1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; providing for competition and 
  1.3             economic fairness in the marketing of dairy products; 
  1.4             allowing retail price flexibility in sales of milk and 
  1.5             milk products; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.6             sections 32.70; 32.71; 32.72; 32.73; and 32.74. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.] 
  1.9      The legislature finds that Minnesota family dairy farmers 
  1.10  currently receive nearly the lowest farm gate milk prices in the 
  1.11  nation, while Minnesota consumers of milk and perishable dairy 
  1.12  products pay almost the highest retail prices.  The legislature 
  1.13  finds further that a major contributing factor in this price 
  1.14  disparity results from laws passed in the 1950's that prohibit a 
  1.15  handler or retailer of milk from selling the product at a price 
  1.16  below the handler's or retailer's cost.  Elimination of this 
  1.17  artificial and archaic restraint on commerce in milk and dairy 
  1.18  products will invite economic competition, stimulate 
  1.19  consumption, and result in both lower prices for consumers and 
  1.20  greater demand for Minnesota's high quality, healthful, and 
  1.21  nutritious dairy products.  The legislature finds further that a 
  1.22  biennial expense amounting to $266,000 for enforcement of high 
  1.23  milk prices can be reallocated to more appropriate and useful 
  1.24  purposes.  
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [REPEALER.] 
  1.26     Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 32.70; 32.71; 32.72; 
  2.1   32.73; and 32.74, are repealed.  
  2.2      Sec. 3.  [REPEALER.] 
  2.3      Section 2 is repealed and Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  2.4   32.70; 32.71; 32.72; 32.73; and 32.74, are revived effective 
  2.5   July 1, 1998. 
  2.6      Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.7      Section 2 is effective 30 days after final enactment.