Missouri Senate

Introduced

MISSOURI DAIRY REVITALIZATION ACT OF 2015 (Sections 261.270-261.275) - 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 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 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 SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), HCS/HB 1640 (2014), HCS/SB 591 (2014), and HCS/SB 859 (2014).

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), HB 1640 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), and HCS/SB 591 (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 substantially similar to HCS/HB 1952 (2014), SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), SCS/SB 888 (2014), and HCS/SB 591 (2014).

WEIGHT LIMITATIONS ON VEHICLES HAULING MILK & LIVESTOCK (Section 304.180) - This act adds grain, grain co-products, and livestock to the current milk exemption for weight limitations on highways, and applies such exemption to all highways with the exception of Interstates.

This provision is similar to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), HB 1214 (2014), HCS/HBs 1235 & 1214 (2014), HCS/HB 1640 (2014) and SCS/HCS/HB 1937 (2014).

FUEL LABELING (Section 414.300) - This act requires the Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules regarding renewable fuels and the labeling of motor fuel pumps.

This provision is identical to HCS/SB 506 (2014) and SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014).

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND (Sections 442.571-442.586) - Currently, no alien or foreign business may acquire agricultural land if the total aggregate alien and foreign ownership of agricultural acreage in this state exceeds 1% of all agricultural acreage in this state. This act lowers this to 1/2%. This provision shall not apply to agricultural land currently owned in this state by aliens or foreign businesses or an additional 20% of acreage above that owned that may be subsequently acquired by such alien or foreign business.

Currently, no sale of agricultural land shall occur unless approved by the Director of the Department of Agriculture. Instead, this act only requires that the sale of agricultural land be submitted to the Director if there is no completed IRS Form W-9 signed by the purchaser. Further, this act states that no security interest in agricultural land acquired in violation of certain sections shall be divested or invalidated by such violation.

This provision is similar to HB 1918 (2014), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), and HCS/SB 506 (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), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), SCS/HCS/HB 1937 (2014), HCS/SB 591 (2014), and is substantially similar to HB 1209 (2014), HCS/HB 1640 (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), HB 1496 (2014), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1326 (2014), HCS/SB 506 (2014), and HCS/HB 1640 (2014).

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

HCS/SB 506 (2014).

KAYLA CRIDER