HCS SCS SB 355 -- AGRICULTURE

SPONSOR:  Griesheimer (Loehner)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture by a vote of 22 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding agricultural programs
in Missouri.

FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCER INCENTIVE FUND

The Fuel Ethanol Producer Incentive Fund was created to provide
economic incentives for the production of ethanol in Missouri.
Qualified ethanol producers receive a monthly incentive grant for
60 consecutive months in an amount determined by the number of
gallons of ethanol produced.  The substitute extends the current
expiration date of the producer incentives from December 31,
2007, to December 31, 2015.

BIODIESEL FUEL

The substitute removes the requirement that the Missouri
Qualified Biodiesel Incentive Fund be funded with moneys other
than from general revenue.

Missouri qualified biodiesel producers are eligible to receive a
monthly production incentive grant from the fund for 60
consecutive months.  If the producer fails to receive the full
grant amount during the 60-month period due to a lack of
appropriations to the fund, the 60-month eligibility period may
be extended for an additional 24 months or until the producer
receives the full grant amount.

Qualified biodiesel producers receive grants in an amount equal
to 30 cents per gallon for the first 15 million gallons of
biodiesel produced in one fiscal year.  The substitute provides
for a 10 cent per-gallon grant on the next 15 million gallons
produced in the same fiscal year.

The expiration date of the Biodiesel for Schools Program is
extended from the 2005-2006 school year to the 2011-2012 school
year.  The program allows school districts to establish contracts
with nonprofit, farmer-owned new generation cooperatives to
supply bus fuel containing at least 20% biodiesel.

MOTOR FUEL TAX

The substitute authorizes the ultimate vendor, delivering 100 or
more gallons of gasoline to a certified farmer, to make a claim
for a refund of the motor fuel tax at the time of delivery.  This
provision has an effective date of January 1, 2006.

SALES AND USE TAX

The substitute exempts from state and local sales and use taxes
natural gas, propane, and electricity used by an eligible new
generation cooperative or an eligible new generation processing
entity and field drain tile used exclusively for producing crops;
raising and feeding livestock, fish, poultry, pheasants, chukar,
and quail; or for producing milk for retail sale.

FOOD INSPECTIONS

The substitute exempts certain food sales from food inspection
laws.  All foods which are not potentially hazardous foods made
by religious, charitable, or nonprofit organizations for sale at
their religious or charitable events will be exempt from the
state food inspection laws.

Sellers of jams, jellies, and honey will be exempt from specified
production requirements as long as they do not sell more than
$30,000 worth of jams, jellies, and honey per domicile, per year.
These sellers also will be exempt from all other health standards
pursuant to Sections 196.190 - 196.271, RSMo, as long as the
following requirements are met:

(1)  The jams, jellies, and honey must be manufactured in the
domicile of the person processing and selling them;

(2)  The jams, jellies, and honey must be labeled in legible
English with certain information;

(3)  A placard must be displayed in a prominent location stating
that the product has not been inspected by the Department of
Health and Senior Services; and

(4)  A record of jams, jellies, and honey processed and sold must
be maintained.

Anyone who violates these provisions may be issued an injunction
by the department preventing them from selling jams, jellies, and
honey.

DRAINAGE AND LEVEE DISTRICTS

The substitute gives any drainage district, levee district, or
drainage and levee district two years after the lapse of the
corporate charter to reinstate and extend the time of its
corporate existence through the circuit court having
jurisdiction.

This provision of the substitute has an emergency clause.

MISSOURI WINE AND GRAPE BOARD

The substitute establishes the Missouri Wine and Grape Board to
promote the growth and development of the grape-growing industry
in Missouri.  The 11-member board will consist of seven current
members of the Missouri Wine and Grape Advisory Board and four ex
officio members, including the president of the Missouri Grape
Growers Association, the president of the Missouri Vintners
Association, the president of the Missouri Wine Marketing and
Research Council, and the Director of the Department of
Agriculture.  All board members including the ex officio members
will be voting members.  The appointment, terms, meeting
requirements, powers, and duties of the board are specified in
the substitute.  An executive director will be hired to
administer, manage, and direct the affairs of the board.

The Missouri Wine and Grape Fund is created for the deposit of
moneys that currently are credited to the Marketing Development
Fund.  The moneys in the fund will be used exclusively for
programs for the growing, selling, and marketing of grapes and
grape products in Missouri.

PESTICIDES

The University of Missouri Extension is authorized to collect a
fee for the actual cost of providing an instructional course on
the application of pesticides to a private applicator in order to
qualify for a certified private applicator's license.  The fee
will be paid upon completion of the course.  The costs associated
with the course will be reviewed annually by the Director of the
Department of Agriculture and the university.

TAX CREDIT WAITING PERIOD

The substitute removes the two-year waiting period before a
contributor receiving a tax credit for a cash contribution to the
Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority can be an
owner, member, investor, or lender of an eligible new generation
cooperative or eligible new generation processing entity that
receives financial assistance from the authority.

MEAT INSPECTION STANDARDS

Currently, all commercial plants slaughtering and/or processing
livestock or poultry for human consumption are required to be
operated in accordance with prescribed standards.  The substitute
designates llamas, alpaca, and buffalo as livestock and makes
them subject to the same standards.

PREMISES REGISTRATION INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information related to premises registration is required to
be kept confidential and shared only with state and federal
animal health officials.  The information is not subject to
subpoena except by a state or federal agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
Income of $0 to a Cost of $1,042,314 in FY 2006, an Income of $0
to a Cost of $1,084,007 in FY 2007, and an Income of $0 to a Cost
of $1,127,367 in FY 2008.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY
2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill allows all facets of
the wine and grape industry to coordinate their efforts to adapt,
improve, and expand the industry.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Griesheimer; Department of
Agriculture; and Adam Puchta and Son Winery.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Roland Tackett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm