District agricultural associations: secretary-managers: compensation.

Senator Becker's legislation revamps compensation practices for California's district agricultural association managers by centralizing salary decisions under the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and establishing standardized pay ranges for these newly designated "secretary-managers."

The measure transfers compensation authority from individual fair boards to the state agriculture secretary, who must establish a unified salary framework based on market surveys of comparable positions. These surveys, required by January 2027 and every three years thereafter, will examine state, regional, and local executive roles in similar industries, provided the fair industry supplies necessary funding. Until the initial survey's completion, secretary-managers' pay will align with existing ranges for Secretary-Manager I-VII classifications or the California Exposition and State Fair general manager position.

The bill outlines specific parameters for ongoing compensation adjustments. Secretary-managers may receive annual cost-of-living increases matching those of state employees, plus merit-based raises up to 10%. Those overseeing multiple districts can earn up to 40% above the standard maximum. The Department of Food and Agriculture must maintain current job descriptions and collect performance data from district boards to inform these decisions. The secretary must consider both board recommendations and district budget constraints when setting individual compensation levels within the established range.