Section 224.5.

(a) In order to be eligible for the transfer specified in subdivision (g) of Section 224, counties must meet all of the following criteria, as determined by the secretary:

(1) Currently employ or contract with a licensed agricultural commissioner.

(2) Submit annual agricultural expenditure reports to the department in a timely manner.

(3) Maintain county general fund support for agricultural commissioner services at least equal to the average amount expended for the five preceding fiscal years, unless the county is facing unusual economic hardship that precludes that support.

(b) In the event that a county does not meet the criteria listed in subdivision (a) in a timely fashion, nothing shall preclude the secretary from completing transfers only to those counties that have met the criteria, while reserving funds for distribution to counties that may later be determined to have met them, or to set a date certain each fiscal year by which all available funds will be distributed to the counties that have met the criteria.

(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2008.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 421, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008. Section operative July 1, 2008, by its own provisions.)