SB1062 - Biosecurity; Private-Public Partnerships; Appropriation

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the biosecurity program and quarantine inspection process, with the requirement that only department employees perform actual inspections.

• Allows the department to work with private partners on on-port and off-port facilities including inspection, treatment, transitional, consolidation, and deconsolidation facilities to strengthen cargo security.

• Requires the department to adopt rules establishing parameters and construction requirements for biosecurity facilities, including cold storage facilities at airports and harbors to preserve agricultural and food commodity safety.

• Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2016-2017 to the biosecurity program for projects including an electronic manifest system, import crop replacement, pesticide research, quarantine treatment development, pest diagnostics, inspection capacity improvements, and education activities.

• Takes effect on January 20, 2050.