(a)The director may establish a task force comprised of representatives of the following industries:

(1) Air common carriers.

(2) Port authorities.

(3) Maritime common carriers.

(4) Other industries that the director deems appropriate.

(b) The goal of this task force shall be to develop and implement a program of preventive measures to reduce the likelihood that pests will be transported into the state aboard aircraft or vessels. The program may include, but is not limited to:

(1) Educational materials to warn passengers of the special quarantine and pest exclusion rules and regulations that apply in California.

(2) Recommendations of appropriate methods for distributing those educational materials to passengers.

(3) Special training for employees of carriers who handle cargo and baggage that may contain pests.

(4) Special training and educational materials aimed at enlisting the assistance of passenger ticket agents in educating potential passengers of the special pest exclusion measures in effect at California points of entry.

(5) Public announcements to passengers enroute to California regarding the rules and regulations related to transporting pests into the state.

(c) The program shall include methods for determining the effectiveness of the preventative measures developed pursuant to this section.

(d) The task force shall also develop a program for the purposes of seeking federal funds sufficient to maintain airport pest inspection activities at the same levels as the level maintained during the 1991–92 fiscal year.

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 829, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)