Bill Text: FL S1648 | 2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Department of Citrus

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-09 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 1237 -SJ 1246 [S1648 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-S1648-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2012                             CS for SB 1648
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Agriculture; and Senators Hays and Dean
       
       
       
       
       575-02578-12                                          20121648c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Department of Citrus; amending
    3         s. 20.29, F.S.; providing for the appointment,
    4         compensation, and powers and duties of the
    5         department’s executive director; deleting and
    6         conforming obsolete provisions relating to the Florida
    7         Citrus Commission; amending ss. 570.55 and 600.041,
    8         F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending s. 601.01,
    9         F.S.; revising a short title; amending s. 601.03,
   10         F.S.; defining the term “department” and conforming
   11         definitions for purposes of the Florida Citrus Code;
   12         amending s. 601.04, F.S.; revising the qualifications
   13         and terms of members of the Florida Citrus Commission;
   14         providing for staggered terms of members appointed
   15         from each citrus district; providing for shortened
   16         terms of current members; specifying that members are
   17         eligible for reappointment; deleting obsolete
   18         provisions; requiring the commission to elect a chair
   19         and secretary; deleting legislative intent relating to
   20         redistricting of the commission; amending ss. 601.045,
   21         601.05, 601.06, 601.07, and 601.08, F.S.; conforming
   22         provisions; amending s. 601.09, F.S.; providing
   23         legislative intent; authorizing the commission to
   24         submit recommendations to the Legislature for
   25         redistricting of the state’s citrus districts;
   26         amending s. 601.10, F.S.; revising the department’s
   27         powers; deleting provisions relating to the
   28         appointment, discharge, compensation, and powers and
   29         duties of the department’s executive director;
   30         establishing staffing requirements for the department;
   31         deleting requirements relating to the days, hours, and
   32         other conditions of employment for department
   33         employees; conforming provisions; amending s. 601.101,
   34         F.S.; conforming provisions; amending s. 601.11, F.S.;
   35         revising the powers and duties of the department to
   36         adopt maturity and quality standards for citrus fruit
   37         and food products thereof; authorizing the department
   38         to issue permits for the export of citrus fruit grown
   39         in the state to certain foreign countries; authorizing
   40         the department to establish standards limiting
   41         increases in spacing between stacked field boxes
   42         caused by the placement of cleats or other devices on
   43         the field boxes; requiring that the commission issue
   44         and renew permits for processors of certain
   45         concentrated orange juice and suspend or revoke the
   46         permits of processors that violate certain rules;
   47         requiring that the commission issue emergency quality
   48         assurance orders upon determining that freezing
   49         temperatures have caused damage or freeze-related
   50         injury to citrus fruit; requiring the department to
   51         adopt rules; amending s. 601.111, F.S.; revising the
   52         department’s authority to modify maturity standards
   53         for citrus fruit and the number of commission members
   54         required to approve such modifications; revising
   55         legislative intent; authorizing the department to
   56         adopt emergency rules under certain conditions;
   57         amending s. 601.13, F.S.; revising the department’s
   58         powers and duties for citrus research; providing for
   59         research related to disease and crop efficiency;
   60         conforming provisions; amending s. 601.15, F.S.;
   61         redesignating the advertising excise tax on citrus
   62         fruit as an assessment; revising the maximum rates of
   63         such assessments; revising the guarantee requirements
   64         for assessment payments; conforming provisions;
   65         amending s. 601.152, F.S.; revising the number of
   66         commission members required to issue marketing orders
   67         for special marketing campaigns and impose assessments
   68         upon citrus handlers to defray the expenses of such
   69         campaigns; conforming provisions; amending s. 601.155,
   70         F.S.; redesignating the equalizing excise tax on
   71         processed orange and grapefruit products as an
   72         assessment; revising the guarantee requirements for
   73         assessment payments; conforming provisions; amending
   74         ss. 601.24, 601.25, 601.28, 601.31, 601.32, 601.33,
   75         601.34, 601.35, 601.37, 601.38, 601.40, 601.43,
   76         601.44, 601.45, 601.46, 601.49, 601.50, 601.501,
   77         601.51, 601.52, 601.54, 601.55, 601.56, 601.57,
   78         601.58, 601.60, and 601.601, F.S.; conforming
   79         provisions and cross-references; amending s. 601.61,
   80         F.S.; specifying that the amount of bonds or
   81         certificates of deposit that must be furnished by
   82         citrus fruit dealer licensees shall be determined by
   83         the department pursuant to department rules; deleting
   84         obsolete provisions relating to the applicability and
   85         effect of certain provisions if such provisions had
   86         been determined invalid; amending ss. 601.64, 601.66,
   87         601.67, 601.69, 601.70, 601.701, 601.731, 601.74,
   88         601.75, 601.76, 601.77, 601.78, and 601.80, F.S.;
   89         conforming provisions; amending ss. 601.85 and 601.86,
   90         F.S.; specifying dimensions for standard shipping
   91         boxes and standard field boxes for fresh citrus fruit;
   92         revising circumstances under which such standard boxes
   93         must be used; amending ss. 601.91, 601.9901, 601.9902,
   94         601.9903, and 601.99035, F.S.; conforming provisions;
   95         amending s. 601.99036, F.S.; revising requirements for
   96         the commission’s approval of changes in the salaries
   97         of certain employees; amending ss. 601.9904, 601.9908,
   98         601.9910, 601.9911, 601.9918, and 601.992, F.S.;
   99         conforming provisions; amending s. 603.161, F.S.;
  100         conforming a cross-reference; repealing ss. 601.16,
  101         601.17, 601.18, 601.19, 601.20, 601.21, and 601.22,
  102         F.S., relating to maturity and quality standards for
  103         grapefruit, oranges, and tangerines; repealing s.
  104         601.87, F.S., relating to limits on increased spacing
  105         between stacked field boxes caused by the placement of
  106         cleats or other devices on the field boxes; repealing
  107         ss. 601.90 and 601.901, F.S., relating to the issuance
  108         of emergency quality assurance orders following
  109         freezing temperatures that cause damage or freeze
  110         related injury to citrus fruit and the use of such
  111         freeze-damaged citrus fruit in frozen concentrated
  112         products; repealing s. 601.981, F.S., relating to
  113         permits for the export to certain foreign countries of
  114         citrus fruit grown in the state and quality standards
  115         for such exported fruit; repealing s. 601.9905, F.S.,
  116         relating to quality standards and labeling
  117         requirements for canned orange juice; repealing s.
  118         601.9906, F.S., relating to quality standards for
  119         certain grapefruit juice products; repealing ss.
  120         601.9907, 601.9909, and 601.9913, F.S., relating to
  121         quality standards and labeling requirements for canned
  122         blends of orange juice and grapefruit juice, frozen
  123         concentrated orange juice, and high-density frozen
  124         concentrated orange juice sold in retail,
  125         institutional, or bulk size containers; repealing s.
  126         601.9914, F.S., relating to authority of the
  127         commission to adopt rules modifying citrus juice
  128         quality standards for specified purposes; repealing s.
  129         601.9916, F.S., relating to the issuance of permits
  130         for the processing, shipping, and sale of frozen
  131         concentrated orange juice or concentrated orange juice
  132         for manufacturing into which certain nutritive
  133         sweetening ingredients are added, the inspection of
  134         such processors, and quality standards and labeling
  135         requirements for such concentrated orange juice;
  136         providing effective dates.
  137  
  138  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  139  
  140         Section 1. Section 20.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  141  read:
  142         (Substantial rewording of section. See
  143         s. 20.29, F.S., for present text.)
  144         20.29 Department of Citrus; Florida Citrus Commission;
  145  executive director.—
  146         (1) The head of the Department of Citrus is the Florida
  147  Citrus Commission created under s. 601.04.
  148         (2) The executive director of the Department of Citrus
  149  shall be appointed by a majority vote of, and serves at the
  150  pleasure of, the Florida Citrus Commission. The Florida Citrus
  151  Commission shall fix the executive director’s compensation and,
  152  in addition to any powers and duties assigned to the executive
  153  director by law, shall assign the executive director’s powers
  154  and duties.
  155         Section 2. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
  156  570.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  157         570.55 Identification of sellers or handlers of tropical or
  158  subtropical fruit and vegetables; containers specified;
  159  penalties.—
  160         (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
  161         (h) “Tropical or subtropical fruit” means avocados,
  162  bananas, calamondins, carambolas, guavas, kumquats, limes,
  163  longans, loquats, lychees, mameys, mangoes, papayas, passion
  164  fruit, sapodillas, and fruit that must be grown in tropical or
  165  semitropical regions, except citrus fruit as defined in s.
  166  601.03(7).
  167         Section 3. Subsection (11) of section 600.041, Florida
  168  Statutes, is amended to read:
  169         600.041 Definitions.—As used in this act, the following
  170  terms have the following meanings:
  171         (11) “Standard-packed box” has the same meaning means a
  172  unit of measure as provided defined in s. 601.03(33).
  173         Section 4. Section 601.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  174  read:
  175         601.01 Short title.—This chapter may be known and cited as
  176  the “Florida “The Florida Citrus Code of 1949.”
  177         Section 5. Section 601.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  178  read:
  179         601.03 Definitions.—As used in construing this chapter,
  180  where the context permits the word, phrase, or term:
  181         (1) “Additive” means any foreign substance which, when
  182  added to any citrus fruit juice, will change the amount of total
  183  soluble solids or anhydrous citric acid therein, or the color or
  184  taste thereof, or act as an artificial preservative thereof.;
  185         (2) “Agent” means any person who, on behalf of any citrus
  186  fruit dealer, negotiates the consignment, purchase, or sale of
  187  citrus fruit, or weighs citrus fruit so that the weight thereof
  188  may be used in computing the amount to be paid therefor.;
  189         (3) “Broker” means any person engaged in the business of
  190  negotiating the sale or purchase of citrus fruit for others.;
  191         (4) “Canned products” means juices, segments, or sections
  192  of citrus fruits sealed in hermetically sealed containers at a
  193  concentration that does of not exceed exceeding 20 degrees Brix
  194  and sufficiently processed by heat to ensure preservation of the
  195  product, and when regulated by the department of Citrus, these
  196  same products packed in any other manner or in any other type
  197  container.;
  198         (5) “Canning plant” means any building, structure, or place
  199  where citrus fruit or the juice thereof is canned or prepared
  200  for canning at a concentration that does of not exceed exceeding
  201  20 degrees Brix for market or shipment.;
  202         (6) “Cash buyer” means any person who purchases citrus
  203  fruit in this state from the producer for the purpose of
  204  resale.;
  205         (7) “Citrus fruit” means all varieties and regulated
  206  hybrids of citrus fruit and also means processed citrus products
  207  containing 20 percent or more citrus fruit or citrus fruit
  208  juice. The term does not, but, for the purposes of this chapter,
  209  shall not mean limes, lemons, marmalade, jellies, preserves,
  210  candies, or citrus hybrids for which no specific standards have
  211  not been established by the department. of Citrus;
  212         (8) “Citrus fruit dealer” means any consignor, commission
  213  merchant, consignment shipper, cash buyer, broker, association,
  214  cooperative association, express or gift fruit shipper, or
  215  person who in any manner makes or attempts to make money or
  216  other thing of value on citrus fruit in any manner whatsoever,
  217  other than of growing or producing citrus fruit., but The term
  218  does shall not include retail establishments whose sales are
  219  direct to consumers and not for resale or persons or firms
  220  trading solely in citrus futures contracts on a regulated
  221  commodity exchange.;
  222         (9)(37) “Citrus hybrids” includes, means but is shall not
  223  be limited to, hybrids between or among sour orange (C.
  224  aurantium), pummelo (C. grandis), lemon (C. limon), lime (C.
  225  aurantifolia), citron (C. medica), grapefruit (C. paradisi),
  226  tangerine or mandarin orange (C. reticulata), sweet orange (C.
  227  sinensis), tangelo (C. reticulata x C. paradisi or C. grandis),
  228  tangor (C. reticulata x C. sinensis), kumquat (Fortunella,
  229  species), trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata), and varieties
  230  of these species.;
  231         (10)(9) “Citrus producing area” means that part or parts of
  232  the state in which citrus fruit is grown or produced.;
  233         (11)(10) “Color-add” or “color-added” means the application
  234  or use of any coloring matter to any citrus fruit.;
  235         (12)(11) “Coloring matter” means any dye, or any liquid or
  236  concentrate or material containing a dye or materials that which
  237  react to form a dye, used or intended to be used for the purpose
  238  of enhancing the color of citrus fruit by the addition of
  239  artificial color to the peel thereof. The; provided that said
  240  term does shall not include any process or treatment of fruit
  241  that which merely brings out or accelerates the natural color of
  242  the fruit.;
  243         (13) “Commission” means the Florida Citrus Commission as
  244  head of the department. of Citrus;
  245         (14)(15) “Commission merchant” means any person engaged in
  246  the business of receiving any citrus fruit for sale on
  247  commission for or on behalf of another.;
  248         (15)(16) “Concentrated products” means:
  249         (a) Frozen citrus fruit juice frozen that has at a
  250  concentration that exceeds of exceeding 20 degrees Brix and is
  251  kept at a sufficiently freezing temperature to ensure
  252  preservation of the product; or and
  253         (b) Citrus fruit juice that is sealed in hermetically
  254  sealed containers at a concentration that exceeds of exceeding
  255  20 degrees Brix and is sufficiently processed by heat to ensure
  256  preservation of the product.;
  257         (16)(17) “Concentrating plant” means any building,
  258  structure, or place where citrus fruit is canned, frozen, or
  259  prepared for canning or freezing at a concentration that exceeds
  260  of more than 20 degrees Brix for market or shipment.;
  261         (17)(18) “Consignment shipper” means any person who
  262  contracts with the producer of citrus fruit for the marketing
  263  thereof for the sole account and risk of such producer and who
  264  agrees to pay such producer the net proceeds derived from such
  265  sale.;
  266         (18)(19) “Consignor” means any person, other than a
  267  producer, who ships or delivers to any commission merchant or
  268  dealer any citrus fruit for handling, sale, or resale.;
  269         (19)(12) “Degreening Coloring room” means any room or place
  270  where citrus fruit is placed, with or without the use of heat or
  271  any gas, for the purpose of bringing out the natural color of
  272  the fruit.;
  273         (20) “Department” means the Department of Citrus.
  274         (21)(14) “Department of Agriculture” means the Department
  275  of Agriculture and Consumer Services. of the State of Florida;
  276         (22)(20) “Express or gift fruit shipper” means any person
  277  having an established place of business who ships or delivers
  278  for transportation in any manner, citrus fruit to a consumer and
  279  not for the purpose of resale.;
  280         (23)(21) “Fresh fruit juice distributor” means any person
  281  extracting and preparing for market or shipment any citrus fruit
  282  juice in fresh form.;
  283         (24)(22) “Grapefruit” means the fruit Citrus paradisi
  284  Macf., commonly called grapefruit. The term includes the and
  285  shall include white, red, and pink meated varieties of
  286  grapefruit.;
  287         (25)(23) “Handler” means any person engaged within this
  288  state in the business of distributing citrus fruit in the
  289  primary channel of trade or any person engaged as a processor in
  290  the business of processing citrus fruit.;
  291         (26)(35) “Lemons” or “rough lemons” including “rough”
  292  lemons means the acid lemons of Citrus limon, including the
  293  varieties eureka, genoa, wheatley, amerfo, belair, and
  294  villafranca of the Eureka group; varieties bonnie brae, kennedy,
  295  lisbon, messer, messina, and sicily of the Lisbon group;
  296  varieties meyer, cuban, ponderosa, and rough of the Anomalous
  297  group; varieties dorshapo and millsweet of the Sweet Lemon
  298  group;, and other varieties not included in this subsection,
  299  above such as everbearing, palestine sweet, perrine, and
  300  spheriola.;
  301         (27)(24) “Manufacturer” means any person who manufactures
  302  shall manufacture, sells sell or offers offer for sale, or
  303  licenses license or offers offer for license for use any
  304  coloring matter, or any soaps, oils, waxes, gases, gas-forming
  305  material, or other similar compositions, or the component parts
  306  thereof on or in the processing of citrus fruits.;
  307         (28)(25) “Oranges” means the fruit Citrus sinensis Osbeck,
  308  commonly called sweet oranges.;
  309         (29)(26) “Packinghouse” means any building, structure, or
  310  place where citrus fruit is packed or otherwise prepared for
  311  market or shipment in fresh form.;
  312         (30)(27) “Person” means any natural person, partnership,
  313  association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity.;
  314         (31)(28) “Primary channel of trade” means the routes
  315  through which citrus fruit is marketed. Citrus that fruit is
  316  shall be deemed to be have been delivered into the primary
  317  channel of trade when it is sold or delivered for shipment in
  318  fresh form, or when it is received and accepted at a canning,
  319  concentrating, or processing plant for canning, concentrating,
  320  or processing.;
  321         (32)(38) “Processor” means any person engaged within this
  322  state in the business of canning, concentrating, or otherwise
  323  processing citrus fruit for market other than for shipment in
  324  fresh fruit form.
  325         (33)(29) “Producer” means any person growing or producing
  326  citrus in this state for market.;
  327         (34)(30) “Ship” or “shipping” means to move, or cause to be
  328  moved, citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products
  329  thereof to be moved in intrastate, interstate, or foreign
  330  commerce by rail, truck, boat, or airplane, or any other means.;
  331         (35)(31) “Shipper” means any person engaged in shipping, or
  332  causing to be shipped, citrus fruit or the canned or
  333  concentrated products thereof in intrastate, interstate, or
  334  foreign commerce, whether as owner, agent, or otherwise.;
  335         (36)(32) “Shipping season” means that period of time
  336  beginning August 1 of one year and ending July 31 of the
  337  following year.;
  338         (37)(36) “Sour or bitter oranges”—“sour” or “bitter”
  339  oranges means the fruit of Citrus aurantium L. and contains
  340  several subspecies. Among the most important are varieties
  341  african, brazilian, rubidoux, and standard of the Normal group;
  342  varieties daidai, goleta, and bouquet of the Aberrant group;
  343  variety chinooto of the Myrtifolia group; and varieties
  344  bittersweet and paraguay of the Bittersweet group.;
  345         (38)(33) “Standard packed box” means 1 3/5 bushels of
  346  citrus fruit, whether in bulk or containers.;
  347         (39)(34) “Tangerines” means the fruit Citrus reticulata
  348  Blanco, commonly called tangerines.;
  349         Section 6. Section 601.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  350  read:
  351         601.04 Florida Citrus Commission; creation and membership.—
  352         (1)(a) There is created and established within the
  353  department of Citrus a board to be known and designated as the
  354  Florida Citrus Commission, which shall to be composed of nine
  355  members appointed by the Governor. Each member must be a
  356  practical citrus fruit persons who are resident citizen citizens
  357  of the state who, each of whom is and has been actively engaged
  358  in the growing, growing and shipping, or growing and processing
  359  of citrus fruit in the state for a period of at least 5 years
  360  immediately before prior to appointment to the said commission
  361  and has, during that 5-year said period:,
  362         1. Derived a major portion of her or his income from such
  363  growing, growing and shipping, or growing and processing of
  364  citrus fruit; therefrom or, during said time, has
  365         2. Been the owner of, member of, officer of, or paid
  366  employee of a corporation, firm, or partnership that which has,
  367  during that 5-year period said time, derived the major portion
  368  of its income from such the growing, growing and shipping, or
  369  growing and processing of citrus fruit.
  370         (b)1. Six members of the commission shall be classified
  371  designated as grower members and shall be primarily engaged in
  372  the growing of citrus fruit as an individual owner; as the owner
  373  of, or as stockholder of, a corporation; or as a member of a
  374  firm or partnership primarily engaged in citrus growing. None of
  375  Such members may not shall receive any compensation from any
  376  licensed citrus fruit dealer or handler, as defined in s.
  377  601.03, other than gift fruit shippers, but any of the grower
  378  members shall not be disqualified as a member if, individually,
  379  or as the owner of, a member of, an officer of, or a stockholder
  380  of a corporation, firm, or partnership primarily engaged in
  381  citrus growing which processes, packs, and markets its own fruit
  382  and whose business is primarily not purchasing and handling
  383  fruit grown by others.
  384         2. Three members of the commission shall be classified
  385  designated as grower-handler members and shall be engaged as
  386  owners, or as paid officers or employees, of a corporation,
  387  firm, partnership, or other business unit engaged in handling
  388  citrus fruit. One of such member three grower-handler members
  389  shall be primarily engaged in the fresh fruit business, and two
  390  of such three grower-handler members shall be primarily engaged
  391  in the processing of citrus fruits.
  392         (2)(a)(c)There shall be Three commission members shall be
  393  appointed of the commission from each of the three citrus
  394  districts designated in s. 601.09. Members appointed from the
  395  same citrus district shall serve staggered terms, such that the
  396  term of one of the district’s three members expires each year.
  397  Each member must reside in the district from which she or he was
  398  appointed. For the purposes of this section, a member’s the
  399  residence is her or his of a member shall be the actual physical
  400  and permanent residence of the member.
  401         (b)(2)(a)The Members of such commission shall possess the
  402  qualifications herein provided and shall be appointed to by the
  403  Governor for terms of 3 years each, except that, to establish
  404  staggered terms of members from each citrus district, the terms
  405  of members appointed before July 1, 2012, shall be shortened as
  406  follows:
  407         1. The term of one member from each citrus district shall
  408  expire June 30, 2012, and her or his successor shall be
  409  appointed to a term beginning July 1, 2012, and expiring May 31,
  410  2015.
  411         2. The term of one member from each citrus district shall
  412  expire June 30, 2013, and her or his successor shall be
  413  appointed to a term beginning July 1, 2013, and expiring May 31,
  414  2016.
  415         3. The term of one member from each citrus district shall
  416  expire June 30, 2014, and her or his successor shall be
  417  appointed to a term beginning July 1, 2014, and ending May 31,
  418  2017.
  419         4. Subsequent appointments shall be made in accordance with
  420  this section.
  421  
  422  Appointments shall be made by February 1 preceding the
  423  commencement of the term and are shall be subject to
  424  confirmation by the Senate in the following legislative session.
  425  Each member is eligible for reappointment and Four members shall
  426  be appointed each year. Such members shall serve until her or
  427  his successor is their respective successors are appointed and
  428  qualified. The regular terms shall begin on June 1 and expire
  429  shall end on May 31 of the third year after such appointment.
  430  Effective July 1, 2011, the terms of all members of the
  431  commission appointed on or before May 1, 2011, are terminated
  432  and the Governor shall appoint the members of the commission in
  433  accordance with the provisions of this act.
  434         (c)(b) When appointments are made, the Governor shall
  435  publicly announce the actual classification and district that
  436  each appointee represents. A majority of the members of the
  437  commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all
  438  business and the carrying out of the duties of the commission.
  439  Before entering upon the discharge of their duties as members of
  440  the commission, each member shall take and subscribe to the oath
  441  of office prescribed in s. 5, Art. II of the State Constitution.
  442  The qualifications and classification required qualification of
  443  each member by this section continue to be as herein required
  444  shall continue throughout the respective term of office, and if
  445  in the event a member should, after appointment, fails fail to
  446  meet the qualifications or classification that which she or he
  447  possessed at the time of appointment as above set forth, the
  448  such member must shall resign or be removed and be replaced with
  449  a member possessing the proper qualifications and
  450  classification.
  451         (d)(c) When making an appointment to the commission, the
  452  Governor shall announce the district, and classification, and
  453  term of the person appointed.
  454         (3)(a) The commission shall is authorized to elect a chair
  455  and secretary and may elect a vice chair and such other officers
  456  as the commission deems it may deem advisable.
  457         (b) The chair, subject to commission concurrence, may
  458  appoint such advisory committees or councils composed of
  459  industry representatives as the chair deems appropriate, setting
  460  forth the areas of committee or council concerns that concern
  461  which are consistent with the statutory powers and duties of the
  462  commission and the department of Citrus.
  463         (4) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission
  464  be redistricted every 5 years. Redistricting shall be based on
  465  the total boxes produced from each of the three districts during
  466  that 5-year period.
  467         Section 7. Section 601.045, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  468  read:
  469         601.045 Department auditor’s report; Commission meetings;
  470  report of department’s internal auditor meeting agenda item.—The
  471  Florida Citrus commission shall include as an agenda item at
  472  each regularly scheduled meeting a report by the department’s
  473  internal auditor of the department of Citrus.
  474         Section 8. Section 601.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  475  read:
  476         601.05 Department of Citrus a body corporate.—The
  477  department of Citrus shall be a body corporate, shall have power
  478  to contract and be contracted with, and shall have and possess
  479  all the powers of a body corporate for all purposes necessary
  480  for fully carrying out the provisions and requirements of this
  481  chapter. The department of Citrus shall adopt a corporate seal
  482  with which it shall authenticate its proceedings.
  483         Section 9. Section 601.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  484  read:
  485         601.06 Compensation and expenses of commission members.
  486  Each member of the commission shall receive the sum of $25 per
  487  day for each day or fraction thereof spent while en route to or
  488  from, or in actual attendance at, regular or special meetings of
  489  the commission or meetings of committees of the commission, or
  490  in transacting other business authorized by the department of
  491  Citrus in addition to per diem and reimbursement of expenses as
  492  authorized by law.
  493         Section 10. Section 601.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  494  read:
  495         601.07 Location of executive offices.—The department’s
  496  executive offices of the Department of Citrus shall be
  497  established and maintained at Bartow.
  498         Section 11. Section 601.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  499  read:
  500         601.08 Authenticated copies of commission records as
  501  evidence.—Copies of the proceedings, records, and acts of the
  502  commission and certificates purporting to relate the facts
  503  concerning such proceedings, records, and acts signed by the
  504  chair of the commission and authenticated by the department’s
  505  seal of the Department of Citrus shall be prima facie evidence
  506  thereof in all the courts of the state.
  507         Section 12. Section 601.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  508  read:
  509         601.09 Citrus districts.—
  510         (1) For purposes of this chapter, the state is divided into
  511  three districts composed of:
  512         (a)(1) Citrus District One: Levy, Alachua, Brevard, Putnam,
  513  St. Johns, St. Lucie, Flagler, Indian River, Marion, Seminole,
  514  Orange, Okeechobee, Polk, Volusia, and Osceola Counties.
  515         (b)(2) Citrus District Two: Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, and
  516  Glades Counties.
  517         (c)(3) Citrus District Three: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier,
  518  Hernando, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe,
  519  Martin, Pasco, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter, Broward,
  520  and Miami-Dade Counties.
  521         (2) The Legislature intends that the citrus districts be
  522  reviewed and, if necessary to maintain substantially equal
  523  volumes of citrus production within each district, redistricted
  524  every 5 years. The commission may, once every 5 years, review
  525  the citrus districts based on the total boxes produced within
  526  each district during the preceding 5 years and, based on the
  527  commission’s findings, submit recommendations to the Legislature
  528  for redistricting in accordance with this subsection.
  529         Section 13. Section 601.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  530  read:
  531         601.10 Powers of the Department of Citrus.—The department
  532  of Citrus shall have and shall exercise such general and
  533  specific powers as are delegated to it by this chapter and other
  534  statutes of the state, which powers shall include, but are shall
  535  not limited be confined to, the following:
  536         (1) To adopt and periodically, from time to time, alter,
  537  rescind, modify, or amend all proper and necessary rules,
  538  regulations, and orders for the exercise of its powers and the
  539  performance of its duties under this chapter and other statutes
  540  of the state, which rules and orders regulations shall have the
  541  force and effect of law when not inconsistent therewith.
  542         (2) To act as the general supervisory authority over the
  543  administration and enforcement of this chapter and to exercise
  544  such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
  545  imposed upon it by other laws of the state.
  546         (3) To employ and, at its pleasure, discharge an executive
  547  director as it deems necessary and to outline his or her powers
  548  and duties and fix his or her compensation.
  549         (a) The executive director of the department shall be
  550  appointed by a majority vote of the commission for a term of 4
  551  years, except for the initial term, and the executive director
  552  shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate in the
  553  legislative session following appointment.
  554         1. The initial term of the executive director ends June 30,
  555  2011, and each subsequent 4-year term begins July 1, and shall
  556  be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
  557         2. A vacancy for the executive director shall be filled for
  558  the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the
  559  original appointment.
  560         (a)(b)To The department of Citrus may pay, or participate
  561  in the payment of, premiums for health, accident, and life
  562  insurance for its full-time employees, pursuant to such rules or
  563  regulations as the department it may adopt,; and such payments
  564  are in addition to the regular salaries of such full-time
  565  employees. The payment of such or similar benefits to its
  566  employees in foreign countries, including, but not limited to,
  567  social security, retirement, and other similar fringe benefit
  568  costs, may be in accordance with laws in effect in the country
  569  of employment, except that no benefits will be payable to
  570  employees not authorized for other state employees, as provided
  571  in the Career Service System.
  572         (b) Subject to all applicable rules adopted by the
  573  Department of Management Services, the department shall be
  574  staffed 5 days per week, 40 hours per week, as necessary to
  575  accommodate industry inquiries. However, the executive director,
  576  with the commission’s approval, may establish alternative
  577  schedules for individual department employees to ensure maximum
  578  efficiencies.
  579         (c) Employees of the department shall work a 5-day, 40-hour
  580  week. Unless an employee is on approved leave, an employee’s
  581  salary shall be decreased by 20 percent for each day not worked
  582  during the 5-day work week if the employee chooses to regularly
  583  work less than a 5-day work week.
  584         (4) To purchase or authorize the purchase of all office
  585  equipment and supplies and to incur all necessary expenses in
  586  connection with and required for the proper administration
  587  carrying out of the provisions of this chapter and other
  588  applicable laws.
  589         (5) To investigate violations of the provisions of this
  590  chapter and other laws conferring powers and duties upon the
  591  department of Citrus, and to report its findings or
  592  recommendations in connection therewith to the Department of
  593  Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  594         (6) To incur such reasonable obligations and expenses as
  595  may be necessary and proper for the discharge of its powers and
  596  duties under this or other laws, and to have such obligations
  597  and expenses paid out of the funds authorized by law to be
  598  collected and expended. The department’s executive director of
  599  the Department of Citrus, or such other person specifically
  600  designated by the commission to act in the event the executive
  601  director is either unable or not available to act, is authorized
  602  to execute, on behalf of the department, contracts and
  603  agreements previously approved by the commission during a
  604  regular or special meeting, on behalf of the Department of
  605  Citrus; and the secretary or assistant secretary of the
  606  commission is authorized to attest to the signature of the
  607  executive director or other designated person.
  608         (7) To adopt, promulgate, alter, rescind, modify, amend or
  609  repeal, and enforce rules that and regulations and establish
  610  minimum maturity and quality standards for citrus fruits not
  611  inconsistent with existing laws or that, to regulate and control
  612  methods and practices followed or used in harvesting, grading,
  613  packing, extracting, canning, concentrating, sectionizing, or
  614  otherwise processing citrus fruits or citrus juices or the
  615  products thereof for human consumption, including the addition
  616  or prohibition of any and all additives, and including
  617  application to or use of coloring matter thereon and coloring of
  618  fruit by placing in a degreening coloring room with or without
  619  use of heat or any form of gas in such process, to the end that
  620  such methods and practices as affect the eating and keeping
  621  qualities and depreciate the value of citrus fruits or the
  622  juices or other food products thereof in any form may be
  623  minimized to the greatest extent possible, if not altogether
  624  eliminated.
  625         (8) To prepare and disseminate information of importance to
  626  citrus growers, handlers, shippers, processors, and industry
  627  related and interested persons and organizations, relating to
  628  department of Citrus activities and the production, handling,
  629  shipping, processing, and marketing of citrus fruit and
  630  processed citrus products. Any information that constitutes
  631  which consists of a trade secret as defined in s. 812.081(1)(c)
  632  is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1),
  633  and shall not be disclosed. For referendum and other notice and
  634  informational purposes, the department of Citrus may prepare and
  635  maintain, from the best available sources, a citrus grower
  636  mailing list. Such list shall be a public record available as
  637  other public records, but it shall not be subject to the purging
  638  provisions of s. 283.55.
  639         (9) When, in the opinion of the department of Citrus, the
  640  tax revenues collected pursuant to assessments levied under this
  641  chapter, whether allocated for research, advertising or
  642  promotion, reserve funds, advertising incentive plans, or other
  643  purposes, are not immediately needed for the purpose for which
  644  such funds are provided, the Chief Financial Officer is
  645  authorized and shall, upon the request and approval of the
  646  department of Citrus, or its executive director general manager
  647  if she or he has been given such authority, invest and reinvest
  648  the funds designated and for the period of time specified in
  649  such request. In the investment of such funds, the Chief
  650  Financial Officer has shall have the powers and is be subject to
  651  the limitations provided for in s. 17.61.
  652         (10) Subject to the concurrence of the Chief Financial
  653  Officer, whenever the department contracts with a foreign entity
  654  for performance of services or the purchase of materials, and
  655  such contract requires payment in equivalent foreign currency,
  656  the department may, for payment of such contract obligation,
  657  deposit sufficient state funds in a foreign bank, or purchase
  658  foreign currency at the current market rate, up to an amount not
  659  in excess of the contract obligation. All payments from these
  660  funds must have prior audit approval from the office of the
  661  Chief Financial Officer.
  662         (11) To conduct an annual merchandising and management
  663  meeting in this state for department field personnel and to make
  664  direct payment, by means of vendor contracts approved by the
  665  commission, for all necessary lodging, meals, facilities, and
  666  training expenses for department employees attending such annual
  667  meeting, in lieu of payment of individual employee per diem
  668  allowances as established by s. 112.061.
  669         (12) Notwithstanding the provisions of part I of chapter
  670  287, to adopt promulgate rules for the purpose of entering into
  671  contracts that which are primarily for promotional and
  672  advertising services and promotional events, which may include
  673  commodities involving a service. Such rules shall include the
  674  authority to negotiate costs with the offerors of such services
  675  and commodities who have been determined to be qualified on the
  676  basis of technical merit, creative ability, and professional
  677  competency. Contracts pursuant to this subsection may provide
  678  for advance payments when the department determines that such
  679  provision is essential to acquiring the service.
  680         (13) To investigate or address the transportation problems
  681  affecting the citrus industry.
  682         (14) To investigate or research the mechanical harvesting
  683  of citrus fruit grown in the state Florida.
  684         (15) To provide by rule a list of forms used in conducting
  685  its business. The adoption of such rule constitutes sufficient
  686  notice to the public of the existence of the forms and negates
  687  the need to place specific citation to such list throughout the
  688  related chapters of the Florida Administrative Code.
  689         Section 14. Section 601.101, Florida Statutes, is amended
  690  to read:
  691         601.101 Ownership of rights under patent and trademark laws
  692  developed or acquired under pursuant to the authorities of this
  693  chapter.—Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 286, the legal
  694  title and every right, interest, claim, or demand of any kind in
  695  and to any patent, trademark, copyright, certification mark, or
  696  other right acquired under the patent and trademark laws of the
  697  United States, or this state, or any foreign country, or the
  698  application therefor for the same, now, heretofore, or that is
  699  or as may subsequently be hereafter owned or held, acquired, or
  700  developed by the department of Citrus, under the authority and
  701  directions given it by this chapter, is vested in the department
  702  of Citrus for the use, benefit, and purposes provided in this
  703  chapter. The department of Citrus is hereby vested with and may
  704  is authorized to exercise any and all of the normal incidents of
  705  such ownership, including the receipt and disposition of
  706  royalties. Any sums received as royalties from any such rights
  707  are hereby appropriated to the department of Citrus for any and
  708  all of the purposes and uses provided in this chapter.
  709         Section 15. Section 601.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  710  read:
  711         601.11 Power of Department of Citrus; power to establish
  712  standards; rulemaking authority.—
  713         (1) The department of Citrus shall have the power to: have
  714  full and plenary power to, and may,
  715         (a) Establish state grades and minimum maturity and quality
  716  standards not inconsistent with existing laws for citrus fruits
  717  and food products thereof containing 20 percent or more citrus
  718  or citrus juice, whether canned, or concentrated, or otherwise
  719  processed, including standards for frozen concentrate for
  720  manufacturing purposes, and for containers therefor. These
  721  standards must be designed to increase the acceptance and
  722  consumption by the consuming public of such regulated citrus
  723  fruits and food products thereof and may include, but are not
  724  limited to, standards for:
  725         1. Color break, predominant color, total soluble solids,
  726  juice content, and ratio of soluble solids of the juice to
  727  anhydrous citric acid of oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines.
  728         2. Total soluble solids, juice content, and ratio of
  729  soluble solids of the juice to anhydrous citric acid of citrus
  730  fruit grown in the state for export to foreign countries other
  731  than Canada and Mexico.
  732         3. Canned orange juice or frozen concentrated orange juice
  733  that is sold, offered for sale, shipped, or offered for
  734  shipment, including, but not limited to, standards for total
  735  soluble solids, ratio of soluble solids of juice to anhydrous
  736  citric acid, amount of anhydrous citric acid, amount of
  737  recoverable oil, color, taste, flavor, and absence of additives
  738  or defects, and labeling requirements for substandard juice.
  739  These standards may establish separate density, compositional,
  740  labeling, and inspection requirements for high-density frozen
  741  concentrated orange juice that is sold, offered for sale,
  742  shipped, or offered for shipment in retail, institutional, or
  743  bulk size containers.
  744         4. The processing, shipping, and sale of frozen
  745  concentrated orange juice and concentrated orange juice for
  746  manufacturing to which nutritive sweetening ingredients are
  747  added, including, but not limited to, total soluble solids of
  748  orange juice exclusive of the added nutritive sweetening
  749  ingredients; labeling requirements; and requirements for the
  750  inspection and reinspection of such concentrated orange juice
  751  before and after nutritive sweetening ingredients are added.
  752         5. Grapefruit juice products, including, but not limited
  753  to, standards for the ratio of soluble solids of juice to
  754  anhydrous citric acid and any other standards designed to
  755  increase the acceptance and consumption by the consuming public
  756  of such regulated grapefruit juice products.
  757         6. Canned blends of orange juice and grapefruit juice that
  758  are sold, offered for sale, shipped, or offered for shipment,
  759  including, but not limited to, standards for total soluble
  760  solids, ratio of soluble solids of juice to anhydrous citric
  761  acid, amount of anhydrous citric acid, amount of recoverable
  762  oil, color, taste, flavor, absence of defects, and labeling
  763  requirements for substandard juice blends.
  764         (b) Issue permits for the export to foreign countries other
  765  than Canada and Mexico of citrus fruit grown in the state which
  766  complies with the standards established under subparagraph (a)2.
  767         (c) Establish standards limiting any increase of spacing
  768  between stacked field boxes caused by the placement of cleats or
  769  other devices on the field boxes.
  770         (2) The commission shall:
  771         (a) Issue and renew permits for processors of frozen
  772  concentrated orange juice and concentrated orange juice for
  773  manufacturing to which nutritive sweetening ingredients are
  774  added and, in addition to disciplinary action that may be taken
  775  by the Department of Agriculture against a citrus fruit dealer
  776  for violations of this chapter, suspend or revoke the permit of
  777  any processor that does not comply with the standards
  778  established under subparagraph (1)(a)4.
  779         (b) Determine whether freezing temperatures have caused
  780  damage or freeze-related injury as described in s. 601.89 to
  781  citrus fruit and, if the commission determines that such damage
  782  has been caused, issue emergency quality assurance orders that:
  783         1. Temporarily prohibit the preparation for market, sale,
  784  offer for sale, or shipment of any citrus fruit showing freeze
  785  damage or freeze-related injury.
  786         2. Establish the degree of freeze damage or freeze-related
  787  injury that is temporarily permitted in citrus fruit used in
  788  frozen concentrated products, including concentrate for
  789  manufacturing purposes.
  790         (3) The department shall adopt prescribe rules or
  791  regulations governing:
  792         (a) The marking, branding, labeling, tagging, or stamping
  793  of citrus fruit, or products thereof, whether canned, or
  794  concentrated, or otherwise processed, and upon containers
  795  therefor for the purpose of showing the name and address of the
  796  person marketing such citrus fruit or products thereof, whether
  797  canned, or concentrated, or otherwise processed.;
  798         (b) The grade, quality, variety, type, or size of citrus
  799  fruit;, the grade, quality, variety, type, and amount of the
  800  products thereof, whether canned, or concentrated, or otherwise
  801  processed;, and the quality, type, size, dimensions, and shape
  802  of containers therefor.,
  803         (c) The regulation and to regulate or prohibition of
  804  prohibit the use of containers that which have been previously
  805  have been used for the sale, transportation, or shipment of
  806  citrus fruit or the products thereof, whether canned, or
  807  concentrated, or otherwise processed, or any other commodity.;
  808  provided, However, the department may not prohibit that the use
  809  of secondhand containers for the sale or and delivery of citrus
  810  fruit for retail consumption within the state. shall not be
  811  prohibited;
  812         (4) The department may not adopt any provided, however,
  813  that no standard, regulation, rule, or order under this section
  814  that which is inconsistent with repugnant to any requirement of
  815  made mandatory under federal law or regulations that applies
  816  shall apply to citrus fruit, or the products thereof, whether
  817  canned, or concentrated, or otherwise processed, or to
  818  containers therefor, that which are being shipped from this
  819  state in interstate commerce.
  820         (5)(a) All citrus fruit and the products thereof, whether
  821  canned, or concentrated, or otherwise processed, sold, or
  822  offered for sale, or offered for shipment within or without the
  823  state shall be graded and marked as required by this section.
  824  and
  825         (b) The regulations, rules, and orders adopted and made
  826  under authority of this section, to the extent that they are
  827  which regulations, rules, and orders shall, when not
  828  inconsistent with state or federal law, shall have the force and
  829  effect of law.
  830         Section 16. Section 601.111, Florida Statutes, is amended
  831  to read:
  832         601.111 Department of Citrus authorized to lower Maturity
  833  standards; modification by emergency rule.—
  834         (1) The Legislature of the state finds and declares that
  835  emergencies creating abnormal conditions in the state’s Florida
  836  citrus industry, which may include, but are not limited to, such
  837  as unusual climatic conditions that produce unusual growing
  838  conditions of citrus fruit, freezes and hurricanes, or other
  839  acts of God that may affect a substantial part of the citrus
  840  industry, require that the department have of Citrus be given
  841  the power and authority to modify lower the maturity standards
  842  established by rule law for citrus fruit or any variety thereof,
  843  not including oranges except as specified in subsection (2),
  844  under and subject to the limitations, conditions, restrictions,
  845  and provisions and within the standards hereinafter prescribed
  846  and established.
  847         (2)(a) Upon the determination by the department that In the
  848  event of an emergency exists that creates abnormal conditions in
  849  the state’s citrus industry such as is mentioned in subsection
  850  (1), the said department of Citrus, in addition to all other
  851  powers and authority provided by law, may adopt emergency which
  852  it now possesses, which have heretofore been granted or
  853  delegated to it by the Legislature shall have the additional
  854  power to issue rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4) which temporarily
  855  modify the maturity standards previously adopted by rule and
  856  regulations to:
  857         (a) Lower by not more than 10 percent the existing minimum
  858  requirement as to the total soluble solids of the juice of
  859  citrus fruit or any variety, except oranges, or size thereof;
  860         (b) Lower by not more than 10 percent the existing ratio of
  861  total soluble solids of the juice of citrus fruit or any variety
  862  thereof, except oranges, to the anhydrous citric acid;
  863         (c) Lower by not more than 10 percent the existing minimum
  864  requirement for juice content of citrus fruit or any variety or
  865  size thereof; and
  866         (d) Lower by not more than 10 percent the existing minimum
  867  requirement for the content of anhydrous citric acid for
  868  oranges.
  869         (b) An emergency rule adopted Any action under this
  870  subsection does shall not take effect unless the emergency rule
  871  is be taken without the consent of at least nine members of the
  872  Florida Citrus Commission. Any regulation adopted pursuant to
  873  this section shall be by the affirmative vote of at least seven
  874  nine members of the said Florida Citrus commission.
  875  Notwithstanding the limitation on the effective period for
  876  emergency rules in s. 120.54(4)(c), each, and every such
  877  emergency rule adopted under this section must regulation shall
  878  contain an expiration date of not later than 1 year after from
  879  its effective date.
  880         (3) This section does act shall not repeal any other
  881  section or part of this chapter and, but shall be deemed as
  882  supplemental and additional to the express power vested in the
  883  department of Citrus, subject only to the limitations,
  884  restrictions, conditions, provisions, and standards provided in
  885  this section herein set forth.
  886         Section 17. Section 601.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  887  read:
  888         601.13 Citrus research; administration by Department of
  889  Citrus; appropriation.—
  890         (1) The department shall administer administration of this
  891  section and shall be vested in the department of Citrus which
  892  shall prescribe suitable and reasonable rules to properly
  893  implement this section and regulations for the proper carrying
  894  out of the provisions hereof.
  895         (2) It shall be the duty of The department shall of Citrus,
  896  and it is empowered:
  897         (a)1.To Conduct or cause to be conducted a thorough and
  898  comprehensive study of citrus fruit and the juices thereof:
  899         a.1. With respect to the quality and maturity of such said
  900  fruit and the juices thereof, including proper effort to
  901  assemble data and arrive at a proper standard of quality, grade,
  902  and maturity with reference to its texture, stability, and
  903  general marketability and so far as possible reduce such
  904  findings to specific and readily understood chemical,
  905  mathematical, or descriptive terms;, and
  906         b.2. With respect to the nutritional and other value or
  907  values of such fruit and the juices thereof. and to
  908         2. Provide suitable facilities and equipment of every kind
  909  whatsoever proper and necessary in connection with all such
  910  work.
  911         (b) To Conduct or cause to be conducted such study and
  912  research as is necessary to provide all the information and data
  913  required to be disseminated pursuant to the provisions of this
  914  section.
  915         (c) To Provide suitable and sufficient laboratory
  916  facilities and equipment, making use of the laboratory
  917  facilities and equipment of the University of Florida, insofar
  918  as it is practicable for the purpose of conducting thorough and
  919  comprehensive study and research to determine all possible new
  920  and further uses for citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and
  921  the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted
  922  or manufactured, as well as to determine and develop new and
  923  profitable methods and instruments of distribution thereof.
  924         (d) To Carry on, or cause to be carried on, suitable
  925  experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of each,
  926  and determine and develop new and further use for citrus fruit
  927  and citrus fruit juices or the products and byproducts into
  928  which the same can be converted or manufactured.
  929         (e) To Carry on or cause to be carried on suitable
  930  experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of any
  931  and all new profitable methods and instruments of distribution
  932  of citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and the products and
  933  byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured.
  934         (f) To Carry on or cause to be carried on an economic and
  935  marketing research program relating to citrus fruits and,
  936  products or byproducts thereof.
  937         (g) To Enter into any mutually satisfactory contracts or
  938  agreements with any person, firm, institution, corporation, or
  939  business unit, as well as any state or federal agency, that
  940  which the department of Citrus deems wise, necessary, and
  941  expedient in the administration carrying out of any of the
  942  provisions of this chapter.
  943         (h) To Incur and pay such expenses and obligations as are
  944  necessary in connection with and required for the proper
  945  administration carrying out of the provisions of this chapter.
  946         (i) Conduct or cause to be conducted any research related
  947  to disease and crop efficiency which would advance the purposes
  948  of the state’s citrus industry and commercialization related to
  949  advancing such research.
  950         (3) There is hereby appropriated and made available for
  951  defraying the expenses of the administration of this section
  952  from the moneys derived from advertising assessments excise
  953  taxes levied on citrus fruit such amounts as the department of
  954  Citrus may deem necessary within the percentage limitations
  955  imposed by s. 601.15.
  956         Section 18. Section 601.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  957  read:
  958         601.15 Advertising campaign; methods of conducting;
  959  assessments excise tax; emergency reserve fund; citrus
  960  research.—
  961         (1) The department shall administer administration of this
  962  section shall be vested in the Department of Citrus, which shall
  963  prescribe suitable and reasonable rules and regulations for the
  964  enforcement of this section hereof, and the Department of Citrus
  965  shall administer the assessments taxes levied and imposed under
  966  this section hereby. All funds collected under this section and
  967  the interest accrued on such funds are consideration for a
  968  social contract between the state and the citrus growers of the
  969  state whereby the state must hold such funds in trust and
  970  inviolate and use them only for the purposes prescribed in this
  971  chapter. The department may of Citrus shall have power to cause
  972  its duly authorized agent or representative to enter upon the
  973  premises of any handler of citrus fruits and to examine or cause
  974  to be examined any books, papers, records, or memoranda bearing
  975  on the amount of assessments taxes payable and to secure other
  976  information directly or indirectly concerned in the enforcement
  977  of this section hereof. Any person who is required to pay the
  978  assessments taxes levied and imposed and who by any practice or
  979  evasion makes it difficult to enforce this section the
  980  provisions hereof by inspection, or any person who, after demand
  981  by the department of Citrus or any agent or representative
  982  designated by it for that purpose, refuses to allow full
  983  inspection of the premises or any part thereof or any books,
  984  records, documents, or other instruments in any manner relating
  985  to the liability of the person or entity liable taxpayer for the
  986  assessment tax imposed or hinders, or in anywise delays, or
  987  prevents such inspection, commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of
  988  the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
  989  775.083.
  990         (2) The department of Citrus shall plan and conduct
  991  campaigns for commodity advertising, publicity, and sales
  992  promotion, and may conduct campaigns to encourage noncommodity
  993  advertising, to increase the consumption of citrus fruits and
  994  may contract for any such advertising, publicity, and sales
  995  promotion service. To accomplish such purpose, the department of
  996  Citrus shall have power, and it shall be its duty:
  997         (a) To Disseminate information relating to:
  998         1. Citrus fruits and the importance thereof in preserving
  999  the public health, the economy thereof in the diet of the
 1000  people, and the importance thereof in the nutrition of
 1001  children.;
 1002         2. The manner, method, and means used and employed in the
 1003  production and marketing of citrus fruits and information
 1004  relating to laws of the state regulating and safeguarding such
 1005  production and marketing.;
 1006         3. The added cost to the producer and dealer in producing
 1007  and handling citrus fruits to meet the high standards imposed by
 1008  the state that ensure a pure and wholesome product.;
 1009         4. The effect upon the public health that which would
 1010  result from a breakdown of the state’s Florida citrus industry
 1011  or any part thereof.;
 1012         5. The reasons that why producers and dealers should
 1013  receive a reasonable return on their labor and investment.;
 1014         6. The problem of furnishing the consumer at all times with
 1015  an abundant supply of fine quality citrus fruits at reasonable
 1016  prices.;
 1017         7. Factors of instability peculiar to the citrus fruit
 1018  industry, such as unbalanced production, the effect of the
 1019  weather, the influence of consumer purchasing power, and price
 1020  relative to the cost of other items of food in the normal diet
 1021  of people, all to the end that an intelligent and increasing
 1022  consumer demand may be created.;
 1023         8. The possibilities with particular reference to increased
 1024  consumption of citrus fruits.; and
 1025         9. Such other, further, and additional information that
 1026  which tends to promote increased consumption of citrus fruits
 1027  and that which fosters a better understanding and more efficient
 1028  cooperation among producers, dealers, and the consuming public.;
 1029  and
 1030         (b) To Decide upon some distinctive and suggestive trade
 1031  name and to promote its use in all ways to advertise Florida
 1032  citrus fruit.
 1033         (3)(a) There is hereby levied and imposed upon each
 1034  standard-packed box of citrus fruit grown and placed into the
 1035  primary channel of trade in this state an assessment excise tax
 1036  at maximum annual rates for each citrus season as provided
 1037  determined from the tables in this paragraph and based upon the
 1038  previous season’s actual statewide production as reported in the
 1039  United States Department of Agriculture Citrus Crop Production
 1040  Forecast as of June 1. The rates may be set at any lower rate in
 1041  any year pursuant to paragraph (e).
 1042         1. The following maximum assessment for tax rates,
 1043  expressed in cents per box, shall apply to grapefruit that which
 1044  enters the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may
 1045  not exceed 36 cents per box.:
 1046  
 1047  Previous seasoncrop size(millions of boxes)1995-19961996-19971997-19981998-19991999-2000 and thereafter
 1048                 
 1049   80 andgreater    33       34       35       36         37     
 1050     75-79.99       35       36       37       38         39     
 1051     70-74.99       37       38       39       41         42     
 1052     65-69.99       40       41       42       44         45     
 1053     60-64.99       43       44       46       47         49     
 1054     55-59.99       47       48       50       51         53     
 1055     50-54.99       51       53       55       56         58     
 1056     45-49.99       57       59       60       62         64     
 1057     40-44.99       63       65       67       69         71     
 1058   Less than 40     72       74       76       79         81     
 1059  
 1060  However, effective July 1, 2011, the tax rate per box on
 1061  grapefruit that enters the primary channel of trade for use in
 1062  fresh form may not exceed the tax rate per box in effect on May
 1063  1, 2011.
 1064         2. The following maximum assessment for tax rates,
 1065  expressed in cents per box, shall apply to grapefruit that which
 1066  enters the primary channel of trade for use in processed form
 1067  may not exceed 36 cents per box. forms:
 1068  
 1069  Previous seasoncrop size(millions of boxes)1995-19961996-19971997-19981998-19991999-2000 and thereafter
 1070                 
 1071   80 andgreater    23       24       25       25         26     
 1072     75-79.99       25       25       26       27         28     
 1073     70-74.99       26       27       28       29         30     
 1074     65-69.99       28       29       30       31         32     
 1075     60-64.99       31       32       32       33         34     
 1076     55-59.99       33       34       35       36         37     
 1077     50-54.99       36       38       39       40         41     
 1078     45-49.99       40       41       43       44         45     
 1079     40-44.99       45       46       48       49         51     
 1080   Less than 40     51       53       54       56         57     
 1081  
 1082  However, effective July 1, 2011, the tax rate per box on
 1083  grapefruit that enters the primary channel of trade for use in
 1084  processed forms may not exceed the tax rate per box in effect on
 1085  May 1, 2011.
 1086         3. The following maximum assessment for tax rates,
 1087  expressed in cents per box, shall apply to oranges that which
 1088  enter the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may not
 1089  exceed 7 cents per box.:
 1090  
 1091  Previous seasoncrop size(millions of boxes)1995-19961996-19971997-19981998-19991999-2000 and thereafter
 1092                 
 1093  255 andgreater    23       24       25       26         26     
 1094     245-254.9      24       25       26       27         27     
 1095     235-244.9      25       26       27       28         28     
 1096     225-234.9      26       27       28       29         30     
 1097     215-224.9      28       28       29       30         31     
 1098     205-214.9      29       30       31       32         33     
 1099     195-204.9      30       31       32       33         34     
 1100     185-194.9      32       33       34       35         36     
 1101     175-184.9      34       35       36       37         38     
 1102     165-174.9      36       37       38       39         40     
 1103     155-164.9      38       39       40       41         43     
 1104   Less than 155    41       42       43       44         46     
 1105  
 1106  However, effective July 1, 2011, the tax rate per box on oranges
 1107  that enter the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form
 1108  may not exceed the tax rate per box in effect on May 1, 2011.
 1109         4. The following maximum assessment for tax rates,
 1110  expressed in cents per box, shall apply to oranges that which
 1111  enter the primary channel of trade for use in processed form may
 1112  not exceed 25 cents per box.:
 1113  
 1114  Previous seasoncrop size(millions of boxes)1995-19961996-19971997-19981998-19991999-2000 and thereafter
 1115                 
 1116  255 andgreater    15       16       16       17         17     
 1117     245-254.9      16       16       17       17         18     
 1118     235-244.9      17       17       18       18         19     
 1119     225-234.9      17       18       18       19         19     
 1120     215-224.9      18       19       19       20         20     
 1121     205-214.9      19       20       20       21         21     
 1122     195-204.9      20       21       21       22         22     
 1123     185-194.9      21       22       22       23         24     
 1124     175-184.9      22       23       23       24         25     
 1125     165-174.9      23       24       25       26         26     
 1126     155-164.9      25       26       26       27         28     
 1127   Less than 155    27       27       28       29         30     
 1128  
 1129  However, effective July 1, 2011, the tax rate per box on oranges
 1130  that enter the primary channel of trade for use in processed
 1131  form may not exceed 25 cents per box.
 1132         5. The actual assessment tax rate levied each year upon
 1133  oranges which enter the primary channel of trade for use in
 1134  processed form, pursuant to this paragraph, paragraph (e), and
 1135  subsection (4), shall also apply in that year to tangerines and
 1136  citrus hybrids regulated by the department that of Citrus which
 1137  enter the primary channel of trade for use in processed form may
 1138  not exceed 25 cents per box.
 1139         6. The following maximum assessment for tax rates,
 1140  expressed in cents per box, shall apply to tangerines and citrus
 1141  hybrids regulated by the department that of Citrus which enter
 1142  the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may not
 1143  exceed 16 cents per box.:
 1144  
 1145  Previous seasoncrop size(millions of boxes)1995-19961996-19971997-19981998-19991999-2000 and thereafter
 1146                 
 1147   13 andgreater    24       24       25       26         27     
 1148    12 - 12.99      26       26       27       28         29     
 1149    11 - 11.99      28       29       30       30         31     
 1150    10 - 10.99      31       31       32       33         34     
 1151     9 - 9.99       34       35       36       37         38     
 1152     8 - 8.99       38       39       40       41         42     
 1153     7 - 7.99       43       44       45       47         48     
 1154    Less than 7     49       51       52       54         56     
 1155  
 1156  However, effective July 1, 2011, the tax rate per box on
 1157  tangerines and citrus hybrids regulated by the Department of
 1158  Citrus which enter the primary channel of trade for use in fresh
 1159  form may not exceed the tax rate per box in effect on May 1,
 1160  2011.
 1161         (b) Whenever citrus fruit is purchased, acquired, or
 1162  handled on a weight basis, the following weights are shall be
 1163  deemed the equivalent of one standard-packed box for assessment
 1164  tax purposes under this section:
 1165         1. Grapefruit, 85 pounds.
 1166         2. Oranges, 90 pounds.
 1167         3. Tangerines, 95 pounds.
 1168         4. Citrus hybrids, 90 pounds.
 1169         (c) The assessments excise taxes imposed by this section do
 1170  not apply to citrus fruit used for noncommercial domestic
 1171  consumption on the premises where produced.
 1172         (d) For purposes of this subsection, a citrus season begins
 1173  on August 1 of a year and ends on July 31 of the following year.
 1174         (e) The commission, upon an affirmative vote of a majority
 1175  of its members and by an order entered by it before prior to
 1176  November 1 of any year, may set the assessments tax rates up to
 1177  the maximum rates specified in this subsection. The assessment
 1178  tax rate shall apply only to the citrus season that which began
 1179  on August 1 of the same calendar year. Such assessment tax rate
 1180  may be applied by variety and on the basis of whether the fruit
 1181  enters the primary channel of trade for use in fresh or
 1182  processed form. If the commission cannot agree on a box
 1183  assessment tax rate, the assessment tax rate for the previous
 1184  year shall remain in effect until the commission approves a new
 1185  assessment rate.
 1186         (4) Every handler shall keep a complete and accurate record
 1187  of all citrus fruit handled by her or him. Such record shall be
 1188  in such form and contain such other information as the
 1189  department of Citrus shall by rule or regulation prescribe. Such
 1190  records shall be preserved by such handlers for a period of 1
 1191  year and shall be offered for inspection at any time upon oral
 1192  or written demand by the department of Citrus or its duly
 1193  authorized agents or representatives.
 1194         (5) Every handler shall, at such times and in such manner
 1195  as the department of Citrus may by rule require, file with the
 1196  department of Citrus a return certified as true and correct, on
 1197  forms furnished by the department of Citrus, stating, in
 1198  addition to other information, the number of standard-packed
 1199  boxes of each kind of citrus fruit handled by such handler in
 1200  the primary channel of trade during the period of time covered
 1201  by the return. Full payment of all assessments excise taxes due
 1202  for the period reported shall accompany each handler’s return.
 1203         (6)(a) All assessments excise taxes levied and imposed
 1204  pursuant to the provisions of this section are shall be due and
 1205  payable and shall be paid, or the amount thereof guaranteed as
 1206  hereinafter provided in this subsection, at the time the citrus
 1207  fruit is first handled in the primary channels of trade. All
 1208  such assessments taxes shall be paid, or the payment thereof
 1209  shall be guaranteed, to the department of Citrus by the person
 1210  first handling the fruit in the primary channel of trade, except
 1211  that payment of assessments taxes on fruit delivered or sold for
 1212  processing in this state shall be paid, or payment thereof shall
 1213  be guaranteed in accordance with department of Citrus rules, by
 1214  the person processing such fruit.
 1215         (b) Periodic payment of assessments excise taxes upon
 1216  citrus fruit by the person liable for such payment is shall be
 1217  permitted only in accordance with department of Citrus rules,;
 1218  and the payment thereof shall be guaranteed by the posting of a
 1219  good and sufficient letter of credit from an issuing financial
 1220  institution located in the United States, a cash bond, an
 1221  appropriate certificate of deposit, or an approved surety bond
 1222  in an amount and manner as prescribed by department of Citrus
 1223  rule. Evidence of such guarantee of payment of assessments must
 1224  excise taxes shall be made on the grade certificate in such
 1225  manner and form as may be prescribed by department of Citrus
 1226  rule.
 1227         (c) All assessments taxes collected by the department of
 1228  Citrus shall be delivered to the State Treasury for payment into
 1229  the proper advertising fund.
 1230         (7) All assessments excise taxes levied and collected under
 1231  the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the State
 1232  Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month.; Such moneys
 1233  shall be accounted for in a special fund to be designated as the
 1234  Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, and all moneys in such
 1235  fund are hereby appropriated to the department of Citrus for the
 1236  following purposes:
 1237         (a) Four percent of all income of a revenue nature
 1238  deposited in this fund, including transfers from any subsidiary
 1239  accounts thereof and any interest income, shall be deposited in
 1240  the General Revenue Fund pursuant to chapter 215.
 1241         (b) Moneys in the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund
 1242  shall be expended for the activities authorized by s. 601.13 and
 1243  for the cost of those general overhead, research and
 1244  development, maintenance, salaries, professional fees,
 1245  enforcement costs, and other such expenses that which are not
 1246  related to advertising, merchandising, public relations, trade
 1247  luncheons, publicity, and other associated activities. The cost
 1248  of general overhead, maintenance, salaries, professional fees,
 1249  enforcement costs, and other such expenses that which are
 1250  related to advertising, merchandising, public relations, trade
 1251  luncheons, publicity, and associated activities shall be paid
 1252  from the balance of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund.
 1253         (c) Moneys in the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund
 1254  shall also be used by the department of Citrus for defraying
 1255  those expenses not included in paragraph (b). After payment of
 1256  such expenses, the money levied and collected under the
 1257  provisions of subsection (3) shall be used exclusively for
 1258  commodity and noncommodity advertising, merchandising,
 1259  publicity, or sales promotion of citrus products in both fresh
 1260  form and processed form, including citrus cattle feed and all
 1261  other products of citrus fruits, produced in the state, in such
 1262  equitable manner and proration as the department of Citrus may
 1263  determine, but funds expended for commodity advertising
 1264  thereunder shall be expended through an established advertising
 1265  agency. A proration of moneys between commodity programs and
 1266  noncommodity programs, and among types of citrus products, shall
 1267  be made on or before November 1 of each shipping season and may
 1268  not thereafter be modified for that shipping season unless the
 1269  department finds such action necessary to preserve the economic
 1270  welfare of the citrus industry.
 1271         (d) The pro rata portion of moneys allocated to each type
 1272  of citrus product in noncommodity programs shall be used by the
 1273  department to encourage substantial increases in the
 1274  effectiveness, frequency, and volume of noncommodity
 1275  advertising, merchandising, publicity, and sales promotion of
 1276  such citrus products through rebates and incentive payments to
 1277  handlers and trade customers for these activities. The
 1278  department shall of Citrus is authorized and directed to adopt
 1279  rules providing for the use of such moneys. The rules shall
 1280  establish alternate incentive programs, including at least one
 1281  incentive program for product sold under advertised brands, one
 1282  incentive program for product sold under private label brands,
 1283  and one incentive program for product sold in bulk. For each
 1284  incentive program, the rules shall establish eligibility and
 1285  performance requirements and shall provide appropriate
 1286  limitations on amounts payable to a handler or trade customer
 1287  for a particular season. Such limitations may relate to the
 1288  amount of citrus assessments excise taxes levied and collected
 1289  on the citrus product handled by such handler or trade customer
 1290  during a 12-month representative period. The department may
 1291  require from participants in noncommodity advertising and
 1292  promotional programs commercial information necessary to
 1293  determine eligibility for and performance in such programs. Any
 1294  information so required which constitutes a “trade secret” as
 1295  defined in s. 812.081 is confidential and exempt from the
 1296  provisions of s. 119.07(1).
 1297         (8)(a) On certification by any employee of the department
 1298  of Citrus that her or his actual and necessary expenses on any
 1299  particular day while traveling outside the state exceeded the
 1300  per diem provided by law, such employee shall show such excess
 1301  on her or his regular expense voucher and support the same by
 1302  the proof required pursuant to rules adopted and regulations to
 1303  be promulgated by the department of Citrus.
 1304         (b) The department of Citrus is authorized to spend such
 1305  amount as it deems advisable for guests involved in promotional
 1306  activities in the sale of Florida citrus fruits and products.
 1307         (c) All obligations, expenses, and costs incurred under the
 1308  provisions of this section shall be paid out of the Citrus
 1309  Advertising Fund upon warrant of the Chief Financial Officer
 1310  when vouchers thereof, approved by the department of Citrus, are
 1311  exhibited.
 1312         (9)(a) Any handler who fails to file a return or to pay any
 1313  assessment tax within the time required shall thereby forfeit to
 1314  the department of Citrus a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of
 1315  assessment tax determined to be due,; but the department of
 1316  Citrus, if satisfied that the delay was excusable, may remit all
 1317  or any part of such penalty. Such penalty shall be paid to the
 1318  department of Citrus and disposed of as provided with respect to
 1319  moneys derived from the assessments taxes levied and imposed by
 1320  subsection (3).
 1321         (b) The department of Citrus may collect any assessments
 1322  taxes levied and assessed by this chapter in any or all of the
 1323  following methods:
 1324         1. By the voluntary payment by the person liable therefor.
 1325         2. By a suit at law.
 1326         3. By a suit in equity to enjoin and restrain any handler,
 1327  citrus fruit dealer, or other person owing such assessments
 1328  taxes from operating her or his business or engaging in business
 1329  as a citrus fruit dealer until the delinquent assessments taxes
 1330  are paid. Such action may include an accounting to determine the
 1331  amount of assessments taxes plus delinquencies due. In any such
 1332  proceeding, it is not necessary to allege or prove that an
 1333  adequate remedy at law does not exist.
 1334         (10) The powers and duties of the department of Citrus
 1335  include the following:
 1336         (a) To adopt and periodically from time to time alter,
 1337  rescind, modify, and amend all proper and necessary rules,
 1338  regulations, and orders for the exercise of its powers and the
 1339  performance of its duties under this chapter.
 1340         (b) To employ and at its pleasure discharge an advertising
 1341  manager, agents, advertising agencies, and such clerical and
 1342  other help as it deems necessary and to outline their powers and
 1343  duties and fix their compensation.
 1344         (c) To make in the name of the department of Citrus such
 1345  advertising contracts and other agreements as may be necessary.
 1346         (d) To keep books, records, and accounts of all of its
 1347  activities, which books, records, and accounts shall be open to
 1348  inspection, audit, and examination by the Auditor General and
 1349  the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
 1350  Accountability.
 1351         (e) To purchase or authorize the purchase of all office
 1352  equipment and supplies and to incur all other reasonable and
 1353  necessary expenses and obligations in connection with and
 1354  required for the proper administration carrying out of the
 1355  provisions of this chapter.
 1356         (f) To conduct, and pay out of the Florida Citrus
 1357  Advertising Trust Fund, premium and prize promotions designed to
 1358  increase the use of citrus in any form.
 1359         (g) To advertise citrus cattle feed and promote its use.
 1360         (h) To conduct marketing activities in foreign countries
 1361  and other programs designed to develop and protect domestic and
 1362  international markets.
 1363         Section 19. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) of subsection (1),
 1364  subsection (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and subsections
 1365  (8) through (11) of section 601.152, Florida Statutes, are
 1366  amended to read:
 1367         601.152 Special marketing orders.—
 1368         (1)(a) Whenever, upon its own motion or upon petition of
 1369  any handler or producer or group or association of handlers or
 1370  producers of citrus fruit, the commission, upon affirmative vote
 1371  of seven nine of its members, determines:
 1372         1. That the conduct of a special advertising and
 1373  promotional marketing campaign or the conduct of market and
 1374  product research and development, in addition to the advertising
 1375  campaign being conducted pursuant to s. 601.15 and the research
 1376  being conducted pursuant to the other provisions of the Florida
 1377  Citrus Code, may substantially further increase the consumer
 1378  acceptance and consumption of, and strengthen the market for,
 1379  any type, variety, or form of citrus fruit or processed citrus
 1380  product by further increasing the number of families buying such
 1381  citrus fruit or such processed citrus product or by further
 1382  increasing the quantity of such citrus fruit or processed citrus
 1383  product purchased by buying families; and
 1384         2. That such substantial further increase and strengthening
 1385  may be of substantial benefit to handlers thereof, producers
 1386  thereof, and to the economy and well-being of the state,
 1387  
 1388  the commission shall direct that a proposed marketing order be
 1389  formulated for a special marketing campaign of advertising and
 1390  sales promotion, including, but not limited to, brand
 1391  advertising rebate promotions or the conduct of market and
 1392  product research and development for such type, variety, or form
 1393  of citrus fruit or processed citrus product, and shall designate
 1394  a public hearing to consider adoption and implementation of such
 1395  proposed marketing order.
 1396         (b) Notice of the time, place, and purpose of such public
 1397  hearing shall be:
 1398         1. Mailed, at least not less than 10 days before prior to
 1399  such hearing, to each handler who, during the 12 months
 1400  immediately before preceding such mailing, has first handled in
 1401  the primary channel of trade in the state Florida the type,
 1402  variety, and form of citrus fruit or citrus product specified in
 1403  the proposed marketing order, and to each handler who the
 1404  department of Citrus has good cause to believe will, during the
 1405  period of time covered by the proposed marketing order, first
 1406  handle in the primary channel of trade in the state Florida the
 1407  type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or processed citrus
 1408  product specified in such proposed marketing order.
 1409         2. Published in the Florida Administrative Weekly at least
 1410  not less than 10 days before prior to such hearing.
 1411         (d) Copies of the proposed marketing order shall be made
 1412  available to the public at the offices of the department of
 1413  Citrus at Lakeland at least 5 days before prior to such hearing
 1414  and shall be in sufficient detail to apprise all persons having
 1415  an interest therein of the approximate amount of moneys proposed
 1416  to be expended; the assessments to be levied thereunder; and the
 1417  general details of the proposed marketing order for a special
 1418  marketing campaign of advertising or sales promotion or market
 1419  or product research and development. Among the details so
 1420  specified shall be the period of time during which the
 1421  assessment imposed pursuant to subsection (8) will be levied
 1422  upon the privilege so assessed, which period may not be greater
 1423  than 2 years. The order may, however, provide that the
 1424  expenditure of the funds received from the imposition of such
 1425  assessments shall not be so confined, but may be expended during
 1426  such time or times as shall be specified in the proposed
 1427  marketing order, which may be either during the shipping season
 1428  immediately preceding the shipping seasons during which such
 1429  assessments are imposed or during, or at any time subsequent to,
 1430  the shipping seasons during which such assessments are imposed.
 1431  This section does not Nothing herein shall be construed to
 1432  prevent the imposition of a subsequent marketing order either
 1433  before, during, or after the expenditure of funds collected
 1434  under pursuant to a previously imposed marketing order, provided
 1435  the aggregate of the assessments imposed may not exceed the
 1436  maximum permitted under subsection (8).
 1437         (4) The department may of Citrus is authorized to prescribe
 1438  such procedures as it deems necessary properly to conduct a
 1439  referendum among handlers covered by the marketing order to
 1440  determine whether such marketing order has been so assented to.
 1441         (5)(a) Any marketing order adopted under pursuant to this
 1442  section and subsequently approved by referendum as provided in
 1443  this section herein shall take effect become effective 15 days
 1444  after referendum approval is officially determined by the
 1445  commission. Chapter 120 does not apply to this section. Any such
 1446  marketing order is shall be reviewable by any person adversely
 1447  affected, by certiorari to the district courts of appeal in the
 1448  manner prescribed by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.
 1449  The venue of the proceeding for such review shall be the
 1450  appellate district that which includes the county in which the
 1451  hearings were conducted or, if the venue cannot be thus
 1452  determined, the appellate district in which wherein the
 1453  department’s Department of Citrus executive offices are located.
 1454         (8)(a) Each person who, during the period of time specified
 1455  in any marketing order implemented under pursuant to this
 1456  section, first handles in the primary channel of trade in the
 1457  state Florida any citrus fruit or processed citrus product of
 1458  the type, variety, and form specified in such marketing order
 1459  shall, for the privilege of so handling such citrus fruit or
 1460  such citrus product, pay to the department of Citrus such
 1461  assessments as are levied and imposed thereon by such marketing
 1462  order, which funds shall be used by the department of Citrus to
 1463  defray the necessary expenses incurred in the formation,
 1464  issuance, administration, and enforcement of such marketing
 1465  order and in the conduct of the special marketing campaign or
 1466  market and product research and development provided for in such
 1467  marketing order. However, such assessments levied and imposed
 1468  under this section may pursuant hereto shall be at a rate not to
 1469  exceed 8 cents per standard-packed box on citrus fruits in fresh
 1470  form, 1.3 cents per gallon on single strength citrus juices or
 1471  sections, or 1.3 cents per pound of soluble citrus solids on
 1472  concentrated citrus juices.
 1473         (b) The department of Citrus shall prescribe procedures for
 1474  the assessment and collection of such funds to defray the
 1475  necessary expenses incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the
 1476  department of Citrus in the formation, issuance, administration,
 1477  and enforcement of any marketing order implemented under
 1478  pursuant to the provisions of this section.
 1479         (c) Every handler shall, at such times as the department
 1480  may require, file with the department of Citrus a return, not
 1481  under oath, on forms to be prescribed and furnished by the
 1482  department of Citrus, certified as true and correct, stating the
 1483  quantity of the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or
 1484  citrus product specified in the marketing order first handled in
 1485  the primary channels of trade in the state Florida by such
 1486  handler during the period of time specified in the marketing
 1487  order. Such returns shall contain any further information deemed
 1488  by the department of Citrus to be reasonably necessary to
 1489  properly administer or enforce the provisions of this section or
 1490  any marketing order implemented under this section hereunder.
 1491  Information that, if disclosed, would reveal a trade secret, as
 1492  defined in s. 812.081, of any person subject to a marketing
 1493  order is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.
 1494  119.07(1).
 1495         (d) All assessments imposed under and pursuant to the
 1496  provisions of this section are shall be due and payable and
 1497  shall be paid by such handlers at such times and in such
 1498  installments as the commission prescribes shall prescribe in
 1499  such marketing order, or the amount thereof shall be provided
 1500  for and guaranteed by giving a surety bond or cash deposit or as
 1501  the department of Citrus may otherwise prescribes prescribe.
 1502         (9)(a) All moneys collected by the department of Citrus
 1503  under this section shall be set aside in the Florida Citrus
 1504  Advertising Trust Fund as a special fund to be known as the
 1505  “Citrus Special Marketing Order Fund.” All moneys in such fund,
 1506  after deducting the service charge provided in s. 601.15(7), are
 1507  hereby appropriated to the department of Citrus for the actual
 1508  expenses incurred by the department for of Citrus with respect
 1509  to the formulation, issuance, administration, and enforcement of
 1510  any marketing order so implemented and in the conduct of the
 1511  special marketing campaign or market and product research and
 1512  development to be carried out pursuant to any such marketing
 1513  order so implemented. Upon the completion of the special
 1514  marketing campaign or market and product research and
 1515  development provided for pursuant to any marketing order so
 1516  implemented hereunder, any and all moneys remaining and not
 1517  required by the department of Citrus to defray the expenses of
 1518  such marketing order shall be deposited to and made a part of
 1519  the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund created by s. 601.15.
 1520         (b) If the department of Citrus finds it necessary to do
 1521  so, the department it may transfer to the Citrus Special
 1522  Marketing Order Fund from any other portion of the Florida
 1523  Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, including the Emergency Reserve
 1524  Fund and any other special or reserve fund, such sum of money as
 1525  the department of Citrus determines is initially required to
 1526  formulate, issue, administer, and enforce any such marketing
 1527  order and conduct the special marketing campaign or market and
 1528  product research and development to be carried out pursuant to
 1529  such marketing order until moneys in the Citrus Special
 1530  Marketing Order Fund derived from assessments imposed and
 1531  collected pursuant to this section are sufficient for such
 1532  purposes, and thereafter repay such advance out of the Citrus
 1533  Special Marketing Order Fund.
 1534         (10)(a) Any handler who fails to file a return or to pay
 1535  any assessment within the time required shall thereby forfeit to
 1536  the department of Citrus a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of
 1537  assessment then due,; but the department of Citrus, upon good
 1538  cause shown, may waive all or any part of such penalty. Such
 1539  penalty shall be paid to the department of Citrus and disposed
 1540  of as provided with respect to moneys derived from the
 1541  assessments imposed under pursuant to this section.
 1542         (b) The department of Citrus may collect the assessments
 1543  imposed under pursuant to this section by any in either or all
 1544  of the following methods:
 1545         1. The voluntary payment by the handler liable therefor.;
 1546         2. By a suit at law.;
 1547         3. By a suit in equity to enjoin and restrain any handler
 1548  owing such assessments from operating his or her business or
 1549  engaging in business as a citrus fruit dealer until the
 1550  delinquent assessments are paid. Such action may include an
 1551  accounting to determine the amount of assessments plus
 1552  delinquencies due. In any such proceeding, it shall not be
 1553  necessary to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does
 1554  not exist.
 1555         (11) This section shall be liberally construed to
 1556  effectuate the purposes set forth and as additional and
 1557  supplemental powers vested in the department of Citrus under the
 1558  police power of this state.
 1559         Section 20. Section 601.155, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1560  to read:
 1561         601.155 Equalizing assessment excise tax; credit;
 1562  exemption.—
 1563         (1) The first person who exercises in this state the
 1564  privilege of processing, reprocessing, blending, or mixing
 1565  processed orange products or processed grapefruit products or
 1566  the privilege of packaging or repackaging processed orange
 1567  products or processed grapefruit products into retail or
 1568  institutional size containers or, except as provided in
 1569  subsection (9) or except if an assessment a tax is levied and
 1570  collected on the exercise of one of the foregoing privileges,
 1571  the first person having title to or possession of any processed
 1572  orange product or any processed grapefruit product who exercises
 1573  the privilege in this state of storing such product or removing
 1574  any portion of such product from the original container in which
 1575  it arrived in this state for purposes other than official
 1576  inspection or direct consumption by the consumer and not for
 1577  resale shall be assessed and shall pay an assessment excise tax
 1578  upon the exercise of such privilege at the rate described in
 1579  subsection (2).
 1580         (2) Upon the exercise of any privilege described in
 1581  subsection (1), the assessment excise tax levied by this section
 1582  shall be at the same rate per box of oranges or grapefruit
 1583  utilized in the initial production of the processed citrus
 1584  products so handled as that imposed, at the time of exercise of
 1585  the assessable taxable privilege, by s. 601.15 per box of
 1586  oranges.
 1587         (3) For the purposes of this section, the number of boxes
 1588  of oranges or grapefruit utilized in the initial production of
 1589  processed citrus products subject to the assessable taxable
 1590  privilege shall be:
 1591         (a) The actual number of boxes so utilized, if known and
 1592  verified in accordance with department of Citrus rules; or
 1593         (b) An equivalent number established by department of
 1594  Citrus rule which, on the basis of existing data, reasonably
 1595  equates to the quantity of citrus contained in the product, when
 1596  the actual number of boxes so utilized is not known or properly
 1597  verified.
 1598         (4) For purposes of this section:
 1599         (a) “Processed orange products” means products for human
 1600  consumption consisting of 20 percent or more single strength
 1601  equivalent orange juice; orange sections, segments, or edible
 1602  components; or whole peeled fruit.
 1603         (b) “Processed grapefruit products” means products for
 1604  human consumption consisting of 20 percent or more single
 1605  strength equivalent grapefruit juice; grapefruit sections,
 1606  segments, or edible components; or whole peeled fruit.
 1607         (c) “Original container” includes any vessel, tanker or
 1608  tank car, or other transport vehicle.
 1609         (d) “Retail or institutional container” means a container
 1610  having a capacity of 10 gallons or less.
 1611         (5) Products made in whole or in part from citrus fruit on
 1612  which an equivalent assessment tax is levied pursuant to s.
 1613  601.15 are exempt from the assessment tax imposed by this
 1614  section. In the case of products made in part from citrus fruit
 1615  exempt from the assessment tax imposed by this section, it shall
 1616  be the burden of the persons liable for the assessment excise
 1617  tax to show the department of Citrus, through competent
 1618  evidence, proof of that part which is not subject to an
 1619  assessable a taxable privilege.
 1620         (6) Every person liable for the assessment excise tax
 1621  imposed by this section shall keep a complete and accurate
 1622  record of the receipt, storage, handling, exercise of any
 1623  assessable taxable privilege under this section, and shipment of
 1624  all products subject to the assessment tax imposed by this
 1625  section. Such record shall be preserved for a period of 1 year
 1626  and shall be offered for inspection upon oral or written request
 1627  by the department of Citrus or its duly authorized agent.
 1628         (7) Every person liable for the assessment excise tax
 1629  imposed by this section shall, at such times and in such manner
 1630  as the department of Citrus may by rule require, file with the
 1631  department of Citrus a return, certified as true and correct, on
 1632  forms to be prescribed and furnished by the department of
 1633  Citrus, stating, in addition to other information reasonably
 1634  required by the department of Citrus, the number of units of
 1635  processed orange or grapefruit products subject to this section
 1636  upon which any assessable taxable privilege under this section
 1637  was exercised during the period of time covered by the return.
 1638  Full payment of assessments excise taxes due for the period
 1639  reported shall accompany each return.
 1640         (8) All assessments taxes levied and imposed by this
 1641  section shall be due and payable within 61 days after the first
 1642  of the assessable taxable privileges is exercised in this state.
 1643  Periodic payment of the assessments excise taxes imposed by this
 1644  section by the person first exercising the assessable taxable
 1645  privileges and liable for such payment shall be permitted only
 1646  in accordance with department of Citrus rules, and the payment
 1647  thereof shall be guaranteed by the posting of an appropriate
 1648  certificate of deposit, approved surety bond, letter of credit
 1649  from an issuing financial institution located in the United
 1650  States, or cash deposit in an amount and manner as prescribed by
 1651  the department of Citrus.
 1652         (9) When any processed orange or grapefruit product is
 1653  stored or removed from its original container as provided in
 1654  subsection (1), the equalizing assessment excise tax is levied
 1655  on such storage or removal, and such product is subsequently
 1656  shipped out of the state in a vessel, tanker or tank car, or
 1657  container having a capacity greater than 10 gallons, the person
 1658  who is liable for the assessment tax shall be entitled to an
 1659  assessment a tax refund, if such assessment tax has been paid,
 1660  or to an assessment a tax credit, provided she or he can provide
 1661  satisfactory proof that such product has been shipped out of the
 1662  state and that no privilege assessable taxable under subsection
 1663  (1) other than storage or removal from the original container
 1664  was exercised before prior to such shipment out of the state.
 1665         (10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
 1666  department of Citrus shall develop a process by which any person
 1667  liable for the assessment excise tax imposed under this section
 1668  may annually object to payment of the assessment tax. Any such
 1669  objection must be allowed without discretion as to the validity
 1670  thereof, and that person shall be granted the immediate right to
 1671  elect not to pay two-thirds of the applicable assessment tax
 1672  rate. The department of Citrus may not expend any of the
 1673  remaining one-third of the applicable assessment tax rate on any
 1674  advertising, marketing, or public relations activities to which
 1675  any person liable for the assessment excise tax imposed under
 1676  this section objects; however, such funds may be used for
 1677  research, administrative, and regulatory activities. Effective
 1678  July 1, 2004, upon any necessary legislative appropriation of
 1679  moneys due under the settlement agreement of Consolidated Case
 1680  No. 2002-CA-4686 in the Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial
 1681  Circuit in Polk County, the plaintiffs shall agree to the
 1682  dismissal of their claim under the foreign commerce clause with
 1683  prejudice.
 1684         (11) All assessments excise taxes levied and collected
 1685  under the provisions of this section, including penalties, shall
 1686  be paid into the State Treasury to be made a part of the Florida
 1687  Citrus Advertising Trust Fund in the same manner, for the same
 1688  purposes, and in the same proportions as set forth in s.
 1689  601.15(7). Any person failing to file a return or pay any
 1690  assessment within the time required shall thereby forfeit to the
 1691  department of Citrus a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of
 1692  assessment then due,; but the department of Citrus, on good
 1693  cause shown, may waive all or any part of such penalty.
 1694         (12) This section shall be liberally construed to
 1695  effectuate the purposes set forth and as additional and
 1696  supplemental powers vested in the department of Citrus under the
 1697  police power of this state.
 1698         Section 21. Section 601.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1699  read:
 1700         601.24 Department of Citrus to prescribe methods of testing
 1701  and grading.—The department of Citrus shall adopt rules
 1702  providing by rule or regulation provide the manner and method to
 1703  be used in drawing samples and the quantity to be used in
 1704  testing and grading of citrus fruit and the canned and
 1705  concentrated products thereof and shall provide specifications
 1706  and methods for use of juice extractors to be used in extracting
 1707  juice for such tests and grading purposes.
 1708         Section 22. Section 601.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1709  read:
 1710         601.25 Determination of soluble solids and acid.—The
 1711  department of Citrus by rule or regulation shall adopt rules
 1712  determining determine the method by which juice is tested for
 1713  percentage of total soluble solids, the method by which juice is
 1714  tested for acidity, and the method for testing fruit for juice
 1715  content. Until such time as the department determines of Citrus
 1716  may see fit to determine such method by rule or regulation, the
 1717  Brix hydrometer shall be used and the reading of the hydrometer
 1718  corrected for temperature shall be considered as the percent of
 1719  the total soluble solids,; and anhydrous citric acid shall be
 1720  determined by titration of the juice using standard alkali and
 1721  phenolphthalein as indicator, the total acidity being calculated
 1722  as anhydrous citric acid.
 1723         Section 23. Subsections (5) and (7) of section 601.28,
 1724  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1725         601.28 Inspection fees.—
 1726         (5) The Department of Agriculture may shall have the power
 1727  to adopt rules providing for the imposition of special fees for
 1728  inspections conducted during hours not contemplated by regular
 1729  state work hours. The Such rules shall prescribe circumstances
 1730  under which the fees levied pursuant to paragraphs (1)(a) and
 1731  (b) would not apply and the fees imposed pursuant to such rules
 1732  would apply. The rules shall require provide that such said fees
 1733  shall be levied when specifically actuated by contract between
 1734  the Department of Agriculture and persons liable for the fees
 1735  created by this subsection. The rules may shall not authorize
 1736  allow fees that exceed to be charged which are in excess of the
 1737  Department of Agriculture’s department’s actual cost of the
 1738  inspection to be made, nor may shall such fees be less than
 1739  those imposed by paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).
 1740         (7) The duties of the Department of Agriculture and
 1741  Consumer Services shall include the duty to conduct hearings,
 1742  through a hearing officer who shall be an attorney authorized to
 1743  practice law within this state, on violations of this section
 1744  and rules adopted promulgated thereunder. The Said hearing
 1745  officer shall be selected by the Commissioner of Agriculture and
 1746  shall be in addition to her or his regular legal staff
 1747  authorized by law. The Said hearing officer shall, in addition
 1748  to conducting such hearings, be available to the Division of
 1749  Fruit and Vegetables for other legal services on matters
 1750  pertaining to violations of this chapter and rules adopted
 1751  promulgated thereunder.
 1752         Section 24. Section 601.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1753  read:
 1754         601.31 Citrus inspectors; employment.—The Department of
 1755  Agriculture may in each year employ as many citrus fruit
 1756  inspectors for such period or periods, not exceeding 1 year, as
 1757  the said Department of Agriculture shall deem necessary for the
 1758  effective enforcement of the citrus fruit laws of this state.
 1759  All persons authorized to inspect and certify to the maturity
 1760  and grade of citrus fruit shall be governed in the discharge of
 1761  their duties as such inspectors by the provisions of law and by
 1762  the rules adopted and regulations prescribed by the Department
 1763  of Citrus and the Department of Agriculture and shall perform
 1764  their duties under the direction and supervision of the
 1765  Department of Agriculture. All citrus inspectors appointed for
 1766  the enforcement of this chapter shall be persons who are duly
 1767  licensed or certified by the United States Department of
 1768  Agriculture as citrus fruit inspectors.
 1769         Section 25. Section 601.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1770  read:
 1771         601.32 Compensation of inspectors.—The salaries of the
 1772  chief citrus inspector, the chief laboratory inspector, the
 1773  district supervising inspectors, the junior and senior
 1774  inspectors, and all other necessary inspectors shall be in the
 1775  amount as determined and fixed by the Department of Agriculture,
 1776  and, in addition thereto, each such inspector of said inspectors
 1777  shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s.
 1778  112.061, which shall be paid upon approval of accounts therefor
 1779  by the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture
 1780  may employ such additional field and other agents and clerical
 1781  assistance at such times and for such periods and incur and pay
 1782  any other expenses, including travel expenses, as provided in s.
 1783  112.061, of the Department of Agriculture during the citrus
 1784  fruit season, as may be necessary for the effective enforcement
 1785  of the citrus fruit laws of this state and of the rules
 1786  regulations of the Department of Citrus and ensure assure the
 1787  payments of the inspection fees imposed or that may be imposed
 1788  under the authority of law.
 1789         Section 26. Section 601.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1790  read:
 1791         601.33 Interference with inspectors.—A It is unlawful for
 1792  any person may not to obstruct, hinder, resist, interfere with,
 1793  or attempt to obstruct, hinder, resist, or interfere with any
 1794  authorized inspector in the discharge of any duty imposed upon
 1795  or required of her or him by the provisions of law or by any
 1796  rule adopted or regulation prescribed by the Department of
 1797  Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, or to change or attempt
 1798  to change any instrument, substance, article, or fluid used by
 1799  such inspector or emergency inspector in making tests of citrus
 1800  fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof.
 1801         Section 27. Section 601.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1802  read:
 1803         601.34 Duties of law enforcement officers.—Each state or
 1804  county law enforcement officer shall make arrests for violations
 1805  of the citrus fruit laws of this state or of any rule,
 1806  regulation, or order of promulgated by the commission or the
 1807  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under authority
 1808  of law when notified of such violation by the Department of
 1809  Agriculture or its duly authorized agent or representative.
 1810         Section 28. Section 601.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1811  read:
 1812         601.35 Disputes as to quality, etc.; procedure.—When any
 1813  dispute as to quality, grade, or condition of citrus fruit or
 1814  the canned or concentrated products thereof arises, the shipper
 1815  or any financially interested person may call in at his, her, or
 1816  its expense an inspector licensed or certified only by the
 1817  United States Department of Agriculture to inspect such citrus
 1818  fruit or its canned or concentrated products. Such inspector
 1819  shall issue a regular official certificate to the applicant
 1820  showing the quality, grade, and condition thereof, and, in all
 1821  cases, such certificate shall be prima facie evidence. If such
 1822  certificate shows that the citrus fruit or the canned or
 1823  concentrated products thereof conforms therein-mentioned and
 1824  described to conform to the requirements provisions of this
 1825  chapter and the rules, regulations, or orders of the Department
 1826  of Citrus and of the Department of Agriculture, such shipper or
 1827  such financially interested person may present the original
 1828  certificate to the person or representative of the person having
 1829  charge of the vehicle of transportation by which such citrus
 1830  fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof are is to
 1831  be transported, which person or representative shall then accept
 1832  such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof
 1833  for shipment provided that all other provisions of this chapter
 1834  and of the rules, regulations, and orders of the Department of
 1835  Citrus and of the Department of Agriculture have been met and
 1836  complied with.
 1837         Section 29. Section 601.37, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1838  read:
 1839         601.37 Unlawful acts of inspectors.—An It is unlawful for
 1840  any authorized inspector may not to make or deliver a
 1841  certificate of inspection and maturity and quality of any citrus
 1842  fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof upon which
 1843  the inspection fees and advertising assessments taxes have not
 1844  been paid or the payment thereof guaranteed, or to make or issue
 1845  any false certificate as to inspection, maturity, quality, or
 1846  payment of inspection fees.
 1847         Section 30. Section 601.38, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1848  read:
 1849         601.38 Citrus inspectors; authority.—For the purpose of
 1850  enforcing the provisions of the citrus fruit laws of this state,
 1851  as well as rules the regulations of the department of Citrus,
 1852  citrus fruit inspectors may enter into any packinghouse, or
 1853  canning plant, or concentrating plant at any hour of day or
 1854  night and have and demand access and admission to any enclosed
 1855  portion of such said packinghouse, canning plant, or
 1856  concentrating plant. Such Said citrus fruit inspectors may also
 1857  inspect all packinghouse or canning plant records pertaining to
 1858  receipts from groves and to details of receiving, handling,
 1859  running, processing, packing, or canning citrus fruit.
 1860         Section 31. Section 601.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1861  read:
 1862         601.40 Registration of citrus packinghouses, processing
 1863  plants with Department of Agriculture.—The owner, manager, or
 1864  operator of each packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating
 1865  plant, at which it is intended to pack, can, concentrate, or
 1866  prepare citrus fruit for market or transportation during the
 1867  then-present or the next ensuing citrus fruit shipping season,
 1868  shall register such packinghouse, canning plant, or
 1869  concentrating plant and its location, shipping point, and post
 1870  office with the Department of Agriculture at least not less than
 1871  10 days before packing, canning, concentrating, or otherwise
 1872  preparing any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated
 1873  products thereof for sale or transportation in or at such
 1874  packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant,; and she or
 1875  he shall, in addition to such registration, give the said
 1876  Department of Agriculture at least not less than 7 days’ written
 1877  notice of the date on which packing, canning, concentrating, or
 1878  other preparation for sale or transportation of citrus fruit of
 1879  the then-current or the next ensuing season’s crop will begin be
 1880  begun. The Department of Agriculture shall issue a certificate
 1881  of registration to each such packinghouse, canning plant, or
 1882  concentrating plant registering.; provided, However, that no
 1883  such certificate of registration may not shall be issued to any
 1884  packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant unless the
 1885  operator thereof has shall have first applied for and received
 1886  her or his license as a citrus fruit dealer and furnished a bond
 1887  as such citrus fruit dealer in accordance with law.
 1888         Section 32. Section 601.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1889  read:
 1890         601.43 Immature and unfit citrus fruit; individual
 1891  sampling.—Any oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines, not
 1892  conforming to the minimum maturity requirements set forth in
 1893  this chapter and any citrus hybrids not conforming to the
 1894  minimum maturity requirements set forth in department rules are
 1895  of Citrus regulations shall be deemed and held to be immature
 1896  and unfit for human consumption. In the testing of fruit to
 1897  determine whether the same conforms to such requirements, any
 1898  inspector has shall have the right and authority to test the
 1899  individual fruit in any given sample of fruit drawn in the
 1900  number and by the manner as prescribed by regulations of the
 1901  department rules of Citrus. If, upon the testing of the juice of
 1902  said individual fruit in any sample, more than 10 percent of
 1903  such said individual fruit shall fail by more than one-half
 1904  percentage point to meet the minimum ratio of total soluble
 1905  solids to anhydrous citric acid that which is required for such
 1906  fruit, then all of the fruit in the lot from which the said
 1907  sample was drawn is shall be deemed and shall be held to be
 1908  immature and unfit for human consumption.
 1909         Section 33. Section 601.44, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1910  read:
 1911         601.44 Destruction of immature fruit.—All citrus fruit or
 1912  processed citrus products prepared for sale or transportation,
 1913  that are which is being prepared for such purpose, or that have
 1914  which has been or are is being delivered for sale or
 1915  transportation that may be found immature or otherwise unfit for
 1916  human consumption upon inspection and testing shall be seized
 1917  and destroyed by a citrus fruit inspector or the sheriff of the
 1918  county where found as may be provided by regulations prescribed
 1919  by the department rules of Citrus. Such Said determination of
 1920  immaturity or unfitness for human consumption may be made by a
 1921  citrus fruit inspector at any place where such citrus fruit may
 1922  be found after severance from the tree, and such seizure and
 1923  destruction may likewise occur at any such place. However, in
 1924  the event of seizure of citrus fruit upon the grounds that such
 1925  citrus fruit fails to show a break in color required by this
 1926  chapter or department rules of Citrus regulations for that
 1927  particular variety of citrus fruit, the owner or person in
 1928  charge of such citrus fruit shall be allowed to separate and
 1929  retain for subsequent use, in accordance with the provisions of
 1930  this chapter or department rules of Citrus regulations, that
 1931  portion of such citrus fruit which shows a break in color
 1932  required by this chapter or department rules of Citrus
 1933  regulations for that particular variety, and, in such case, only
 1934  that portion thereof which fails to show a break in color for
 1935  such variety, as required by this chapter or department rules of
 1936  Citrus regulations, shall be destroyed by a citrus fruit
 1937  inspector or the sheriff of the county, as may be prescribed by
 1938  regulations of the department rules of Citrus.
 1939         Section 34. Section 601.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1940  read:
 1941         601.45 Grading of fresh citrus fruit.—
 1942         (1) All citrus fruit, except as provided in s. 601.50, sold
 1943  or shipped, or offered for sale or shipment, for consumption in
 1944  fresh form shall be graded in a registered packinghouse in this
 1945  state according to standards established by the department of
 1946  Citrus, and the grade of such fruit shall be indicated as
 1947  hereinafter provided in this section.
 1948         (2) Fresh citrus fruit being transported in bulk form shall
 1949  have stamped upon such fruit, subject to department rules:
 1950         (a) The actual grade thereof; or
 1951         (b) Brands or trademarks properly registered with the
 1952  department to represent state or U.S. grades, as provided in
 1953  subsection (4).
 1954         (3) For fresh citrus fruit being transported when packed in
 1955  a closed container approved or otherwise authorized by the
 1956  department of Citrus, it shall be sufficient if the closed
 1957  container has the grade indicated thereon, in accordance with
 1958  department rules, by:
 1959         (a) Stamping the grade of the fruit on the container; or
 1960         (b) Use of labels, brands, or trademarks properly
 1961  registered with the department to represent state or U.S.
 1962  grades, as provided in subsection (4).
 1963         (4) In accordance with such rules as the department of
 1964  Citrus may prescribe, licensed citrus fruit dealers in this
 1965  state are shall be entitled to register labels, brands, or
 1966  trademarks for grade identification purposes. The department
 1967  shall maintain a record of all labels, brands, or trademarks
 1968  registered for grade identification purposes, which record may
 1969  be purged as necessary.
 1970         Section 35. Subsection (1) of section 601.46, Florida
 1971  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1972         601.46 Condition precedent to sale of citrus fruit.—
 1973         (1) It is unlawful, except as provided in s. 601.50, for
 1974  any person to sell or offer for sale, to transport, prepare,
 1975  receive, or deliver for transportation or market any citrus
 1976  fruit in fresh form unless such fruit has matured in accordance
 1977  with the maturity standards and is accompanied by a certificate
 1978  of inspection and maturity thereof issued by a duly authorized
 1979  citrus fruit inspector of the Department of Agriculture and
 1980  Consumer Services. However, the Department of Citrus may adopt
 1981  rules providing by regulation provide that, in lieu of the
 1982  accompaniment of such shipment by a certificate of inspection
 1983  and maturity, the fact of such inspection may be shown by
 1984  appropriate means on the manifest or bill of lading covering
 1985  such shipment.
 1986         Section 36. Section 601.49, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 1987  read:
 1988         601.49 Condition precedent to selling processed citrus
 1989  products.—A It is unlawful for any person, except as provided in
 1990  s. 601.50, may not to sell or offer for sale, to transport,
 1991  receive, or deliver for transportation, or market any canned or
 1992  concentrated products of citrus fruits unless such products have
 1993  the same has been inspected and are is accompanied by a
 1994  certificate of inspection issued by a duly authorized inspector
 1995  of the Department of Agriculture., provided, However, that the
 1996  Department of Citrus shall by regulation provide that in lieu of
 1997  the accompaniment of such shipment by a certificate of
 1998  inspection, proof the fact of such inspection may be shown,
 1999  pursuant to rules adopted by the Department of Citrus, by
 2000  appropriate means on the manifest or bill of lading covering
 2001  such shipment.
 2002         Section 37. Section 601.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2003  read:
 2004         601.50 Exemptions; sale or shipment of citrus or citrus
 2005  products for certain purposes.—
 2006         (1) Notwithstanding Irrespective of the provisions of ss.
 2007  601.45, 601.46, 601.48, 601.49, 601.51, and 601.52, the
 2008  department may adopt of Citrus under such precautionary rules
 2009  that and regulations as it deems may deem expedient to may
 2010  permit the sale or shipment of citrus fruit or the canned or
 2011  concentrated products thereof without the issuance of and filing
 2012  of an inspection certificate and without the grade being shown
 2013  on the container thereof, of:
 2014         (a)(1) Intrastate shipments of fresh citrus fruit for
 2015  consumption or use within the state.;
 2016         (b)(2) Shipments to be used for charitable or unemployment
 2017  relief purposes.;
 2018         (c)(3) Shipments to the United States Government or any of
 2019  its agencies and interstate shipments to any packinghouse,
 2020  canning plant, or concentrate plant for commercial processing,
 2021  as may be defined by the department, of Citrus; or to fresh
 2022  fruit juice distributors outside the state.;
 2023         (d)(4) Shipments by any method of transportation by “gift
 2024  fruit shippers,” as defined by the department of Citrus, but
 2025  such shipments shall not be for the purpose of resale by the
 2026  consignee thereof.; but, provided
 2027         (2) However that, any no such rule adopted under this
 2028  section may not or regulation issued hereunder shall permit or
 2029  allow the sale or shipment of citrus fruit deemed by this
 2030  section to be immature and unfit for human consumption or nor of
 2031  canned or concentrated products thereof prepared or made from
 2032  citrus fruit deemed by this law to be immature and unfit for
 2033  human consumption. In addition; but, provided further, that
 2034  shipments under paragraphs (1)(a) and (d) must subsections (1)
 2035  and (4) shall meet such minimum grade standards as may
 2036  periodically, from time to time, be established by the
 2037  department, of Citrus; and, provided further that such rules
 2038  must and regulations shall provide for the due collection of any
 2039  advertising assessments taxes and inspection fees that may be
 2040  due thereon.
 2041         Section 38. Section 601.501, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2042  to read:
 2043         601.501 Charitable shipments exempt from assessments tax
 2044  exempt.—Shipments of citrus fruit when permitted under s. 601.50
 2045  for charitable purposes are shall be exempt from all advertising
 2046  assessments taxes.
 2047         Section 39. Section 601.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2048  read:
 2049         601.51 Certification required for shipment of citrus fruit
 2050  or products.—
 2051         (1) A person, including a No common carrier or other
 2052  carrier, may not: or person,
 2053         (a) Except as provided in s. 601.50, shall accept for
 2054  shipment, ship, or transport any citrus fruit or the canned or
 2055  concentrated products thereof until a grade certificate is
 2056  issued showing the grade thereof, which certificate or a
 2057  duplicate thereof must shall be filed with the carrier at the
 2058  point of shipment., nor shall any common carrier or other
 2059  carrier or person
 2060         (b) Accept for shipment or ship any citrus fruit or the
 2061  canned or concentrated products thereof where written notice has
 2062  been given to such person, common carrier, or other carrier or
 2063  person, or her or his representative or agent, by the Department
 2064  of Agriculture or its authorized agent, employee, or inspector
 2065  that such said citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated
 2066  products thereof do does not comply with the provisions of law
 2067  or the rules adopted and regulations promulgated by the
 2068  Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture.;
 2069         (2)(a) A provided that the shipper or handler of such
 2070  citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof has
 2071  shall have the privilege of repacking or remarking, and that, if
 2072  or when such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products
 2073  thereof are the same shall have been repacked or remarked to
 2074  conform to the provisions of law or said rules, regulations, or
 2075  orders of promulgated by the Department of Citrus or the
 2076  Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture or its
 2077  authorized inspector or agent shall notify such person, said
 2078  common carrier, or other carrier or person, or her or his agent,
 2079  that such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products
 2080  thereof may be accepted for shipment, and such shipper or
 2081  handler is shall not be considered as having violated this
 2082  chapter or such said rules, regulations, or orders., but
 2083  provided further that this section shall be deemed to have been
 2084  complied with
 2085         (b) If a the shipper conforms shall have conformed to the
 2086  rules adopted regulations issued by the Department of Citrus
 2087  under the provisions of s. 601.49, the shipper is deemed to have
 2088  complied with this section.
 2089         Section 40. Section 601.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2090  read:
 2091         601.52 Carriers not to accept fruit without unless same
 2092  bears evidence of payment of assessments and fees excise taxes.
 2093  A No common carrier or other carrier or person, except as
 2094  provided in s. 601.50, may not shall accept for shipment, ship,
 2095  or transport any citrus fruit or processed citrus products
 2096  unless the grade certificate, manifest, or bill of lading
 2097  covering such said citrus fruit or processed citrus products
 2098  bears evidence of the payment, as provided by law, of the taxes,
 2099  assessments, and fees imposed by this chapter.
 2100         Section 41. Subsection (1) of section 601.54, Florida
 2101  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2102         601.54 Seizure of unwholesome fruit by Department of
 2103  Agriculture’s agents.—
 2104         (1) The Department of Agriculture or its duly authorized
 2105  inspectors shall seize and destroy all citrus fruit found by the
 2106  said Department of Agriculture or inspectors to be unwholesome
 2107  or decomposed so that it is unfit for canning or concentrating
 2108  purposes as defined by law or by any rule adopted by regulation
 2109  of the Department of Citrus under pursuant to authority given in
 2110  this chapter, and, in the event any inspector finds shall find
 2111  that any canner or concentrator is canning or concentrating
 2112  fruit prohibited to be used, she or he may seize and destroy not
 2113  only such fresh fruit found in the canning or concentrating
 2114  plant but also citrus fruit or juice in the process of being
 2115  canned or concentrated or that which has been canned or
 2116  concentrated from the same lot or shipment wherein the fresh
 2117  fruit is found by such said inspector to be subject to seizure
 2118  under the provisions of this section.
 2119         Section 42. Subsection (3) of section 601.55, Florida
 2120  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2121         601.55 Citrus fruit dealer; license required.—
 2122         (3) An applicant is shall be limited to the filing of one
 2123  application for each citrus shipping season, which application
 2124  may be amended if necessary to comply with the requirements of
 2125  this chapter and regulations of the department rules of Citrus.
 2126         Section 43. Section 601.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2127  read:
 2128         601.56 Application for dealers’ licenses; requirements.—Any
 2129  person desiring to engage in the business of a citrus fruit
 2130  dealer in the state must apply shall make application to the
 2131  department of Citrus for a license. The department of Citrus
 2132  shall adopt rules prescribing by regulation prescribe the
 2133  information to be contained in such application.
 2134         (1) All such applications, in addition to other information
 2135  that which may be prescribed by the department of Citrus, must
 2136  contain the following information:
 2137         (a) Name and address of the individual, firm, partnership,
 2138  association, corporation, or other business unit applying for a
 2139  license.;
 2140         (b) Names and addresses of the principal stockholders,
 2141  officers, partners, or other individuals belonging to or
 2142  connected with the applicant if the applicant for a license is a
 2143  firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other business
 2144  unit, whether it be for profit or otherwise.;
 2145         (c) The length of time the applicant has been engaged in
 2146  the citrus fruit business in the state Florida in any manner
 2147  whatsoever.;
 2148         (d) A statement of delinquent accounts, if any, growing out
 2149  of the ordinary course of business with producers., if any there
 2150  be;
 2151         (e) A financial statement of the applicant, if required by
 2152  the department of Citrus, showing such information as the
 2153  department of Citrus may prescribe regarding the financial
 2154  conditions of the applicant.;
 2155         (f) Whether or not the applicant or any of its officers,
 2156  directors, or stockholders have previously been licensed as a
 2157  citrus fruit dealer, or connected with a licensed citrus fruit
 2158  dealer in the state and, if so, the date all such licenses were
 2159  obtained.; and
 2160         (g) The number of boxes of citrus fruit, measured in terms
 2161  of standard-packed boxes, that which the applicant intends to
 2162  deal with during the current or ensuing shipping season.
 2163         (2) If the applicant is an individual and is shown to be a
 2164  nonresident of the state, or is a copartnership and each member
 2165  is shown to be a nonresident of the state, in either event, the
 2166  said applicant shall designate some bona fide resident of the
 2167  state as such applicant’s resident agent upon whom process may
 2168  be served. The service of process of any of the courts of this
 2169  state upon such resident agent shall be as effectual and binding
 2170  upon such said applicant as if personally served upon such said
 2171  applicant.
 2172         (3) If the applicant is a corporation, then such
 2173  corporation must be one organized and existing under the laws of
 2174  this state or having an unrevoked permit authorizing it to
 2175  transact business in this state.
 2176         (4) When a license application is submitted for a person or
 2177  business entity that which has an unpaid balance due and owing
 2178  the department of Citrus for any citrus assessments excise taxes
 2179  or delinquency fees levied and imposed under the authority of
 2180  this chapter, the applicant shall be notified immediately by the
 2181  department,; and such application may shall not be further
 2182  processed or presented to the commission for action until such
 2183  assessments taxes and fees are paid in full. However, any
 2184  applicant whose assessments taxes are under review by the
 2185  department of Citrus or are contested in the appropriate
 2186  administrative agency or court shall not have its application
 2187  denied solely on the basis of owed assessments taxes or fees,
 2188  until the matter is determined by the department, agency, or
 2189  court.
 2190         Section 44. Subsections (1), (6), and (7) of section
 2191  601.57, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2192         601.57 Examination of application; approval of dealers’
 2193  licenses.—
 2194         (1) The department of Citrus shall, within a reasonable
 2195  time, examine the application and consider the information
 2196  submitted therewith, including the applicant’s financial
 2197  statement and the reputation of the applicant as shown by
 2198  applicant’s past and current history and activities, including
 2199  applicant’s method and manner of doing business. The department
 2200  of Citrus shall also consider the past history of any applicant,
 2201  either individually or in connection with any individual,
 2202  copartnership, corporation, association, or other business unit
 2203  with whom any applicant has shall have been connected in any
 2204  capacity, and may in proper cases impute to any individual,
 2205  corporation, copartnership, association, or other business unit
 2206  liability for any wrong or unlawful act previously done or
 2207  performed by such individual, corporation, copartnership,
 2208  association, or other business unit.
 2209         (6) The department of Citrus shall designate not more than
 2210  three employees directly involved in the processing of citrus
 2211  fruit dealer license applications, who shall be a part of, and
 2212  shall have access to, the criminal justice information system
 2213  described in chapter 943, for purposes of investigating license
 2214  applicants.
 2215         (7) The department may adopt rules establishing of Citrus
 2216  is authorized to establish by rule the procedure and guidelines
 2217  for granting interim conditional staff approval for issuance of
 2218  a conditional citrus fruit dealer’s license, which license shall
 2219  at all times be subject to final approval or other action by the
 2220  commission at its next regular meeting. Any license so issued
 2221  shall clearly and conspicuously indicate thereon the conditional
 2222  nature of the approval and pendency of final action.
 2223         Section 45. Subsection (1) of section 601.58, Florida
 2224  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2225         601.58 Application approval or disapproval.—
 2226         (1) Each citrus fruit dealer’s license application that
 2227  which is approved, or approved subject to conditions, shall be
 2228  forwarded immediately to the Department of Agriculture and
 2229  Consumer Services, which shall, upon satisfaction of the stated
 2230  conditions, if any are endorsed thereon, issue to the applicant
 2231  an appropriate license as prescribed in s. 601.60.
 2232         Section 46. Section 601.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2233  read:
 2234         601.60 Issuance of dealers’ licenses.—
 2235         (1) Whenever an application bears the approved endorsement
 2236  of the Department of Citrus and satisfactions of conditions of
 2237  approval, if any, and the applicant has paid the prescribed fee,
 2238  the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall issue
 2239  to such applicant a license, as approved by the Department of
 2240  Citrus, which shall entitle the licensee to do business as a
 2241  citrus fruit dealer during the effective term of such license in
 2242  accordance with s. 601.55 or, if applicable, until such license
 2243  is may be suspended or revoked by the Department of Agriculture
 2244  and Consumer Services in accordance with the provisions of law.
 2245  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may issue a
 2246  provisional license for a period of no longer than 1 year to an
 2247  applicant who is under investigation for an action that would
 2248  constitute a violation of this chapter or has pending against
 2249  such applicant an administrative or civil proceeding that which
 2250  alleges an action that would constitute a violation of this
 2251  chapter. The department shall establish by rule requirements for
 2252  renewal of a provisional license. When the investigation is
 2253  complete or the pending proceeding has been disposed of, the
 2254  Department of Agriculture may issue a regular license under this
 2255  section.
 2256         (2) If, during the effective term of such license, there is
 2257  any change in the ownership, officers, managership, or
 2258  stockholders of any copartnership, association, corporation, or
 2259  other business unit to which a license has been issued, the
 2260  licensee shall immediately notify the Department of Citrus in
 2261  writing specifying the change in detail. The Department of
 2262  Citrus may shall be entitled to receive, and the licensee must
 2263  shall be required to promptly furnish, such additional
 2264  information as if the licensee were applying for a new license.
 2265  If, after investigating the facts and applying the standards
 2266  prescribed for the issuance of new licenses, the commission
 2267  finds that the licensee is not entitled to a citrus fruit
 2268  dealer’s license, the commission shall recommend to the
 2269  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that such
 2270  existing license be suspended or revoked, and, upon such
 2271  recommendation, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
 2272  Services shall immediately take necessary steps to suspend or
 2273  revoke such existing license.
 2274         Section 47. Section 601.601, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2275  to read:
 2276         601.601 Registration of dealers’ agents.—Each Every
 2277  licensed citrus fruit dealer shall:
 2278         (1) Register with the Department of Agriculture each and
 2279  every agent, as defined in s. 601.03(2), who is authorized to
 2280  represent such dealer; apply make application for registration
 2281  of such agent or agents on a form approved by the Department of
 2282  Agriculture and filed with the Department of Agriculture at
 2283  least not less than 5 days before prior to the active
 2284  participation of the agent or agents on behalf of such dealer in
 2285  any transaction described in s. 601.03(2); and be held fully
 2286  liable for and legally bound by all contracts and agreements,
 2287  verbal or written, involving the consignment, purchase, or sale
 2288  of citrus fruit executed by a duly registered agent on the
 2289  dealer’s behalf during the entire period of valid registration
 2290  of such agent the same as though such contracts or agreements
 2291  were executed by the dealer. Registration of each agent shall be
 2292  for the entire shipping season for which the applying dealer’s
 2293  license is issued; however, a licensed dealer may cancel the
 2294  registration of any agent registered by her or him by returning
 2295  the agent’s identification card to the Department of Agriculture
 2296  and giving formal written notice to the Department of
 2297  Agriculture of at least not less than 10 days. In addition, such
 2298  dealer shall make every effort to alert the public to the fact
 2299  that the agent is no longer authorized to represent her or him.
 2300  An agent may be registered by more than one licensed dealer for
 2301  the same shipping season, provided that each licensed dealer
 2302  applies shall apply individually for registration of the agent
 2303  and further provided that written consent is given by each and
 2304  every dealer under whose license the agent has valid prior
 2305  registration.
 2306         (2) When the above requirements of subsection (1) and such
 2307  additional requirements as may be set forth by rules regulations
 2308  adopted by the Department of Citrus for registration of an agent
 2309  are have been met and the fee required by s. 601.59(2) is has
 2310  been paid, the Department of Agriculture shall duly register the
 2311  agent and issue an identification card certifying such
 2312  registration. The identification card, among other things, shall
 2313  show in a prominent manner:
 2314         (a) The name and address of the agent.;
 2315         (b) The authorizing dealer’s name, address, and license
 2316  number.;
 2317         (c) The effective date and season for which registration is
 2318  made.;
 2319         (d)1. A space for signature of the agent.;
 2320         2. A space to be countersigned by the licensed dealer.;
 2321         3. A statement providing that the card is not valid unless
 2322  so signed and countersigned.
 2323  
 2324  The department of Citrus may periodically, from time to time,
 2325  adopt, as necessary, additional requirements or conditions
 2326  relating to the registration of agents as may be necessary.
 2327         Section 48. Section 601.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2328  read:
 2329         601.61 Bond requirements of citrus fruit dealers.—
 2330         (1)(a) Except as hereinafter provided in this section,
 2331  before prior to the approval of a citrus fruit dealer’s license,
 2332  the applicant therefor must deliver to the Department of
 2333  Agriculture and Consumer Services a good and sufficient cash
 2334  bond, an appropriate certificate of deposit, or a surety bond
 2335  executed by the applicant as principal and by a surety company
 2336  qualified to do business in this state as surety, in an amount
 2337  as determined by the Department of Citrus pursuant to rules
 2338  adopted by the department. The rules shall allow the department
 2339  to consider any of following factors for determining the amount
 2340  of such bonds or certificates of deposit amount of such bond or
 2341  certificate of deposit shall be determined by taking into
 2342  consideration any one or more of the following: the number of
 2343  standard packed boxes of citrus fruit, or the equivalent
 2344  thereof, that which the applicant intends to handle during the
 2345  term of the license as set forth in the application; the total
 2346  volume of fruit handled by the dealer the previous season; the
 2347  highest month’s volume handled the previous season; the
 2348  anticipated increase in the total citrus crop during the season
 2349  for which the application for license is made; or and other
 2350  relevant factors based on the following schedule:
 2351         (a) $1,000 up to 2,000 boxes;
 2352         (b) $2,000 up to 5,000 boxes;
 2353         (c) $3,750 up to 7,500 boxes;
 2354         (d) $5,000 up to 10,000 boxes;
 2355         (e) $10,000 up to 20,000 boxes;
 2356         (f) $1,000 for each additional 20,000 boxes or fraction
 2357  thereof in excess of 20,000 boxes, with a maximum bond of
 2358  $100,000.
 2359         (b) If a citrus fruit dealer during the term of her or his
 2360  license finds that she or he has handled, or can reasonably
 2361  expect to handle, a volume of fruit greater than that covered by
 2362  a posted bond or certificate of deposit, the dealer has shall
 2363  have the affirmative duty to of immediately notify notifying the
 2364  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and initiate a
 2365  review by the Department of Citrus to determine any initiating
 2366  an increase required in the amount of such bond or certificate
 2367  of deposit to comply with the department’s rules for determining
 2368  the an amount of such bonds or certificates of deposit that will
 2369  meet the requirements set forth above.
 2370         (2) Such Said bond shall be in the form approved by the
 2371  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and shall be
 2372  conditioned as provided in s. 601.66(9);, and also to fully
 2373  comply with the terms and conditions of all contracts, verbal or
 2374  written, made by the citrus fruit dealer with producers or with
 2375  other citrus fruit dealers, relative to the purchasing,
 2376  handling, sale, and accounting of purchases and sales of citrus
 2377  fruit;, and upon the dealer’s dealer accounting for the proceeds
 2378  from, and paying for, any citrus fruit purchased or contracted
 2379  for, in accordance with the terms of the contracts with
 2380  producers;, and upon the dealer’s dealer accounting for any
 2381  advance payments or deposits made, and delivering all citrus
 2382  fruit contracted for, in accordance with the terms of the
 2383  contracts with other citrus fruit dealers. The commission may
 2384  prescribe by rule that such a producer contract contain
 2385  information that it considers necessary to protect the producer
 2386  from deceptive practices. For purposes of this chapter, every
 2387  such contract shall be conclusively deemed to have been made and
 2388  entered into during the shipping season in which the delivery of
 2389  fruit into the primary channel of trade is made.
 2390         (3) Such Said bond shall be to the Department of
 2391  Agriculture, for the use and benefit of every producer and of
 2392  every citrus fruit dealer with whom the dealer deals in the
 2393  purchase, handling, sale, and accounting of purchases and sales
 2394  of citrus fruit. The aggregate accumulative liability under any
 2395  bond may shall not exceed the amount of the bond named therein.
 2396  Such Said bond shall provide that the surety company executing
 2397  the bond is thereon shall not be liable to any citrus fruit
 2398  dealer claiming to be injured or damaged by such the said dealer
 2399  if the aggregate of the amounts found to be due to producers
 2400  pursuant to the provisions of this chapter equals or exceeds the
 2401  amount of the bond, unless such citrus fruit dealer is also a
 2402  producer and is acting in the capacity of a producer and not in
 2403  the capacity of a citrus fruit dealer in the transaction wherein
 2404  she or he claims to have been injured or damaged by applicant;
 2405  however, but if the aggregate of such amounts is less than the
 2406  amount of the bond, then the surety may be held liable to such
 2407  citrus fruit dealers, but not in excess of the sum by which the
 2408  amount of the bond exceeds the aggregate of the amounts found to
 2409  be due to producers pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
 2410         (4) The Department of Citrus or the Department of
 2411  Agriculture, or any officer or employee designated by the
 2412  Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, is
 2413  authorized shall have the right to inspect such accounts and
 2414  records of any citrus fruit dealer as may be deemed necessary to
 2415  determine whether a bond that which has been delivered to the
 2416  Department of Agriculture is in the amount required by this
 2417  section or whether a previously licensed nonbonded dealer should
 2418  be required to furnish bond. If any such citrus fruit dealer
 2419  refuses to permit such inspection, the Department of Agriculture
 2420  may publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the
 2421  license of the offender until permission to make such inspection
 2422  is given. Upon a finding by the Department of Agriculture that
 2423  any citrus fruit dealer has dealt or probably will deal with
 2424  more fruit during the season than shown by the application, the
 2425  Department of Agriculture may order such bond increased to such
 2426  an amount as will meet the requirements as set forth in the
 2427  rules adopted by the Department of Citrus for determining the
 2428  amount bond schedule of such bonds subsection (1). Upon failure
 2429  to file such increased bond within the time fixed by the
 2430  Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture may
 2431  publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the
 2432  license of such citrus fruit dealer until such the said bond is
 2433  increased as ordered.
 2434         (5)(a) The following citrus fruit, subject to such rules as
 2435  may be prescribed by the Department of Citrus, is shall not be
 2436  considered as fruit with which the applicant intends to deal for
 2437  the purpose of determining the amount of the bond required under
 2438  subsection (1):;
 2439         1. Citrus fruit that which the applicant produces.
 2440         2. Citrus fruit that which is handled for its members by a
 2441  cooperative marketing association organized and existing under
 2442  the provisions of either chapter 618 or chapter 619.
 2443         3. Fresh citrus fruit handled by the applicant that, which
 2444  has been prepared and packaged by a registered packinghouse
 2445  other than the applicant and has been inspected and certified
 2446  for shipment.
 2447         4. Citrus fruit handled by the applicant from citrus groves
 2448  for which the applicant provides complete grove management
 2449  services under direct contract with the owner or producer.
 2450         5. Citrus fruit handled by a corporate or partnership
 2451  applicant that is from citrus groves owned by officers or
 2452  stockholders of the corporation or from citrus groves owned by
 2453  the partnership, the parent corporation, or a wholly owned
 2454  subsidiary corporation or its corporate officers or
 2455  stockholders, or any partner of a partnership, if; provided that
 2456  appropriate waivers of right to any claim against the bond
 2457  required to be posted by this section are be attached to and
 2458  made a part of the license application for license.
 2459         6. Processed citrus fruit handled by the applicant that
 2460  which has been processed and packaged by a registered citrus
 2461  processing plant other than the applicant and has been inspected
 2462  and certified for shipment.
 2463         (b) If the applicant does not intend to deal with any
 2464  citrus fruit other than that described in paragraph (a) which
 2465  comes within the foregoing classifications, the Department of
 2466  Agriculture and Consumer Services shall issue a license without
 2467  the posting of a bond. Such a license shall bear a descriptive
 2468  statement to the effect that the licensee is not a bonded citrus
 2469  fruit dealer.
 2470         (c) A claim against any citrus fruit dealer’s bond required
 2471  to be posted by this section shall not be accepted with respect
 2472  to any damages in connection with fruit handled under the
 2473  provisions of subparagraphs (a)1.-6. of paragraph (a) if such
 2474  claim is filed against the bond of the dealer who was granted
 2475  bond exempt status for such said fruit.
 2476         (6) If any of the provisions of this act shall be held to
 2477  be unconstitutional or invalid for any reason by any court of
 2478  competent jurisdiction or if such court shall find or declare
 2479  that no applicant shall be required to furnish the bond required
 2480  by this act, then and in that event this entire act shall be
 2481  ineffective for any and all purposes and the laws in effect on
 2482  July 31, 1965, which are amended by this act, shall not be
 2483  deemed to be amended or repealed by this act but shall instead
 2484  remain in full force and effect it being the intention of the
 2485  Legislature that in such event this entire act shall be
 2486  ineffective for any and all purposes and the laws in effect on
 2487  July 31, 1965, which are amended or repealed by this act shall
 2488  instead not be deemed to be amended or repealed by this act but
 2489  shall remain in full force and effect.
 2490         Section 49. Subsection (7) of section 601.64, Florida
 2491  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2492         601.64 Citrus fruit dealers; unlawful acts.—It is unlawful
 2493  in, or in connection with, any transaction relative to the
 2494  purchase, handling, sale, and accounting of sales of citrus
 2495  fruit:
 2496         (7) For any citrus fruit dealer to violate or aid or abet
 2497  in the violation of any rule adopted or regulation duly
 2498  promulgated by the department of Citrus.
 2499         Section 50. Subsections (1), (6), (7), and (8) of section
 2500  601.66, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2501         601.66 Complaints of violations by citrus fruit dealers;
 2502  procedure; bond distribution; court action on bond.—
 2503         (1) Any person may complain of any violation of any of the
 2504  provisions of this chapter by any citrus fruit dealer during any
 2505  shipping season, by filing of a written complaint with the
 2506  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at any time
 2507  before prior to May 1 of the year immediately after following
 2508  the end of such shipping season. Such Said complaint shall
 2509  briefly state the facts, and the Department of Agriculture and
 2510  Consumer Services shall thereupon, if the facts alleged prima
 2511  facie warrant such action, forward true copies of such said
 2512  complaint to the dealer in question and also to the surety
 2513  company on the dealer’s bond. The dealer at such time shall be
 2514  called upon, within a reasonable time to be prescribed by the
 2515  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, either to
 2516  satisfy the complaint or to answer the complaint in writing,
 2517  either admitting or denying the liability.
 2518         (6) Upon failure by a dealer to comply with an order of the
 2519  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services directing
 2520  payment, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 2521  shall call upon the surety company to pay over to the Department
 2522  of Agriculture and Consumer Services, out of the bond
 2523  theretofore posted by the surety for such dealer, the amount of
 2524  damages sustained but not exceeding the amount of the bond. The
 2525  proceeds to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 2526  by the surety company shall, in the discretion of the Department
 2527  of Agriculture and Consumer Services, be either paid to the
 2528  original complainant or held by the Department of Agriculture
 2529  and Consumer Services for later disbursement, depending upon the
 2530  time during the shipping season when the complaint was made,
 2531  when liability was admitted by the dealer, when the proceeds
 2532  were so paid by the surety company to the Department of
 2533  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the amount of other claims
 2534  then pending against the same dealer, the amount of other claims
 2535  already adjudicated against the dealer, and such other pertinent
 2536  facts as the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in
 2537  its discretion may consider material. The Department of
 2538  Agriculture and Consumer Services, if it decides to pay the
 2539  proceeds to the original complainant, may has authority to order
 2540  an increase in the original bond of the dealer to such higher
 2541  sum as to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 2542  would be justified under all the circumstances so as to protect
 2543  other possible claimants and to exercise all powers otherwise
 2544  confided to it under this chapter to enforce the posting of such
 2545  increased bond. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
 2546  Services also, in its discretion as the facts and circumstances
 2547  might appear to it, may hold the amount of such proceeds until
 2548  such later time, up to the time when all claims have been filed
 2549  during the allotted period after the closing of the shipping
 2550  season and such claims adjudicated, and may then disburse the
 2551  total proceeds in its possession paid over to it by the surety
 2552  company on the dealer’s bond as such claims were adjudicated to
 2553  the various claimants, paying first to the producers the amount
 2554  of their claims in full, if such proceeds are sufficient for
 2555  such purpose, and if not, then in pro rata shares to such
 2556  producer claimants. The balance of any; and if there then exist
 2557  additional proceeds in the hands of the Department of
 2558  Agriculture and Consumer Services, after all claims of producers
 2559  have been paid in full, the balance of such proceeds shall be
 2560  paid to claimants who are citrus fruit dealers, either in whole
 2561  or in pro rata portion, as the aggregate of their claims may
 2562  bear to the amount of such additional proceeds.
 2563         (7) Upon failure of a surety company to comply with a
 2564  demand for payment of the proceeds of a citrus fruit dealer’s
 2565  bond pursuant to administrative orders entered by the Department
 2566  of Agriculture fixing amounts due claimants, the Department of
 2567  Agriculture shall within a reasonable time file in the Circuit
 2568  Court in and for Polk County, an original petition or complaint
 2569  setting forth the administrative proceedings before the
 2570  Department of Agriculture and ask for final order of the court
 2571  directing the surety company to pay the proceeds of the said
 2572  bond to the Department of Agriculture for distribution to the
 2573  claimants.
 2574         (8) In any court proceeding filed under subsection (7), the
 2575  findings of facts and orders of the Department of Agriculture
 2576  shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, and
 2577  if in such suit the Department of Agriculture is successful and
 2578  the court affirms the Department of Agriculture’s department’s
 2579  demand for payment from the surety company, the Department of
 2580  Agriculture shall be allowed all court costs incurred therein
 2581  and also a reasonable attorney fees attorney’s fee to be fixed
 2582  and collected as a part of the costs of the suit.
 2583         Section 51. Section 601.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2584  read:
 2585         601.67 Disciplinary action by Department of Agriculture and
 2586  Consumer Services against citrus fruit dealers.—
 2587         (1) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may
 2588  impose a fine not exceeding $50,000 per violation against any
 2589  licensed citrus fruit dealer for violation of any provision of
 2590  this chapter and, in lieu of, or in addition to, such fine, may
 2591  revoke or suspend the license of any such dealer when it has
 2592  been satisfactorily shown that such dealer, in her or his
 2593  activities as a citrus fruit dealer, has:
 2594         (a) Obtained a license by means of fraud,
 2595  misrepresentation, or concealment;
 2596         (b) Violated or aided or abetted in the violation of any
 2597  law of this state governing or applicable to citrus fruit
 2598  dealers or any lawful rules of the Department of Citrus;
 2599         (c) Been guilty of a crime against the laws of this or any
 2600  other state or government involving moral turpitude or dishonest
 2601  dealing, or has become legally incompetent to contract or be
 2602  contracted with;
 2603         (d) Made, printed, published, distributed, or caused,
 2604  authorized, or knowingly permitted the making, printing,
 2605  publication, or distribution of false statements, descriptions,
 2606  or promises of such a character as to reasonably induce any
 2607  person to act to her or his damage or injury, if such citrus
 2608  fruit dealer then knew, or, by the exercise of reasonable care
 2609  and inquiry, could have known, of the falsity of such
 2610  statements, descriptions, or promises;
 2611         (e) Knowingly committed or been a party to any material
 2612  fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, conspiracy, collusion,
 2613  trick, scheme, or device whereby any other person lawfully
 2614  relying upon the word, representation, or conduct of the citrus
 2615  fruit dealer has acted to her or his injury or damage;
 2616         (f) Committed any act or conduct of the same or different
 2617  character of that hereinabove enumerated which constitutes
 2618  fraudulent or dishonest dealing; or
 2619         (g) Violated any of the provisions of ss. 506.19-506.28,
 2620  both sections inclusive.
 2621         (2) The Department of Agriculture may impose a fine not
 2622  exceeding $100,000 per violation against any person who operates
 2623  as a citrus fruit dealer without a current citrus fruit dealer
 2624  license issued by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to s.
 2625  601.60. In addition, the Department of Agriculture may order
 2626  such person to cease and desist operating as a citrus fruit
 2627  dealer without a license. An administrative order entered by the
 2628  Department of Agriculture under this subsection may be enforced
 2629  pursuant to s. 601.73.
 2630         (3) The Department of Agriculture shall impose a fine of
 2631  not less than $10,000 nor more than $100,000 per violation
 2632  against any licensed citrus fruit dealer and shall suspend, for
 2633  60 days during the first available period between September 1
 2634  and May 31, the license of any citrus fruit dealer who:
 2635         (a) Falsely labels or otherwise misrepresents that a fresh
 2636  citrus fruit was grown in a specific production area specified
 2637  in s. 601.091; or
 2638         (b) Knowingly, falsely labels or otherwise misrepresents
 2639  that a processed citrus fruit product was prepared solely with
 2640  citrus fruit grown in a specific production area specified in s.
 2641  601.091.
 2642         (4) Any fine imposed pursuant to subsection (1), subsection
 2643  (2), or subsection (3), when paid, shall be deposited by the
 2644  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services into its General
 2645  Inspection Trust Fund.
 2646         (5) Whenever any administrative order has been made and
 2647  entered by the Department of Agriculture that and Consumer
 2648  Services which imposes a fine pursuant to this section, such
 2649  order shall specify a time limit for payment of the fine, not
 2650  exceeding 15 days. The failure of the dealer involved to pay the
 2651  fine within that time shall result in the immediate suspension
 2652  of such citrus fruit dealer’s current license, or any
 2653  subsequently issued license, until such time as the order has
 2654  been fully satisfied. Any order suspending a citrus fruit
 2655  dealer’s license shall include a provision that such suspension
 2656  shall be for a specified period of time not to exceed 60 days,
 2657  and such period of suspension may commence at any designated
 2658  date within the current license period or subsequent license
 2659  period. Whenever an order has been entered that which suspends a
 2660  citrus fruit dealer’s license for a definite period of time and
 2661  that license, by law, expires during the period of suspension,
 2662  the suspension order shall continue automatically and shall be
 2663  effective against any subsequent citrus fruit dealer’s license
 2664  issued to such dealer until such time as the entire period of
 2665  suspension has elapsed. Whenever any such administrative order
 2666  of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is sought
 2667  to be reviewed by the offending dealer involved in a court of
 2668  competent jurisdiction, if such court proceedings should finally
 2669  terminate in such administrative order being upheld or not
 2670  quashed, such order shall thereupon, upon the filing with the
 2671  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services of a certified
 2672  copy of the mandate or other order of the last court having to
 2673  do with the matter in the judicial process, become immediately
 2674  effective and shall then be carried out and enforced
 2675  notwithstanding such time will be during a new and subsequent
 2676  shipping season from that during which the administrative order
 2677  was first originally entered by the Department of Agriculture
 2678  and Consumer Services.
 2679         Section 52. Subsection (9) of section 601.69, Florida
 2680  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2681         601.69 Records to be kept by citrus fruit dealers.—Every
 2682  citrus fruit dealer shall make and keep a correct record showing
 2683  in detail the following with reference to the purchase,
 2684  handling, sale, and accounting of sale of citrus fruit handled
 2685  by her or him, namely:
 2686         (9) Any other record or account required to be kept and
 2687  maintained by such dealer by rule adopted by or regulation of
 2688  the department of Citrus duly promulgated.
 2689         Section 53. Section 601.70, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2690  read:
 2691         601.70 Inspection of records by Department of Agriculture
 2692  and Consumer Services.—The Department of Agriculture and
 2693  Consumer Services, or its duly authorized agents, shall have the
 2694  right to inspect all accounts, records, and memoranda of any
 2695  citrus fruit dealer required to be kept under pursuant to the
 2696  provisions of this chapter. If any such citrus fruit dealer
 2697  refuses to permit such inspection, the Department of Agriculture
 2698  may publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the
 2699  license of the offender until permission to make such inspection
 2700  is given.
 2701         Section 54. Subsection (1) of section 601.701, Florida
 2702  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2703         601.701 Penalty for failure to keep records.—
 2704         (1) It is shall be unlawful to fail to keep any records
 2705  required to be kept under the provisions of the Florida Citrus
 2706  Code of 1949, or any amendments thereto, or required to be kept
 2707  by any other law or by any rule adopted by authorized regulation
 2708  of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Citrus, or
 2709  to falsify or cause the falsification of any such records or to
 2710  keep false records.
 2711         Section 55. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
 2712  (2) of section 601.731, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2713         601.731 Transporting citrus on highways; name and dealer
 2714  designation on vehicles; load identification; penalty.—
 2715         (1)(a) It is unlawful to operate any truck, tractor,
 2716  trailer, or other motor vehicle hauling citrus fruit in bulk or
 2717  in unclosed containers for commercial purposes on the highways
 2718  of this state unless such truck, tractor, trailer, or other
 2719  motor vehicle is:
 2720         1. Designated by a number assigned or permitted for use in
 2721  the way and manner and to the extent prescribed by regulation of
 2722  the department rule of Citrus.
 2723         2. Identified by lettering plainly showing the name of the
 2724  person owning same, or the name of any lessee or other person
 2725  operating same. The lettering shall not be less than 3 inches in
 2726  height on both sides of the vehicle or on the front end and the
 2727  rear end of the vehicle, except that lettering on flatbed
 2728  semitrailers shall not be less than 1 1/2 inches in height on
 2729  the rear end of the trailer.
 2730         (2) Any person driving any truck, tractor, trailer, or
 2731  other motor vehicle hauling citrus fruit in bulk or in unclosed
 2732  containers for commercial purposes on the highways of the state
 2733  must shall have on her or his person while when driving such
 2734  vehicle a certificate or other paper showing the approximate
 2735  amount of fruit being hauled; the name of the owner and the
 2736  grove or other origin of such fruit; the number painted or
 2737  affixed by decal, as well as the number of the motor vehicle
 2738  license tag, on the vehicle in which such fruit is being hauled;
 2739  and such other information and data as may be prescribed by
 2740  regulation of the department rule of Citrus, and it is unlawful
 2741  to drive any such vehicle on the highways of this state without
 2742  having such certificate or other paper. The failure of any such
 2743  person to have such certificate or other paper on her or his
 2744  person while when driving such vehicle, as aforesaid, is prima
 2745  facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violation of this
 2746  section act.
 2747         Section 56. Section 601.74, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2748  read:
 2749         601.74 Adoption of rules; fees for licensing and analysis
 2750  of processing materials.—The Department of Agriculture and
 2751  Consumer Services may adopt rules and set fees with respect to
 2752  the licensing and analysis of materials and composition used on
 2753  or in the packing of citrus fruits. Such rules may include fees
 2754  for permitting dyes and coloring matter. Fees shall be not less
 2755  than the amount of $30 nor more than $100 for each manufacturer
 2756  applying making application to the Department of Agriculture.
 2757  All such license fees collected under this section hereunder
 2758  shall be paid monthly by the Department of Agriculture and
 2759  Consumer Services into the State Treasury to the credit of the
 2760  General Inspection Trust Fund and shall be appropriated and made
 2761  available for defraying the expenses incurred in the
 2762  administration of this law.
 2763         Section 57. Section 601.75, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2764  read:
 2765         601.75 Dyes and coloring matter for citrus fruit to be
 2766  certified prior to use.—The Department of Agriculture and
 2767  Consumer Services may adopt rules with respect to the permitting
 2768  and certification of dyes and coloring matter for citrus fruit
 2769  prior to use on any citrus fruit.
 2770         Section 58. Section 601.76, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2771  read:
 2772         601.76 Manufacturer to furnish formula and other
 2773  information.—The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 2774  may adopt rules with respect to requirements for information
 2775  that which must be furnished by manufacturers of coloring matter
 2776  for use on citrus fruit. Such information may include product
 2777  formulas. Any formula required to be filed with the Department
 2778  of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall be deemed a trade
 2779  secret as defined in s. 812.081, is confidential and exempt from
 2780  the provisions of s. 119.07(1), and shall only be divulged to
 2781  the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or to its
 2782  duly authorized representatives or upon orders of a court of
 2783  competent jurisdiction when necessary in the enforcement of this
 2784  law. A person who receives such a formula from the Department of
 2785  Agriculture under this section shall maintain the
 2786  confidentiality of the formula.
 2787         Section 59. Section 601.77, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2788  read:
 2789         601.77 Subsequent analysis of coloring matter; inspection
 2790  of packinghouses for application.—The Department of Agriculture
 2791  and Consumer Services may, by rule, provide for subsequent
 2792  analysis of coloring matter, for inspection of packinghouses or
 2793  other places where coloring matter is applied to citrus fruit,
 2794  and for grounds for revocation of a license to use coloring
 2795  matter on fruit.
 2796         Section 60. Section 601.78, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2797  read:
 2798         601.78 Manufacturer to post bond.—The Department of
 2799  Agriculture and Consumer Services may, by rule, require cash or
 2800  surety bonds to be posted by manufacturers of coloring matter
 2801  used on citrus fruit. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
 2802  Services shall adopt rules prescribing the amount and form of
 2803  such bonds and the grounds and procedures for forfeiture of
 2804  same. The amount of the bond may shall not exceed $5,000.
 2805         Section 61. Section 601.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2806  read:
 2807         601.80 Unlawful to use uncertified coloring matter.—It is
 2808  unlawful for any person to use on oranges or citrus hybrids any
 2809  coloring matter which has not first received the approval of the
 2810  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as provided by
 2811  rule adopted under pursuant to s. 601.76.
 2812         Section 62. Section 601.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2813  read:
 2814         601.85 Standard shipping box for fresh fruit.—The
 2815  specifications for the standard legal shipping box, when crate,
 2816  or container to be used as a unit of trade or for reporting
 2817  purposes, in shipping fresh citrus fruits shall be as
 2818  established by the department, of Citrus; but provided that the
 2819  unit of a standard-packed box, commonly called 1 3/5 bushels,
 2820  shall contain an inside cubical measurement of 3,456 cubic
 2821  inches.
 2822         Section 63. Section 601.86, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2823  read:
 2824         601.86 Standard field boxes for fresh citrus fruit.—The
 2825  standard field box or its equivalent, when used as a unit of
 2826  trade or for reporting purposes, All field boxes used in the
 2827  purchase, sale, or handling of citrus fruit from or for the
 2828  grower by a citrus fruit dealer in the state shall be of the
 2829  uniform standard size of 31 1/2 inches long, 13 inches high, and
 2830  12 inches wide, inside measurements, and shall be divided into
 2831  two compartments by a center partition of at least three-fourths
 2832  inch thickness,; and each of these compartments thus created
 2833  shall have a cubical capacity that does of not to exceed 2,400
 2834  cubic inches.
 2835         Section 64. Subsection (3) of section 601.91, Florida
 2836  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2837         601.91 Unlawful to sell, transport, prepare, receive, or
 2838  deliver freeze-damaged citrus.—
 2839         (3) The manner and method of drawing samples and conducting
 2840  tests under this section shall be prescribed by rules and
 2841  regulations of the Department of Citrus. The inspection in the
 2842  state of all citrus fruits seriously damaged by freezing and the
 2843  enforcement of this section and of rules, regulations, and
 2844  orders of made by the department of Citrus pursuant to and under
 2845  authority of this section shall be under the direction,
 2846  supervision, and control of the Department of Agriculture and
 2847  its duly authorized agents and inspectors who are qualified
 2848  under existing laws to inspect for grade and maturity,; and all
 2849  citrus fruits that may be found to be seriously damaged by
 2850  freezing, as defined by s. 601.89, upon inspection and testing
 2851  shall be seized and may be confiscated and destroyed under the
 2852  supervision of the citrus fruit inspector at the expense of the
 2853  owner unless previous disposition is made by the owner or other
 2854  person who offered the same for inspection, all the provisions
 2855  of this section being subject to such reasonable rules and
 2856  regulations as may be adopted promulgated by the Department of
 2857  Citrus.
 2858         Section 65. Section 601.9901, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2859  to read:
 2860         601.9901 Certificates of inspection; form.—All certificates
 2861  of inspection prescribed by this chapter shall be of such
 2862  number, form, size, and character as the department of Citrus
 2863  may by rule and regulation prescribe and shall be used in such
 2864  manner as to identify the fruit or the canned or concentrated
 2865  products thereof to which they relate.
 2866         Section 66. Section 601.9902, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2867  to read:
 2868         601.9902 Payment of salaries and expenses; Department of
 2869  Citrus.—All salaries, costs, and expenses incurred by the
 2870  department of Citrus in the administration and the enforcement
 2871  of this chapter and in the performance of the department’s its
 2872  duties and the exercise of its powers under the laws of this
 2873  state shall be proratably paid from the moneys derived from the
 2874  citrus advertising assessments taxes imposed on the various
 2875  types of citrus fruit in such proportion as the department of
 2876  Citrus may find each respective type is affected by such
 2877  expenditures.
 2878         Section 67. Section 601.9903, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2879  to read:
 2880         601.9903 Annual report of Department of Citrus.—The
 2881  department of Citrus shall submit make an annual report to the
 2882  Governor concerning upon the work of the department of Citrus.
 2883  The department It shall also submit make such special reports
 2884  concerning upon any phase of the department’s work of the
 2885  Department of Citrus as may be requested called for by the
 2886  Governor or the Legislature or either house thereof.
 2887         Section 68. Section 601.99035, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2888  to read:
 2889         601.99035 Annual travel report of Department of Citrus.—The
 2890  department of Citrus shall, at the end of each fiscal year,
 2891  publish an annual travel report that states, for each department
 2892  staff member of the Department of Citrus and each commission
 2893  member of the Florida Citrus Commission who has traveled during
 2894  that year, the name of the person, the person’s position title,
 2895  the date on which a claim for reimbursement was submitted, the
 2896  dates of travel, the destinations, the purpose of the travel,
 2897  and all expenditures that resulted from the travel.
 2898         Section 69. Section 601.99036, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2899  to read:
 2900         601.99036 Approval of specified salary changes.—Any change
 2901  in the annual salary of an employee of the department who earns
 2902  of Citrus which is at or above $100,000 or more annually must be
 2903  approved by a majority the full membership of the Florida Citrus
 2904  commission at the meeting of the commission in July 2003, or at
 2905  the first subsequent meeting, and before the any subsequent
 2906  salary adjustment is made.
 2907         Section 70. Section 601.9904, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2908  to read:
 2909         601.9904 Rules and regulations; Frozen citrus juices; rules
 2910  of Department of Citrus.—The department shall adopt of Citrus is
 2911  hereby authorized and required to promulgate and enforce rules
 2912  and regulations concerning the contents, preparation,
 2913  concentrating, other processing, and keeping or storing of
 2914  frozen concentrated fresh citrus juices, and such rules and
 2915  regulations may govern, cover but are not limited to, the
 2916  sanitary conditions under which such product is prepared, the
 2917  type of equipment and machinery used therein, and the manner and
 2918  method of storage within this state, and the manner and method
 2919  of shipment.
 2920         Section 71. Subsection (6) of section 601.9908, Florida
 2921  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2922         601.9908 Canned tangerine juice; standards; labeling.—No
 2923  canned tangerine juice shall be sold or offered for sale or
 2924  shipped or offered for shipment which:
 2925         (6) Does not meet requirements to be established by the
 2926  department of Citrus regarding color, absence of defects, taste,
 2927  and flavor; unless the immediate container thereof shall be
 2928  labeled in accordance with regulations of the department of
 2929  Citrus and there shall appear on such label the word
 2930  “substandard” in bold type not less than 1/4 inch high printed
 2931  or stamped diagonally thereon.
 2932         Section 72. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) and
 2933  subsections (2) and (3) of section 601.9910, Florida Statutes,
 2934  are amended to read:
 2935         601.9910 Legislative findings of fact; strict enforcement
 2936  of maturity standard in public interest.—
 2937         (1) FINDINGS.—
 2938         (c) The Legislature finds and determines and so declares
 2939  that there is no better method of determining when such raw and
 2940  immature flavor leaves Florida citrus than by the standards
 2941  authorized by set forth in this chapter and set forth in
 2942  department rule; and that experience has demonstrated over a
 2943  period of many years, by the best available records and under
 2944  various climatic conditions and various seasonal changes, that
 2945  generally speaking, before prior to November 1 of each season,
 2946  oranges that which do not have a total soluble solids of 9
 2947  percent with a minimum ratio of total soluble solids, as set
 2948  forth in department rule s. 601.20, still have a raw, immature
 2949  flavor; and that, beginning on or about November 1 of each
 2950  season, such raw, immature fruit flavor gradually disappears
 2951  from the orange, and by November 15 the same orange may have a
 2952  still lower soluble solids percentage and not be immature; that
 2953  and after November 15 the same orange can still have a further
 2954  lower soluble solids percentage without being immature; and that
 2955  by December 1 nature has completed its process of removing the
 2956  raw, immature flavor that which might have existed before prior
 2957  to that time, provided such fruit meets the other minimum
 2958  maturity requirements authorized by set forth in this chapter
 2959  and set forth in department rule. On December 1 oranges meeting
 2960  the requirements set forth in department rule of s. 601.19(4),
 2961  while not being sufficiently mature to ship in fresh form, may
 2962  be safely used in some processed products without the finished
 2963  product having a raw, immature flavor. On December 1 grapefruit
 2964  meeting the requirements set forth in department rule of s.
 2965  601.16(4), while not being sufficiently mature to ship in fresh
 2966  form, may be safely used in some processed products without the
 2967  finished product having a raw, immature flavor.
 2968         (d) The Legislature finds and determines and so declares
 2969  that the enforcement of the maturity standards, authorized by as
 2970  set forth in this chapter and set forth in department rule, will
 2971  not result in preventing any grower from marketing her or his
 2972  fruit at some time during the marketing season, whenever nature
 2973  has removed the raw, immature flavor,; and, if there is a delay
 2974  in such marketing, it will result in higher prices for the
 2975  entire season, bringing additional millions of dollars to the
 2976  state’s growers of Florida and resulting in benefit to all
 2977  growers, including the grower or growers who were delayed a
 2978  short time in the shipment of their fruit.
 2979         (2) DECLARATION.—Therefore, the Legislature declares that
 2980  the strict enforcement of the maturity standards authorized by,
 2981  as set forth in this chapter and set forth in department rule,
 2982  is definitely in the public’s interest and for the public’s
 2983  welfare, and that no citrus that should be shipped from Florida
 2984  and sold in the consuming markets which has a raw, immature
 2985  flavor, and that which could be classed by the consuming public
 2986  as “Florida green fruit.should be shipped from the state and
 2987  sold in consuming markets.
 2988         (3) RULES SETTING FORTH REGULATIONS REGARDING MATURITY
 2989  STANDARDS FOR HYBRIDS.—The Legislature finds and determines that
 2990  the classifications of and maturity standards for citrus hybrids
 2991  should be established by rules adopted regulations promulgated
 2992  by the department of Citrus pursuant to this chapter.
 2993         Section 73. Section 601.9911, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2994  to read:
 2995         601.9911 Fruit may be sold or transported direct from
 2996  producer.—Any citrus producer may transport her or his own
 2997  citrus fruit or any citrus fruit may be sold or purchased and
 2998  transported in interstate or intrastate commerce in truckload
 2999  lots direct from a producer, and any such fruit so sold,
 3000  purchased, or transported need not be processed, handled by any
 3001  packinghouse, washed, polished, graded, stamped, labeled,
 3002  branded, placed in containers, or otherwise prepared for market
 3003  as may be provided in this chapter herein. Such fruit shall be
 3004  certified at the time of inspection as tree run grade of fruit,
 3005  but shall otherwise remain subject to the maturity standards and
 3006  all other conditions, restrictions, emergency quality assurance
 3007  orders, and other requirements of this chapter and shall be
 3008  inspected for such compliance as all other fruit is inspected at
 3009  such convenient locations as may be determined by the Department
 3010  of Agriculture. Any such fruit violating any provision of the
 3011  provisions of this chapter, or any rule adopted by or regulation
 3012  of the department under of Citrus made pursuant to this chapter,
 3013  but not inconsistent with this section, may be seized,
 3014  condemned, and destroyed as provided in this chapter herein. At
 3015  the time of such inspection, all fees and, assessments, and
 3016  excise taxes provided in this chapter shall be paid and
 3017  collected at the same rate as paid by all other fresh fruit
 3018  growers or shippers.
 3019         Section 74. Section 601.9918, Florida Statutes, is amended
 3020  to read:
 3021         601.9918 Rules related to issuance and use of symbols.—In
 3022  rules related to the issuance and voluntary use of symbols,
 3023  certification marks, service marks, or trademarks, the
 3024  commission may make general references to national or state
 3025  requirements that the license applicant would be compelled to
 3026  meet regardless of the Department of Agriculture’s department’s
 3027  issuance of the license applied for.
 3028         Section 75. Section 601.992, Florida Statutes, is amended
 3029  to read:
 3030         601.992 Collection of dues and other payments on behalf of
 3031  certain nonprofit corporations engaged in market news and grower
 3032  education.—The Florida Department of Citrus or the Department of
 3033  Agriculture and Consumer Services or their successors may
 3034  collect or compel the entities regulated by the Department of
 3035  Agriculture to collect dues, contributions, or any other
 3036  financial payment upon request by, and on behalf of, any not
 3037  for-profit corporation, and its related not-for-profit
 3038  corporations, located in this state that receive which receives
 3039  payments or dues from their its members. Such not-for-profit
 3040  corporation must be engaged, to the exclusion of agricultural
 3041  commodities other than citrus, in market news and grower
 3042  education solely for citrus growers, and must have at least
 3043  5,000 members who are engaged in growing citrus in this state
 3044  for commercial sale. The Department of Agriculture may adopt
 3045  rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer
 3046  implement this section. The rules may establish indemnity
 3047  requirements for the requesting corporation and for fees to be
 3048  charged to the corporation that which are sufficient but do not
 3049  exceed the amount necessary to ensure that any direct costs
 3050  incurred by the Department of Agriculture in implementing this
 3051  section are borne by the requesting corporation and not by the
 3052  Department of Agriculture.
 3053         Section 76. Subsection (1) of section 603.161, Florida
 3054  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3055         603.161 Sales certificates, work orders to accompany
 3056  certain fruit.—
 3057         (1) This section applies to tropical or subtropical fruit.
 3058  “Tropical or subtropical fruit” means avocados, bananas,
 3059  calamondins, carambolas, guavas, kumquats, limes, longans,
 3060  loquats, lychees, mameys, mangoes, papayas, passion fruit,
 3061  sapodillas, and fruit that must be grown in tropical or
 3062  semitropical regions, except citrus fruit as defined in s.
 3063  601.03(7).
 3064         Section 77. Effective January 1, 2013, sections 601.16,
 3065  601.17, 601.18, 601.19, 601.20, 601.21, 601.22, 601.87, 601.90,
 3066  601.901, 601.981, 601.9905, 601.9906, 601.9907, 601.9909,
 3067  601.9913, 601.9914, and 601.9916, Florida Statutes, are
 3068  repealed.
 3069         Section 78. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 3070  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

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