The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:

(a) California is the leading producer of table grapes in the United States, accounting for 97 percent of table grapes grown in this country.

(b) Table grapes are grown in 15 counties located throughout the state.

(c) California grows more than 170,000 acres of table grapes producing over 700,000 tons of table grapes per year, valued at more than eight hundred sixty million dollars ($860,000,000) with a direct and indirect impact on the state’s economy that totals more than four billion dollars ($4,000,000,000).

(d) The plant killing bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, and the resulting plant disease known as Pierce’s disease, and its vectors, present a clear and present danger to California’s nearly three billion dollar ($3,000,000,000) grape industry, as well as to many other commodities and plant life.

(e) Pierce’s disease and its vector the glassy-winged sharpshooter have spread into the southern San Joaquin Valley, which, if left unabated, places grapes and other commodities throughout California in immediate peril.

(f) In addition to the research funds and program provisions set forth in Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045) of Chapter 9 of Part 1 of Division 4, dealing with wine grapes, the table grape industry is at substantial risk for Pierce’s disease and other pests and recognizes the need for additional specific control programs.

(g) Additional programs may include field treatments similar to, or the expansion of, the successful United States Department of Agriculture and California Department of Food and Agriculture General Beale area pilot program in Kern County. The expansion of those programs may require industry assessments from the table grape industry through the creation of a pest abatement district.

(h) The state has an interest in protecting its agricultural products from further destruction by the glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease, and other designated pests and diseases.

(i) As a known vector for Pierce’s disease, the glassy-winged sharpshooter has been determined to carry and spread Pierce’s disease to many forms of California agriculture, usually with complete destruction to the infected crop. This destructive effect of the disease has been determined by experts in the viticulture field to be especially true with respect to infected table grapes. To avoid a potentially catastrophic loss to one of California’s most important industries, the Legislature declares that this article is in the interest of the public health and welfare.

(j) This article shall not establish a precedent for, or supercede, reduce, or in any way alter, government funding from any source related to Pierce’s disease and other designated pests and diseases in this state.

(k) The Legislature further declares that it is in the interest of the public health and welfare that the districts authorized to be created by this article not duplicate existing services already being provided by the University of California, state, counties, or the county agricultural commissioners to eradicate the glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease, and other designated pests and diseases.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 400, Sec. 1.5. Effective September 9, 2004.)