2011 Legislative Wrap Up
SB32 S02 – Ag Act Amendments – Senator Okerlund - PASSED
• Amends the functions of the department to include promotion and support of multiple use of public lands;
• Allows temporary advisory committees to be appointed by the Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor;
• Repeals the bonding and licensing requirements for all agriculture products, except livestock, related to agriculture product dealers.
• Changes pesticide dealers license requirement to 3 years rather than 1 year.
• Expand the duties of the state conservation commission for some basic "right to farm" policy and offers farms and ranches the opportunity to receive a "Certification of Environmental Stewardship." Allows UDAF to administer EPA and DEQ water and waste related programs if appropriate and by assignment from the Governor or MOU with EPA or DEQ.
• Expands the use of ARDL loan funds for projects on private, state and federal land.
• Changes the state portion of the beef check-off back to the pre-1979 amount of $1.00 for state use. The federal check-off will remain $.50. The total check-off will now be $1.50 and will still be collected at the time of Brand Inspection.
• Changes the definitions of farm custom slaughter and removes the requirement that the animal can only be slaughtered on the owner's property.
HB88 – Agriculture Sustainability Task Force – Rep. Draxler – PASSED Not funded
• Creates a task force to study ways to sustain the agricultural industry. 15 members: 6 Senators, 6 Representatives, Lt. Governor or designee; Executive Director of Quality Growth Commission; and the Commissioner of Agriculture & Food or designee. Final report due to the Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment Interim Committee before November 30, 2011.
HB132 S01 – Water Quality Act Amendments – Rep. Wright - PASSED
• Requires Water Quality Board and Conservation Commission to cooperate in making rules related to ag water
• Establishes provisions relating damages resulting from an agriculture discharge
• Authorizes the Water Quality Board to make rules relating to ag water that are more stringent than federal regulations if the Conservation Commission approves.
HB57 – Joint Professional School of Veterinary Medicine – Rep. Mathis - PASSED
• Creates a joint program with Washington State University for veterinary education. The first two years would be spent at USU and the final two years of clinical work would be at WSU. Provides for 20 Utah residents and 10 non-resident students to participate. Funded at $1.7M annually. Will start with the 2012 school year.
HB420S01 – Water Quality Board Powers & Duties – Rep Fisher - PASSED
• Defines the term "total maximum daily load"
• Authorizes Water Quality Board to review all total daily maximum load reports and recommendations before submission to EPA
• Requires that any board approved strategy or recommendation that will cost between $10M and $100M be reviewed by the legislative interim committee, if the strategy will require a public or private expenditure of $100M.
HB438 – Water Quality Board Amendments – Rep. Wright - FAILED
• Changes the membership of the Water Quality Board by adding two additional members representing agriculture and livestock interests.
• Eliminates two members who represent the at-large position and environmental interests.
• Changes in membership will not occur until the terms expire of the eliminated membership
HB148S01 – Raw Honey Definition – Rep. Sandstrom - PASSED
• Establishes a definition for raw honey.
• Note: UDAF has maintained that the changes could be accommodated in Administrative Rule rather than putting it in statute.
HB249S02 – Growing Food – Rep. Herrod (substitute amended by Rep. Wright) FAILED
• Recognizes the right of an individual to grow food for personal use of the individual and the individual's family on the individual's property without being subject to local, state, or federal regulations. (Attempts to address concerns with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act that signed into law by the President earlier this year.)
• Unless the food poses a risk to health, a risk of spreading insect infestation, a risk of spreading agricultural disease, or is unlawfully possessed, prohibits governmental confiscation of food.
• Must comply with food safety requirements of state code.
• Note: UDAF Supports the 2nd Substitute, but not the original bill.
HB495S1 – Animal Control Modifications – Rep. Mathis - PASSED
• Transfers and modifies the Cat and Dog Community Spay and Neuter Program restricted account from Department of Health to UDAF and modifies requirements to receive funds. (Fund originates from individuals taking the opportunity to check-off on their individual income tax and donate money to the program. It is then used by qualify agencies to promote and participate in spay and neuter programs. Will be assigned to our Animal Industry Division to administer)
SB82 – Urban Farming Assessment Act – Sen. Neiderhauser- FAILED
• Provides that land in a county of the 1st class (only Salt Lake County currently qualifies) used for urban farming may be assessed based on agriculture value.
• Provides a 10-year roll back on taxes, if taken out of urban farming use. (Compares to a five year roll back with Farmland Assessment Act requirements)
SCR15 – Concurrent Resolution to Delist Wolves – Senator Christensen - PASSED
• Resolution to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List.
HCR4 – Concurrent Resolution on Wild Horse and Burros – Rep. Brown - PASSED
• Encourages DOI to have an elected county official as a permanent member of the Advisory Committee on Wild Horse and Burros.
HB280S01 – State Agency Realignment – Rep. Harper - PASSED
• Establishes an Advisory Council on Optimizing and Streamlining State Government and specifies the duties of the council.
• Coordinate and consider plans and options for reorganization with the Governor's Commission on Optimizing Government.
• Requires reports to the Governor and Legislature by October and December, respectively.
HB328 – State Government Work Week – Rep. Noel - PASSED
• Requires a state agency in the executive branch to operate as many physical locations as necessary, nine hours per day, five days a week.
• Authorizes state agency chief administrative officer to determine locations and hours of operations and employee work hours for each location.
Immigration – a number of bills have passed, but the agriculture community is satisfied with the approach that has been put in place to address the Guest Worker Program.
• HB116S03 – Utah Immigration Accountability and Enforcement Amendments (Guest Worker Program) – Rep. Wright - PASSED
• HB497 – Utah Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act – Rep. Sandstrom - PASSED
Posted: March 22, 2011