FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY

(a) The legislature finds that: (1) citrus pests and diseases, including the insect known as the Asian citrus psyllid and the disease known as citrus greening, are public nuisances and menaces to the citrus industry, and their control and suppression is a public necessity; (2) because of the natural migration patterns of citrus pests and the contagious nature of citrus diseases, the control and suppression of the nuisance can best be accomplished by dividing the commercial citrus-growing areas into separate zones so that integrated pest management programs may be developed for each zone; (3) there is a need for a quasi-governmental entity acting under the supervision and control of the commissioner whose members are actual citrus producers who would be represented on the board of the entity by directors elected by them to manage control and suppression programs and to furnish expertise in the field of disease and insect control and suppression, because such an entity would enhance the interest and participation of citrus producers in the program; (4) citrus producers, in partnership with the state and federal governments, have made significant investments toward the suppression of these pests and disease in this state; and (5) it is essential to the well-being of the citrus industry and the agricultural economy of this state that the investments of the citrus producers and the state and federal governments be protected. (b) It is the intent of the legislature that the program of control and suppression of citrus pests and diseases be carried out with the best available integrated pest management techniques. (c) The department may recover costs for administration of this chapter.