Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 244-S.F.No. 1834 
                  An act relating to agriculture; annually suspending a 
                  dairy trade practices provision; requiring an 
                  investigation and report; eliminating certain obsolete 
                  language; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
                  Statutes, chapter 32; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
                  1996, section 32.73. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [32.745] [ANNUAL SUSPENSION OF DAIRY TRADE 
        PRACTICES ACT.] 
           The provisions of section 32.72 are suspended during the 
        months of June, July, and August 1997, and for the month of June 
        each year thereafter in honor of "Dairy Month." 
           Sec. 2.  [INVESTIGATION OF DAIRY MARKETING PRACTICES; 
        REPORT.] 
           (a) The commissioner of agriculture shall investigate the 
        economic impacts and competitive fairness of practices used by 
        wholesalers and distributors on small, medium sized, and large 
        milk and dairy product retailers.  These practices include, but 
        are not limited to, slotting fees, volume discounts, cents-off 
        allowances, billbacks, promotional rebates, credit allowances, 
        off-invoice arrangements, bulk sales discounts, and display 
        preferences. 
           (b) Financial and production information received by the 
        commissioner on processors, wholesalers, and retailers during 
        the investigation must be classified as private or nonpublic 
        data under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13. 
           (c) Not later than January 31, 1998, the commissioner shall 
        report to the senate and house of representatives agriculture 
        policy committees on the findings of the investigation and 
        provide any recommendations for changes in law or rule to assure 
        equity and competitive fairness for milk and dairy product 
        retailers, regardless of the size of the retailer or the milk 
        and dairy product volume of the retailer.  
           Sec. 3.  [REPEALER.] 
           Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 32.73, is repealed. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 30, 1997 
           Signed by the governor June 3, 1997, 2:52 p.m.