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GUEST: Becky Tarbotton, campaign coordinator for Californians for GE-Free Agriculture

In spring 2004, three counties and two cities in the State of California passed ordinances to restricted growing genetically modified organisms. Local authorities may now lose the power to control their food supply. Earlier this month, State Senator Dean Florez, a Democrat from Shafter in Kern County California, authored Senate Bill 1056 which states that only the California Department of Food and Agriculture has the authority to regulate what seeds and nursery plants can be grown in the state. The goal, according to local activists, is to override existing local restrictions, prohibit any future initiatives that might restrict genetically engineered crops and eliminate local control of seeds and plants. It’s the second time in a year lawmakers are considering such a bill in California. 19 states in the US have considered similar measures, also called pre-emption laws, that prevent local governments from passing laws to regulate seeds and other agricultural crops that may conflict with state rules.

For more information, visit www.calgefree.org.

Read an article co-authored by Becky Tarbotton on SB 1056.

To find out who your legislator is, click on www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html