Missouri Senate

House Amendment

LIVESTOCK (Sections 144.010, 262.900, 265.300, 267.565, 277.020) - This act adds captive cervids to the definition of livestock. This act will allow the sale of captive cervids to be exempt from sales tax, will allow captive cervids to be considered livestock for the purposes of urban agricultural zones, and will subject captive cervids to the Missouri Livestock Disease Control and Eradication law, the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law, and regulation and marketing of agricultural products.

This provision is identical to HB 2031 (2014) and the perfected SB 964 (2014).

COUNTY HEALTH CENTER BOARDS (Section 192.300) - This act requires that in counties where there is both a county commission and a county health center board, that each of these entities shall be in agreement to pass ordinances impacting agriculture. This act requires the county commission, with approval of the county health center board, not to impose fees greater than $200 to carry out such ordinances and not to impose requirements on land application that are more stringent than those required by the Department of Natural Resources. Any ordinances relating to the production or raising of livestock shall be administered by county staff that are certified as concentrated animal feeding operators by the Department of Natural Resources.

This provision is similar to HCS/SB 342 (2013).

MISSOURI DAIRY REVITALIZATION ACT OF 2014 (Sections 261.270-261.275) - This act creates the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act of 2014, which requires the University of Missouri to conduct research annually on the estimated state sales tax revenue generated from dairy products. Such estimated sales tax revenue 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 grown 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 identical to HB 1326 (2014).

ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION (Section 267.169) - Under this act, certain data relating to animals shall not be subject to disclosure. Any unauthorized release of such data may be the subject of civil action. A court may order damages up to $10,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and any injunctive relief the court deems necessary.

MISSOURI LIVESTOCK MARKETING LAW (Section 277.040) - This act requires that all license fees collected by the Department of Agriculture under the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law not yield revenue greater than the costs of administering the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law during the ensuing year.

This provision is identical to SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014)and HB 1640 (2014).

CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATORS (Section 281.065) - Currently, a certified commercial pesticide applicator must furnish evidence of financial responsibility with the Director of the Department of Agriculture in order to receive a license. Currently, the amount of the surety bond or liability insurance required is $25,000 for property damage and bodily injury. Under this act, the amount is modified to $50,000 for each occurrence. Further, the applicator is not required to furnish such evidence for license renewal, unless upon request. If the Director so requests, the applicator shall furnish such evidence within 10 days of receiving the request. The Director shall be notified of cancellation or reduction of financial responsibility for any applicator or employer of the applicator. The applicator or applicator's employer shall also maintain evidence of financial responsibility at their business location. If the financial responsibility furnished becomes unsatisfactory, new financial responsibility instruments shall be immediately executed and maintained at the business location, or the applicator's license may be affected as set forth in this act.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 888 (2014) and is substantially similar to HCS/HB 1952 (2014).

WEIGHT LIMITS FOR VEHICLES HAULING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS (Section 304.180) - Currently, the total gross weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling livestock on specified highways in the state cannot exceed 85,500 pounds with the exception of vehicles operated on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The act removes the specified highways and applies this weight limitation to any vehicle hauling livestock or agricultural products, not including local log trucks, on any highway of this state with the specified exception. Any business operating a vehicle hauling livestock or agricultural products weighing more than 80,000 pounds must apply to the Department of Transportation yearly for a permit and must receive a permit upon paying a $25 fee. Upon renewal of the permit, the applicant must submit to the department a list of roads traveled and the number of miles traveled on each road during the year.

This provision is similar to HCS/HBs 1235 & 1214 (2014), HCS/HB 1640 (2014), and SCS/HCS/HB 1937 (2014).

LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM (Sections 340.381 & 340.396) - This act renames the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program the "Dr. Merrill Townley Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program." Further, this act repeals the sunset provision of the large animal veterinarian student loan program.

This provision is identical the perfected SB 859 (2014), and the one section is identical to HB 1998 (2014).

LIVESTOCK ACTIVITY WAIVER OF LIABILITY (Section 537.325) - Currently, equine activity sponsors and equine professionals are not liable for an injury or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities. This act extends this waiver of liability to livestock activity sponsors, livestock owners, livestock facilities, livestock auction markets, and any of their employees for any injury or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of livestock activities. This waiver of liability does not extend to all circumstances as set forth in this act.

Currently, equine activity sponsors are required to post a warning signs on or near stables, corrals, or arenas where equine activities are conducted. This act extends this warning sign requirement to places where livestock activities are conducted.

This provision is identical to SB 671 (2014).

BEEF COMMODITY MERCHANDISING PROGRAM (Section 275.352) - Currently, state fees are not allowed to be collected by the beef commodity merchandising program in excess of a commensurate amount credited against a federal assessment of beef producers. This act repeals this provision.

This provision is identical to SB 591 (2014) and HB 1496 (2014).

This act is similar to SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014).

KAYLA CRIDER

HA 1 - THIS AMENDMENT REMOVES A SECTION REQUIRING COUNTY HEALTH CENTER BOARDS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONS TO BE IN AGREEMENT TO PASS ORDINANCES IMPACTING AGRICULTURE.

HA 2 - THIS AMENDMENT ADDS LIVESTOCK TO THE CURRENT MILK EXEMPTION FOR WEIGHT LIMITATIONS ON HIGHWAYS, AND APPLIES SUCH EXEMPTION TO ALL HIGHWAYS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INTERSTATES.

HA 3 - THIS AMENDMENT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PROMULGATE RULES REGARDING RENEWABLE FUELS AND THE LABELING OF MOTOR FUEL PUMPS.

HA 4 -THIS AMENDMENT MODIFIES PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.