officers, including a chairperson, one or more vice chairpersons, and any other officers as it deems necessary. The officers have the powers and duties delegated to them by the commission.

(d) To employ a person to serve, at the pleasure of the commission, as president and chief executive officer of the commission and other personnel, including legal counsel, as necessary to carry out this chapter. The commission may retain a management firm or any staff from any board, commission, or committee of the state to perform the functions prescribed by this subdivision under the control of the commission. If the person engages in any conduct that the secretary determines is not in the public interest or that is in violation of this chapter, the secretary shall notify the commission of the conduct and request that corrective, and if appropriate, disciplinary action be taken by the commission. If the commission fails or refuses to correct the situation or to take disciplinary action satisfactory to the secretary, the secretary may suspend or discharge the person.

(e) To fix the compensation for all employees of the commission.

(f) To appoint committees composed of both members and nonmembers of the commission to advise the commission in carrying out this chapter.

(g) To establish offices and incur expense, and to enter into any and all contracts and agreements, and to create any liabilities and borrow any funds in advance of receipt of assessments that may be necessary, in the opinion of the commission, for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter and the performance of its duties.

(h) To keep accurate books, records, and accounts of all of its dealings, which books, records, and accounts shall be subject to an annual audit by an auditing firm selected by the commission with the concurrence of the secretary. The audit shall be made a part of an annual report to all producers and handlers of kiwifruit, copies of which shall also be submitted to the Legislature and the department. In addition, the secretary may, as he or she determines necessary, conduct, or cause to be conducted, a fiscal and compliance audit of the commission.

(i) To promote the sale of kiwifruit by advertising and other promotional means, including cost-sharing advertising, for the purpose of maintaining and expanding present markets and creating new and larger intrastate, interstate, and foreign markets for kiwifruit and to educate and instruct the public with respect to kiwifruit and the uses and time to use the several varieties and the healthful properties and nutritional value of kiwifruit.

(j) To educate and instruct the wholesale and retail trade with respect to proper methods of handling and selling kiwifruit; to arrange for the performance of dealer service work providing display and other promotional materials; to make market surveys and analyses; to present facts to, and negotiate with, state, federal, and foreign agencies on matters that affect the marketing of kiwifruit.

(k) To make, in the name of the commission, contracts to render service in formulating and conducting plans and programs, and any other contracts or agreements that the commission may deem necessary for the promotion of the sale of kiwifruit.

(l) To conduct and contract with others to conduct scientific research, including the study, analysis, dissemination, and accumulation of information obtained from that research or elsewhere respecting cultural and production practices, marketing, and distribution of kiwifruit. In connection with the research, the commission may accept contributions of, or to match, private, state, or federal funds that may be available for those purposes, and to employ or make contributions of funds to other persons or state or federal agencies conducting the research.

(m) To collect, publish, and distribute, without charge, a bulletin or other communication for dissemination of information, including, but not limited to, crop statistics, relating to the kiwifruit industry to producers and handlers.

(n) To establish an assessment rate to defray operating costs of the commission.

(o) To establish an annual budget according to acceptable accounting practices. The budget shall be concurred in by the secretary prior to disbursement of funds, except for disbursements made pursuant to subdivision (e).

(p) To submit a statement of contemplated annual activities authorized under this chapter, including advertising, promotion, marketing research, and production research, which shall be concurred in by the secretary.

(q) To administer, if requested by an advisory board, a board of directors, or any other authorized agent of a governmental program, any governmental program establishing grades and standards for the kiwifruit industry.

(r) The commission may investigate and prosecute civil violations of this chapter and file complaints with appropriate law enforcement agencies or officers for suspected criminal violations of this chapter.

(s) The commission shall provide to producers, free of charge, the names and addresses of producers on the list maintained by the commission. Handlers and other persons may obtain the names and addresses of producers on the commissions’s list upon reimbursement of the commission’s actual costs of reproduction and delivery.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 727, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1996.)