(a) An inspection tonnage tax at the maximum rate of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per ton of commercial feed sold, except whole grains, and whole hays when unmixed, shall be paid to the secretary by any person who distributes commercial feed to a consumer-buyer in this state. The distributor shall also pay an inspection tonnage tax for purchased commercial feed fed to the distributor’s own animals.

(b) The secretary may, based upon a finding and recommendation of the board, determine the specific rate necessary to provide the revenue needed to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The secretary and the board shall not exceed the maximum tonnage rate established by this section. Setting the tonnage tax rate shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(c) The secretary may, based upon a finding and recommendation of the board, designate 15 percent of the tonnage taxes collected, or two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), whichever amount is greater, to provide funding for research and education regarding the safe manufacture, distribution, and use of commercial feed. These funds may only be spent on activities approved by the board, with approval being made before any expenditure.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends that date.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 622, Sec. 5) by Stats. 2019, Ch. 306, Sec. 2. (AB 657) Effective January 1, 2020. Repealed as of January 1, 2025, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 3 of Stats. 2019, Ch. 306.)