(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the board shall be advisory to the secretary and may make recommendations on all matters pertaining to this article including, but not limited to, the annual budget, the adoption, modification, and repeal of regulations and procedures, the use of funds for research, and necessary assessments required to accomplish the purposes of this article as provided in Section 6031.

(b) The secretary shall accept the recommendations of the board if the secretary determines that the recommendations are practicable and in the interest of the industry and the public. The secretary, within 30 days of the decision, shall provide the board with a written statement of reasons for his or her decision if the secretary does not accept a recommendation of the board.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 508, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1995.)