HCS/HB 259 - This act creates the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act of 2015, which requires the University of Missouri to conduct research annually on the estimated state sales tax revenue generated from dairy products. Such estimate shall be provided to the Department of Agriculture. Further, this act creates the Missouri Dairy Industry Revitalization Fund. General revenue appropriated to the Fund shall be expended as set forth in this act. This act requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a dairy producer insurance premium assistance program for producers who participate in the federal margin protection program for dairy producers. Participating producers shall be reimbursed for 70% of their federal premium payment.
Further, this act establishes the Missouri Dairy Scholars Program. This program shall make available 80 scholarships at $5,000 each toward tuition at any college or university in Missouri for students in agriculture-related degree programs who make a commitment to work in the agriculture industry.
Additionally, under this act, the University of Missouri's commercial agriculture program shall conduct an annual study of the dairy industry and develop a plan for how to grow dairy industries in Missouri. The plan shall be delivered to certain members of the General Assembly as set forth in this act.
These provisions are substantially similar to SB 139 (2015), SS/SCS/SB 12 (2015), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), HCS/HB 1640 (2014), HCS/SB 591 (2014), and HCS/SB 859 (2014).
KAYLA CRIDER