1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; establishing a certification 
  1.3             pilot program; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [17.1025] [MINNESOTA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.] 
  1.7      In cooperation with the University of Minnesota, the 
  1.8   department of trade and economic development, and the board of 
  1.9   animal health, the commissioner shall establish a pilot program 
  1.10  to certify agricultural production methods and agricultural 
  1.11  products grown or processed within the state to assure the 
  1.12  integrity of claims made by participating businesses.  The 
  1.13  commissioner may select and cooperate with private organizations 
  1.14  that have established procedures and safeguards to justify 
  1.15  claimed characteristics of the production process or the final 
  1.16  certified product to conduct certification activities for third 
  1.17  party producers. 
  1.18     The commissioner may establish guidelines for the 
  1.19  certification program, which are not subject to chapter 14.  The 
  1.20  commissioner shall submit a report on the pilot program to the 
  1.21  legislature by February 1, 2001. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.23     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.