1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; requiring the Minnesota 
  1.3             attorney general to investigate possible illegal 
  1.4             practices in the meatpacking industry; requiring a 
  1.5             report; appropriating money. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.] 
  1.8      (a) The attorney general, in consultation with the 
  1.9   commissioners of agriculture and commerce, shall design and 
  1.10  implement a thorough investigation of purchasing and contracting 
  1.11  practices in the meatpacking industry that may be illegal under 
  1.12  federal or Minnesota law and that unfairly manipulate prices 
  1.13  received by Minnesota's independent livestock producers. 
  1.14     (b) The attorney general shall report the findings of the 
  1.15  investigation to the agricultural policy committees of the 
  1.16  senate and the house of representatives not later than February 
  1.17  15, 2000. 
  1.18     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.19     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  1.20  attorney general for purposes of the investigation and report 
  1.21  required under section 1.  Any amount of this appropriation that 
  1.22  remains unencumbered on June 30, 2000, cancels to the general 
  1.23  fund. 
  1.24     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.25     Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
  2.1   enactment.