1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; creating a livestock 
  1.3             processing markets task force; appropriating money. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [LIVESTOCK PROCESSING MARKETS TASK FORCE.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] Recent changes in the Minnesota 
  1.7   agricultural livestock industry, particularly in swine 
  1.8   production, have resulted in fewer producers who deliver to 
  1.9   processors greatly increased numbers of animals.  In many cases 
  1.10  these producers are organized as authorized farm corporations, 
  1.11  as provided by recent amendments to Minnesota's corporate 
  1.12  farming law.  There is growing concern as to whether smaller 
  1.13  producers who choose not to join large production corporations 
  1.14  will find markets for their livestock eliminated or greatly 
  1.15  diminished.  With reduced markets and lessened competition, the 
  1.16  smaller producers are left at a critical economic disadvantage.  
  1.17  The study, legislative report, and legislative recommendations 
  1.18  authorized by this section will identify ways to assure that 
  1.19  competitive markets remain for small and medium-sized producers. 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [CREATION; MEMBERSHIP.] (a) There is hereby 
  1.21  created a livestock processing markets task force with ten 
  1.22  members appointed as follows: 
  1.23     (1) the chairs of the agriculture policy committees of the 
  1.24  Minnesota senate and house of representatives, or their 
  2.1   designees; 
  2.2      (2) two members of the Minnesota house of representatives 
  2.3   appointed by the speaker of the house; 
  2.4      (3) one member of the Minnesota house of representatives 
  2.5   appointed by the minority leader of the house; 
  2.6      (4) two members of the Minnesota senate appointed by the 
  2.7   senate committee on rules and administration; 
  2.8      (5) one member of the Minnesota senate appointed by the 
  2.9   minority leader of the senate; 
  2.10     (6) one member with education and experience in the area of 
  2.11  agricultural economics appointed by the governor of Minnesota; 
  2.12  and 
  2.13     (7) one member who is the operator of a production 
  2.14  agriculture farm in Minnesota appointed by the governor. 
  2.15     (b) Each of the appointing authorities must make their 
  2.16  respective appointments not later than June 15, 1995. 
  2.17     (c) Citizen members of the task force may be reimbursed for 
  2.18  expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
  2.19  subdivision 6. 
  2.20     (d) The first meeting of the task force must be called and 
  2.21  convened by the chairs of the agriculture policy committees of 
  2.22  the senate and the house of representatives.  Task force members 
  2.23  must then elect a permanent chair from among the task force 
  2.24  members. 
  2.25     Subd. 3.  [CHARGE.] The task force must examine current and 
  2.26  projected impacts of consolidation within the livestock 
  2.27  production industry and its effect on the availability of 
  2.28  competitive markets for small and medium-sized producers who 
  2.29  choose not to become part of corporate enterprises. 
  2.30     Subd. 4.  [RESOURCES; STAFF SUPPORT; CONTRACT 
  2.31  SERVICES.] The commissioner of agriculture shall provide 
  2.32  necessary resources and staff support for the meetings, 
  2.33  hearings, activities, and report of the task force.  To the 
  2.34  extent the task force determines it appropriate to contract with 
  2.35  nonstate providers for research or analytical services, the 
  2.36  commissioner shall serve as the fiscal agent for the task force. 
  3.1      Subd. 5.  [PUBLIC HEARINGS.] The task force shall hold at 
  3.2   least four public hearings on the issue of access to markets by 
  3.3   small and medium-sized producers of livestock.  At least three 
  3.4   of the hearings must be held in greater Minnesota. 
  3.5      Subd. 6.  [REPORT.] Not later than March 15, 1996, the task 
  3.6   force shall report to the legislature on the findings of its 
  3.7   study.  The report must include recommendations for improvements 
  3.8   in Minnesota Statutes that are in the best interests of both 
  3.9   large and small livestock producers in the state. 
  3.10     Subd. 7.  [EXPIRATION.] The livestock processing markets 
  3.11  task force expires 45 days after its report and recommendations 
  3.12  are delivered to the legislature or on June 1, 1996, whichever 
  3.13  date is earlier. 
  3.14     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION; LIVESTOCK PROCESSING MARKETS TASK 
  3.15  FORCE.] 
  3.16     $30,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  3.17  commissioner of agriculture to provide staff and research 
  3.18  support for the livestock processing markets task force. 
  3.19     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.20     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.