SB 741 Summary

• Consolidates funding for California fairs into the Fair and Exposition Fund and continuously appropriates those funds for debt service, fair support, health and safety repairs, capital improvements, and revenue-generating projects.

• Requires books and accounts of all fairs receiving state funds to be examined annually and audited every three years by independent certified public accountants, with costs borne by each fair rather than the state.

• Grants district agricultural associations greater autonomy by eliminating prior approval requirements from the Department of Food and Agriculture and Department of General Services for contracting and property management, while requiring competitive bidding for projects exceeding $25,000.

• Specifies that title, control, and possession of all personal property acquired by district agricultural associations vests with the associations and excludes them from state motor vehicle acquisition oversight.

• Authorizes the Governor to remove a director of a district agricultural association for cause within one year of appointment and takes effect immediately as an urgency statute.