(a) The California Agricultural Export Promotion Account is hereby created in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the money in the account is continuously appropriated to the secretary to support export promotional and public relations activities conducted generally and pursuant to this chapter.
(b) The account shall consist exclusively of funds received for the purpose of subdivision (a) from private industry sources, marketing order advisory boards established pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 58601) of Part 2, and agricultural councils and agricultural commissions established pursuant to Division 22 (commencing with Section 64001).
(c) Funds expended from the account shall be used exclusively for activities that directly benefit the industry sources from which the funds are derived.
(d) Consistent with subdivision (c), funds expended from the account may be used for representational allowance expenditures for the purpose of providing proper representation of California to foreign government officials and federal officials of the United States, which shall include both of the following:
(1) Business-related meals that include the participation of foreign government officials or federal officials of the United States and the California agricultural industry, not to exceed 300 percent of established per diem rates.
(2) Representational gifts, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per item.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 577, Sec. 1. (AB 2832) Effective January 1, 2025.)