Bill > SB493

This bill modifies how compensation is determined for fair managers, now to be called "secretary-managers" of district agricultural associations. The bill transfers the responsibility of setting compensation to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, who must establish a single salary range based on a comprehensive salary survey of comparable federal, state, regional, and local positions in similar industries. The survey must be conducted by January 1, 2027, and every three years thereafter, but only if non-state funds are available from the California Emergency Response and Resiliency Venues and Fairgrounds trade association. Until the first survey, compensation will remain within existing classification ranges. After the initial survey, the maximum salary cannot exceed the highest comparable position's salary, with allowances for cost-of-living increases, merit increases up to 10%, and additional compensation (up to 40% more) for managers overseeing multiple districts. The bill requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to annually review job descriptions and solicit performance information from district agricultural association boards to inform compensation decisions, with the goal of recruiting and retaining highly qualified managers while maintaining budgetary constraints.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB493