FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
SECTION 576-585

    576.  This article shall be known and may be cited as the University
    of California Pest Research Act of 1990.

    577.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
       (a) There is a need to develop and apply ecologically based pest
    management alternatives that are environmentally sound to prevent,
    control, and eradicate pests.
       (b) The continuation of pest control technology in agriculture
    which relies primarily on synthetic chemicals may be impractical,
    given the dwindling number of newly registered chemicals, increasing
    resistance of numerous pests to pesticides, public concern about
    pesticide residues, and potential threats posed to environmental
    quality and human health.
       (c) To be adequately prepared for existing and new infestations of
    agricultural pests, California needs to have a means of coordinating
    and evaluating long-term basic and applied pest research, including
    the impact of prevention, control, and eradication efforts upon
    public health and the environment.
       (d) The state should facilitate, promote, and support
    collaborative pest research programs and projects by its agencies,
    public and private universities, the federal government, and the
    agricultural industry that work toward developing environmentally
    sound, ecologically based pest management techniques.
       (e) In order to strengthen pest prevention, control, and
    eradication efforts, it is the intent of the Legislature that an
    administrative structure be created within the University of
    California which, in cooperation with California's public and private
    universities, the state, the agricultural industry, and persons
    experienced with environmentally sound, ecologically based pest
    management alternatives, advances pest research and formulates
    innovative solutions that better safeguard the environment and public
    health.
       Toward these ends, the Legislature requests that the Regents of
    the University of California establish a pest research center which
    will review and prioritize pest-related research activities conducted
    through the university.  It is the intent of the Legislature that
    University of California programs engaged in pest research shall,
    when applicable, follow the research priorities established by the
    center.  The center is encouraged to develop research priorities in
    cooperation with other public and private universities and with
    state, federal, and county agencies, including, but not limited to,
    the Department of Food and Agriculture, State Department of Health
    Services, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, county
    agricultural commissioners, United States Department of Agriculture,
    National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the
    agricultural industry, and with environmental and public and
    occupational health groups.

    578.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this
    section govern the construction of this article.
       (a) "Center" means the University of California Center for Pest
    Research.
       (b) "Pest" means any of the following pests that are, or are
    likely to become, dangerous or detrimental to the agricultural or
    nonagricultural environment of the state.
       (1) Any insect, nematode, or weed.
       (2) Any form of terrestrial, aquatic, or aerial plant, virus,
    fungus, bacteria, or other microorganism, except viruses, fungi,
    bacteria, or other microorganisms on, or in, a living human or any
    other living animal.

    579.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the responsibilities
    of the center include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

       (a) Establishing multidisciplinary, long-term research priorities
    for the University of California which focus on the application of
    ecologically based, environmentally sound prevention, control, and
    eradication practices against pests which pose a significant threat
    to the welfare of California's agricultural, forest, or urban
    settings.
       (b) Recommending how pest research funds obtained by the center on
    or after January 1, 1991, should be allocated within the University
    of California.
       (c) Encouraging the use of biological controls, integrated pest
    management, sustainable agriculture, and other alternative pest
    management methods to combat pests, and, thereby, reducing exposure
    to toxic substances in air, water, and soil.
       (d) Supporting basic and applied pest research, including
    practical field trials and awarding competitive grants, when
    economically feasible, and other projects administered by the center.

       (e) Developing information systems that enable academics, farmers,
    and public policymakers to quickly analyze and apply pest research
    data.
       (f) Providing information and advice to the department, county
    agricultural commissioners, the agricultural community, and other
    interested parties concerning pest prevention and detection through
    outreach consultation, information dissemination, education services,
    demonstrations, seminars, and publications.
       (g) Printing and distributing information related to
    center-sponsored and other University of California pest management
    research projects.

    580.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the center,
    through its director, develop a list of recommended pest management
    research priorities for the University of California that emphasize
    and encourage the development and implementation of biological
    controls, sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management
    strategies, agroecology, cultural and mechanical practices, and other
    alternative pest management methods and programs which are
    ecologically based and environmentally sound.
       (b) In developing pest management research recommendations, the
    center is encouraged to give high priority to alternative practices
    and strategies that address the reduction, control, or eradication of
    pests, including exotic pests, which represent the greatest threat
    to public health and safety or the economy of the state.
       (c) In developing recommended exotic pest research priorities, the
    center is encouraged to give high priority to all of the following:

       (1) Development of methods to determine the origin of exotic
    pests.
       (2) Determination of the age and origin of exotic pests.
       (3) Geographic analysis of exotic pests to determine place of
    origin, including acoustical fingerprinting.
       (4) Improvements to existing exotic pest insect baits.
       (5) An examination of the manner in which the sterile insect
    technique actually works and improvements in sterile insect
    technology.
       (6) Assessments of wild exotic pest populations, and their
    regulating biological agents.
       (7) Studies of exotic pests and their natural enemies in climates
    similar to that of the various regions in California.
       (8) The exploration and introduction of natural enemies, including
    those from foreign countries, if necessary.
       (9) Computerization of all records of exotic pest captures.
       (10) Improvements in detection technology, which include better
    attractants.
       (11) Compilation, maintenance, and updated data about exotic pest
    research and exotic pest management programs operating within and
    outside the state.

    581.  To the extent that it is economically and scientifically
    feasible, it is the intent of the Legislature that the center shall
    award pest research funds obtained by the center on or after January
    1, 1991, based upon a competitive application process and peer
    review.  The center is encouraged to give high priority to exotic
    pest research proposals.
       In awarding pest research funds, the center shall give priority to
    proposals that support pest control methods which use ecologically
    based and environmentally sound alternatives to pesticides and other
    chemicals, and eliminate or reduce pesticide use or eliminate or
    minimize pesticide residues, protect the public health and
    environment, and satisfy a majority of the following criteria:
       (a) Are cost-effective.
       (b) Improve the agricultural industry and the state economy.
       (c) Do not significantly or extensively duplicate other research.

    582.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of
    California appoint a director of the center who is knowledgeable
    about pest management practices and research and alternative pest
    management techniques.

    583.  (a) The University of California shall prepare an annual
    report describing the activities of the center, major objectives and
    significant accomplishments of pest management research and extension
    programs at the University of California, and obstacles and
    opportunities toward developing and implementing pest management
    alternatives in the state.  The report shall also include all of the
    following:
       (1) Identification and evaluation of major policy issues and needs
    in pest management research in California.
       (2) Identification of the long-range and short-term management
    research priorities established by the center.
       (3) Identification of environmentally sound, ecologically based
    alternatives to pesticides that are possible or probable human
    carcinogens or reproductive toxicants.
       (4) A summary and status information on all research proposals
    submitted through the center.  The summary shall include both
    proposed and approved research projects.
       (b) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature not later
    than October 15 of each year.

    584.  If the center is established by the Regents of the University
    of California, it is the intent of the Legislature that the
    administrative costs of establishing the center shall be supported
    from existing resources of the university.

    585.  This article shall apply to the University of California only
    to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by
    resolution, make any of these provisions applicable to the
    university.