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HF 2908

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/10/2014 01:15pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to claims; providing compensation for bee deaths caused by pesticide
poisoning under certain circumstances; establishing a pollinator emergency
response team; providing civil liability for bee deaths; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.05; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 3; 17; 604.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [3.7372] COMPENSATION FOR BEE DEATHS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Compensation required. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding section 3.736,
subdivision 3, paragraph (k), or any other law, a person who owns bees shall be
compensated by the commissioner of agriculture for an acute pesticide poisoning resulting
in the death of bees owned by the person, provided the applicator of the pesticide can
not be determined.
new text end

new text begin (b) Except as provided in this section, the owner is entitled to the fair market value
of the bees as determined by the commissioner, upon recommendation of the fair market
value by a university researcher knowledgeable in pollinators. In any fiscal year, a bee
owner may not be compensated for a claim under this section that is less than $100
in value or more than $20,000.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Claim form. new text end

new text begin The owner shall file a claim on forms provided by the
commissioner and available on the Department of Agriculture's Web site.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Investigation. new text end

new text begin A university researcher knowledgeable in pollinators or
pesticides, an official from the United States Department of Agriculture, or a member of
the pollinator emergency response team established under section 17.4455 must make
a personal inspection of the site and submit a report to the commissioner, including
photographs, detailing the results of the investigation. The commissioner, upon
recommendation of the investigator, shall determine whether the death of the bees was
likely caused by an acute pesticide poisoning and whether the pesticide applicator can
be determined.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Payments; denial of compensation. new text end

new text begin (a) If the commissioner determines
that the loss of the bees was likely caused by an acute pesticide poisoning and the
source and applicator of the pesticide cannot be determined, the commissioner shall pay
compensation as provided in this section and in the rules of the department.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the commissioner denies compensation claimed by an owner under this
section, the commissioner shall issue a written decision based upon the available evidence.
The decision shall include specification of the facts upon which the decision is based
and the conclusions on the material issues of the claim. A copy of the decision shall
be mailed to the owner.
new text end

new text begin (c) A decision to deny compensation claimed under this section is not subject to the
contested case review procedures of chapter 14, but may be reviewed upon a trial de
novo in a court in the county where the loss occurred. The decision of the court may be
appealed as in other civil cases. Review in court may be obtained by filing a petition for
review with the administrator of the court within 60 days following receipt of a decision
under this section. Upon the filing of a petition, the administrator shall mail a copy to the
commissioner and set a time for hearing within 90 days of the filing.
new text end

new text begin (d) If the commissioner denies compensation claimed by an owner under this
section because the commissioner has determined that the applicator of the pesticide can
be determined, the commissioner shall notify the owner of the provisions under section
604.135.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Deduction from payment. new text end

new text begin Payments made under this section shall be
reduced by amounts received by the owner as proceeds from an insurance policy covering
bee losses, or from any other source for the same purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Rules; valuation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall adopt rules to carry out this
section including methods of valuing bees destroyed, criteria for determining the cause of
bee deaths, and other matters determined necessary by the commissioner to carry out this
section. In adopting rules, the commissioner shall determine a restitution value for bees.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin The amount necessary to pay claims under this section,
not to exceed $......., is appropriated from the pesticide regulatory account.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [17.4455] POLLINATOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Team established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of agriculture shall assemble
a pollinator emergency response team to investigate large-scale pollinator deaths or
illnesses. The pollinator emergency response team may be chosen from representatives
of the following entities: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural
Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the
University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and federal
agencies. A majority of the members must be from a state agency and all members must
have expertise in pollinators or factors affecting pollinator habitat.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Database. new text end

new text begin The pollinator emergency response team shall develop a
database of known large scale pollinator deaths and illnesses.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [17.4456] ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authority to issue penalty orders. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may issue
an order requiring violations to be corrected and administratively assessing monetary
penalties for violations of this chapter, chapter 18 or 18B, or any rules adopted under
those chapters that have resulted in harm to pollinators. The order must be issued as
provided in this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Amount of penalty; considerations. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may issue
orders assessing penalties of up to $....... for violations identified during an inspection or
other compliance review.
new text end

new text begin (b) In determining the amount of a penalty, the commissioner may consider:
new text end

new text begin (1) the willfulness of the violation;
new text end

new text begin (2) the gravity of the violation;
new text end

new text begin (3) the history of past violations;
new text end

new text begin (4) the number of violations;
new text end

new text begin (5) the economic benefit gained by the person by allowing or committing the
violation; and
new text end

new text begin (6) other factors as justice may require, if the commissioner specifically identifies
the additional factors in the commissioner's order.
new text end

new text begin (c) For a violation after an initial violation, including a continuation of the initial
violation, the commissioner must, in determining the amount of a penalty, consider the
factors in paragraph (b) and:
new text end

new text begin (1) the similarity of the most recent previous violation and the violation to be
penalized;
new text end

new text begin (2) the time elapsed since the last violation;
new text end

new text begin (3) the number of previous violations; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the response of the person to the most recent previous violation identified.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Contents of order. new text end

new text begin An order assessing an administrative penalty under
this section must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a concise statement of the facts alleged to constitute a violation;
new text end

new text begin (2) a reference to the section of the statute, rule, order, or term or condition of
a permit that has been violated;
new text end

new text begin (3) a statement of the amount of the administrative penalty to be imposed and the
factors upon which the penalty is based; and
new text end

new text begin (4) a statement of the person's right to review of the order.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Penalty. new text end

new text begin (a) Unless the person requests review of the order under
subdivision 5 or 6 before the penalty is due, the penalty in the order is due and payable on
the 31st day after the order was received.
new text end

new text begin (b) Interest at the rate established in section 549.09 begins to accrue on penalties
under this subdivision on the 31st day after the order with the penalty was received.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expedited administrative hearing. new text end

new text begin (a) Within 30 days after receiving
an order, the person subject to an order under this section may request an expedited
hearing, using the procedures under Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8510 to 1400.8612, to
review the commissioner's determination. The hearing request must specifically state the
reasons for seeking review of the order. The person to whom the order is directed and the
commissioner are the parties to the expedited hearing. The commissioner must notify the
person to whom the order is directed of the time and place of the hearing at least 20 days
before the hearing. The expedited hearing must be held within 30 days after a request for
hearing has been filed with the commissioner, unless the parties agree to a later date.
new text end

new text begin (b) All written arguments must be submitted within ten days following the close of
the hearing. The hearing must be conducted under Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8510 to
1400.8612, as modified by this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (c) The administrative law judge must issue a report making recommendations about
the commissioner's action to the commissioner within 30 days following the close of the
record. The administrative law judge may not recommend a change in the amount of the
proposed penalty unless the administrative law judge determines that, based on the factors
in subdivision 2, the amount of the penalty is unreasonable.
new text end

new text begin (d) If the administrative law judge makes a finding that the hearing was requested
solely for purposes of delay or that the hearing request was frivolous, the commissioner
may add to the amount of the penalty the costs charged to the department for the hearing
by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
new text end

new text begin (e) If a hearing has been held, the commissioner may not issue a final order until at
least five days after receipt of the report of the administrative law judge. The person to
whom an order is issued may, within those five days, comment to the commissioner on the
recommendations, and the commissioner must consider the comments. The final order
may be appealed in the manner provided in sections 14.63 to 14.69.
new text end

new text begin (f) If a hearing has been held and a final order issued by the commissioner, the
penalty must be paid by 30 days after the date the final order is received, unless review of
the final order is requested under sections 14.63 to 14.69. If review is not requested or the
order is reviewed and upheld, the amount due is the penalty, together with interest accruing
from 31 days after the original order was received at the rate established in section 549.09.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Mediation. new text end

new text begin In addition to review under subdivision 5, the commissioner
may enter into mediation concerning an order issued under this section if the commissioner
and the person to whom the order is issued both agree to mediation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Penalties due and payable. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may enforce penalties that
are due and payable under this section in any manner provided by law for the collection
of debts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Revocation. new text end

new text begin If a person fails to pay a penalty owed under this section, the
commissioner has grounds to revoke a license.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Cumulative remedy. new text end

new text begin The authority of the commissioner to issue an order
assessing penalties is in addition to other remedies available under statutory or common
law, except that the state may not seek civil penalties under any other provision of law
for the violations covered by the administrative penalty order. The payment of a penalty
does not preclude the use of other enforcement provisions, under which penalties are not
assessed, in connection with the violation for which the penalty was assessed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Deposit of fees. new text end

new text begin Fees collected under this section must be credited to
the pesticide regulatory account.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Plan for use of administrative penalties. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must
prepare a plan for using the administrative penalty authority in this section. The
commissioner must provide a 30-day period for public comment on the plan. The plan
must be finalized within six months after the effective date of this section.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.05, is amended to read:


18B.05 PESTICIDE REGULATORY ACCOUNT.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

A pesticide regulatory account is established in the
agricultural fund. Fees, assessments, and penalties collected under this chapter must
be deposited in the agricultural fund and credited to the pesticide regulatory account.
Money in the account, including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for the
administration and enforcement of this chapternew text begin and to pay claims under section 3.7372new text end .

Sec. 5.

new text begin [604.135] DESTRUCTION OF BEES.
new text end

new text begin A pesticide applicator that has knowingly violated the law resulting in the death
of bees kept for commercial purposes is liable for any actual damages resulting from
the violation, including any economic damages associated with loss or damage to bees
kept. In awarding damages under this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that the
economic value of a damaged or destroyed bee population is consistent with the value
assigned to bees by the commissioner of agriculture, pursuant to section 17.4455.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $200,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of agriculture for the pollinator emergency response team established in
section 17.4455.
new text end