SECOND REGULAR SESSION

[P E R F E C T E D]

SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 925

90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CASKEY.

Offered April 11, 2000.



Senate Substitute adopted, April 11, 2000.



Taken up for Perfection April 11, 2000. Bill declared Perfected and Ordered Printed, as amended.



TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.

4260S.04P


AN ACT

To amend chapter 262, RSMo, by adding thereto four new sections relating to the Missouri agricultural advocates office.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A.  Chapter 262, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto four new sections, to be known as sections 262.750, 262.753, 262.756 and 262.759, to read as follows:

262.750.  The "Missouri Agricultural Advocates Office" is hereby created as a type III entity, as defined in the Reorganization Act of 1974, within the Missouri department of agriculture.  It shall be the purpose of the Missouri agricultural advocates office to assist Missouri's farmers and agriculture industry throughout the state in their efforts to protect, sustain, expand and promote Missouri agriculture economy and way of life.  Such assistance may include:

(1)  To review and contest, when and where appropriate, federal and state regulatory agencies' rules and regulations which may have a negative impact on Missouri agriculture;

(2)  To review, keep the council and the public informed about state and federal legislation, and to act as an advocate and liaison in the state and federal legislative processes for Missouri agriculture;

(3)  To review and contest, when appropriate, ordinances, orders and policies of political subdivisions which may have a negative impact on Missouri agriculture;

(4)  To act as a liaison and information source for Missouri agriculture among all levels of government and the general public;

(5)  To enter and defend original actions at the federal, state and local level, act as an interpleader, file amicus curia briefs, and other such actions deemed necessary by the council to protect Missouri's agricultural interests; and

(6)  Assist in any other legitimate purpose deemed necessary by the council, to protect, sustain, promote and expand Missouri's agriculture industry and economy.

262.753.  There shall be an executive director of the Missouri agriculture advocates office with a staff of not more than five persons, within the limits of the appropriations, to carry out the mission and purpose of the office.  At least one of the staff shall be an attorney licensed to practice in Missouri and other jurisdictions deemed necessary by the council.  The executive director and staff will be employed solely for the purpose of providing advocacy for Missouri's farmers on agriculture economy and industry and for other legitimate purposes deemed necessary by the council in order to provide the assistance set forth in section 262.750.

262.756.  1.  The Missouri agriculture advocates advisory council is created to be composed of a president, vice-president, secretary and immediate past president, each of whom shall be a member of one of the associations, the director of the department of agriculture or his or her designee, and one additional member from each of the associations which compose the council.  Each of the following associations or organizations or their recognized successor association or organization shall recommend one member to the Missouri agriculture advocates advisory council who shall be appointed by the director of the department:

(1)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests, improvements and industry of the cattlemen and cattlewomen of Missouri;

(2)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the poultry industry;

(3)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the pork producers;

(4)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the soybean growers and soybean industry;

(5)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the corn growers and corn industry;

(6)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the dairy producers and dairy industry;

(7)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of veterinary medicine;

(8)  A government sponsored enterprise chartered by Congress to provide loans for crops, lands and other needs of farmers;

(9)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the farm implement dealers;

(10)  An association or organization which represents the statewide interests of the pet breeders;

(11)  An association which represents the statewide interests of livestock marketing;

(12)  An association which represents the statewide interests of forestry product producers;

(13)  An association which represents the statewide interests of the equine industry;

(14)  An association which represents the general statewide interests of the agricultural industry;

(15)  An association which represents the general statewide interests of the agricultural banking interests;

(16)  An association which represents the statewide interests of agriculture producers who farm using organic methods;

(17)  An association which represents the statewide interests of agriculture producers of alternative agriculture products; and

(18)  An association which represents the statewide interests of cotton producers.

2.  The appointments will be for two year terms.  The appointees shall be active members of each association or organization.  If a council member becomes inactive in the appointing association or organization, the council member shall forfeit the seat on the council upon terminating membership in the association or organization.

262.759.  The council shall establish its own procedures and requirements with respect to quorum, place and conduct of its meetings and other matters.  The council shall meet at least four times each year and shall hold meetings when called by the chairman, or, in the absence of the chairman, by the vice chairman, or upon the request of the director of the department of agriculture, or upon the written request of three members of the council.  The members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to their actual expenses incurred in attending meetings and in the performance of their duties.  The council shall appoint the executive director of the Missouri agriculture advocates office, fix the conditions of his employment and tenure in office, in accordance with the laws of the state of Missouri, and shall be responsible for the efficient discharge of his duties.  The executive director, with the advice and consent of the council, shall employ the persons needed to carry out the duties of the office and shall fix their compensation within the total sum of money available from appropriations, and from all other available sources including but not limited to federal, state, local and private grants, and gifts, contributions, and dues of association group members.


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