department of agriculture
omnibus act
DPA |
Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture |
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DPA |
Caucus and COW |
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X |
Third Read |
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As Passed the House |
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Amends or repeals several programs within the Arizona Department of Agriculture relating to organic food certification programs; milk production licenses; and ratite inspections.
HB 2059 was amended in the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee to make technical and conforming changes. The NRA amendment and a rules amendment were adopted in the Committee of the Whole.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture began operating as a state agency on January 1, 1991. Prior to the establishment of the department, most of the duties were carried out by four smaller state agencies: the Arizona Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture, Arizona Livestock Board, State Egg Inspection Board and the State Dairy Commissioner.
The Department of Agriculture is divided into ten programs: administrative services, agriculture consultation and training, animal disease, ownership and welfare protection, commodity development and promotion, food safety and quality assurance program, native plant and cultural resources protection, non-food quality assurance program, pest exclusion and management program, pesticide compliance and worker safety and the state agricultural laboratory.
· Deletes a reference to hay and feed brokers. Laws 2001, chapter 241 repealed statutes relating to hay agents, dealers and brokers.
· Allows, rather than requires, the Department of Agriculture Director to develop an organic food certification program. Repeals several other sections of statute that outline the Department’s responsibility to establish an organic food certification program.
· Authorizes the Department to suspend a license for a dairy or other milk distribution or processing plant. Current law authorizes only revocation of a license.
· Amends the definition of poultry to conform with United States Department of Agriculture rule.
· Repeals the registration fee for commercial ratite slaughter operations and eliminates the Ratite Control Fund.
· Eliminates outdated references and makes technical and conforming changes.