Assigned to NRAE                                                                                                    FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2059

 

department of agriculture omnibus

 

Purpose

 

Conforms Arizona statutes to federal regulations relating to organic food certification, eliminates commercial ratite slaughter registration fees and allows the Arizona Department of Agriculture to suspend dairy licenses.

 

Background

 

H.B. 2059 is an omnibus bill to correct and conform current statute with new federal definitions of poultry, update references to federal statute relating to the amended federal organic foods production act of 1990 and make changes to the authority of the Department of Agriculture relating to dairy licenses.

 

During the Second Special Session of the Forty-fifth Legislature, the ratite control fund was repealed.  Additionally, ratites now fall under the federal inspection regulations for poultry, eliminating the need for specific state legislation regarding ratite registration fees. H. B. 2059 repeals commercial ratite slaughtering registration fees.

 

H.B. 2059 also updates references to federal statute relating to the amended federal organic foods production act of 1990.  While retaining the Department’s ability to establish an organic foods certification program, H.B. 2059 repeals the statutory requirements of the program as these requirements are currently outlined in federal statute.

 

Additionally, H.B. 2059 makes changes to the Department of Agriculture’s authority relating to dairy licenses.  Current statute allows the department to revoke but not suspend a dairy license.  H.B. 2059 allows for the temporary suspension of a dairy license without removing the Department’s discretion to suspend the license. 

 

There are no known fiscal impacts to the state general fund relating to the provisions of this bill.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Updates references to federal statute relating to the amended federal organic foods production act of 1990 and repeals the Arizona organic food certification program requirements.

 

2.      Allows the Department to suspend a dairy license if the holder of that license is in violation of statute.

 

3.      Amends the definition of poultry to include ratites and repeals commercial ratite slaughter registration fees.

 

4.      Removes unnecessary language relating to aquaculture fees.

 

5.      Makes technical, conforming and clarifying changes.

 

6.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

 

·        Makes a technical correction correcting an improper reference to federal code.

 

House Action                                                    Senate Action

 

NRA         1/16/02       DPA    8-0-0-2-0                    NRAE        2/7/02     DPA     5-0-3    

3rd Read    1/24/02                   54-0-6-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

February 11, 2002