ARIZONA STATE SENATE
aquaculture; protecting
aquatic environment
Makes
a person who knowingly destroys or damages commercial crops or crops grown for
research purposes liable for damages of up to twice the market value of the
crops or up to twice the actual value of the crops grown for crop development.
The
destruction of agricultural crops grown by academic institutions for research
purposes has recently become a target of activists who are protesting issues
such as the use of agricultural biotechnology.
Instances of this type of destruction have been reported at agricultural
research facilities at Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota,
the University of Maine and a number of Universities in California.
In 2000, the California
Assembly enacted legislation to address the problem of the destruction of
research crops at State Universities (Assembly Bill 2510). Similar legislation has been introduced in
at least eight other states this year: Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi,
Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia.
H.B. 2481 is modeled after
the California legislation and establishes damages for damaging or destroying
commercial crops or crops grown for research purposes of up to twice the value
of the crop.
This fiscal impact of H.B.
2481 is unknown.
1. Specifies that a person who knowingly damages or destroys commercial crops or crops grown for testing or research purposes is subject to liability for damages of up to twice the market value of the damaged or destroyed crop, up to twice the actual costs of production, research, testing, replacement and crop development directly related to the damaged or destroyed crop and litigation costs.
2. Specifies that these remedies are in addition to any other remedies available under law.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
NRA 2/21/01 DPA/SE 9-1-0-0
Third Read 3/7/01 43-16-1-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 13, 2001