Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 232--S.F.No. 652
           An act relating to agriculture; adopting recommended 
          federal rules relating to milk quality for 
          manufacturing purposes; providing for phase in of 
          inspections and compliance; authorizing reimbursements 
          to certain dairy producers for expenditures to comply 
          with the rules; appropriating money; proposing new law 
          coded in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 32. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [32.415] [MILK FOR MANUFACTURING; QUALITY 
STANDARDS.] 
    In order to provide uniform quality standards, producers of 
milk used for manufacturing purposes shall conform to the 
standards contained in Subparts D and F of the United States 
Department of Agriculture Consumer and Marketing Service 
Recommended Requirements for Milk for Manufacturing Purposes and 
its Production and Processing, Vol. 37 Federal Register, No. 68, 
Part II, April 7, 1972, with the following exceptions:  
    (a) inspections of producers shall begin not later than 
January 1, 1984;  
    (b) producers shall comply with the standards not later 
than July 1, 1985, except as otherwise allowed under the 
standards; and 
    (c) the commissioner shall develop methods by which 
producers can comply with the standards without violation of 
religious beliefs.  The commissioner may adopt rules, including 
temporary rules, for the purpose of this clause.  
    The commissioner of agriculture shall perform or contract 
for the performance of the inspections necessary to implement 
this section or shall certify dairy industry personnel to 
perform the inspections.  
    The commissioner and other employees of the department 
shall make every reasonable effort to assist producers in 
achieving the milk quality standards at minimum cost and to use 
the experience and expertise of the University of Minnesota and 
the agricultural extension service to assist producers in 
achieving the milk quality standards in the most cost-effective 
manner.  
    The commissioner of agriculture shall consult with 
producers, processors, and others involved in the dairy industry 
in order to prepare for the implementation of this section 
including development of informational and educational 
materials, meetings, and other methods of informing producers 
about the implementation of standards under this section.  
    Sec. 2.  [32.417] [INVESTMENT REIMBURSEMENTS TO 
MANUFACTURED MILK PRODUCERS.] 
    An operator of a dairy farm that produces milk for sale in 
cans may apply for a reimbursement in the amount of $100 for the 
first $500 or fraction thereof, and ten percent of the next 
$2,000, of the net expenditures by the operator for any capital 
improvements or equipment installed primarily for the purpose of 
conforming to the standards adopted in section 1.  No 
reimbursement may be made to an applicant unless:  
    (a) the applicant provides receipts for the expenditures;  
    (b) a dairy inspector authorized by the commissioner 
certifies that the applicant's dairy operation complies with the 
standards adopted in section 1 as a result of the installation 
of the improvements or equipment; and 
    (c) the expenditures for the improvements and equipment 
were made on or after the effective date of this section but 
before July 1, 1985.  
    The commissioner shall provide an application form for the 
reimbursement program.  By January 1, 1984, the commissioner 
shall adopt temporary rules under sections 14.29 to 14.36 which 
provide reimbursement application and payment procedures, and 
eligibility criteria based on an applicant's need for a 
reimbursement.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14.35, 
the rules shall be effective until July 1, 1985.  No 
reimbursement application may be approved after June 30, 1985.  
    Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [INVESTMENT REIMBURSEMENT.] $300,000 is 
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
agriculture for the biennium ending June 30, 1985 for 
reimbursements under section 2.  
    Subd. 2.  [ADMINISTRATION.] $30,800 is appropriated from 
the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, for administrative expenses 
incurred to implement the provisions of this act.  The approved 
complement of the department is increased by one full-time 
unclassified position.  
    Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
enactment.  Section 3 is effective July 1, 1983. 
    Approved June 1, 1983