AB 1625 Summary

• Establishes the California Transition to Organics Act of 2012 and creates the Transition to Organics Fund in the State Treasury, funded only by industry and citizen contributions (not General Fund moneys)

• Provides financial assistance to farmers transitioning conventional farms to certified organic farms, reimbursing 25 percent of organic certification costs (up to $250 per farm, $1,000 per person annually) on a first-come-first-served basis

• Authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to administer the fund, adopt regulations, and levy civil penalties for false information submitted in assistance applications

• Fund expenditures limited to transition assistance payments and administrative/operational costs for program administration

• Requires the Secretary to maintain public records of fund contributions and disbursements, and provide annual reports to the California Organic Products Advisory Committee