The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, and in conformance with any applicable provision of federal law, any person who meets the requirements of Section 81110 and is issued a license specified therein shall be authorized to plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, sell, or buy industrial hemp for commercial purposes. The secretary shall require each applicant for initial licensure to file a set of the applicant's fingerprints, taken by a law enforcement officer, and any other information necessary to complete a statewide criminal history check with the Department of Justice and a nationwide criminal history check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
All costs associated with the background check are the responsibility of the applicant.
Any person with a prior criminal conviction shall not be eligible for licensure under this division. If the applicant has completed the application process to the satisfaction of the secretary, the secretary shall issue a license to the applicant that is valid for a period of one year only. The names of the persons to whom the hemp was sold or distributed. A violation of any provision of this division is a misdemeanor. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations in general to further the purposes of this division, and in particular to provide for the testing of industrial hemp during its growth to determine tetrahydrocannabinol levels and to provide for the supervision of industrial hemp during its growth and harvest.