Agriculture production innovations.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0312.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0186

Agriculture production innovations.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Zwonitzer, Dn., Alden, Buchanan, Diercks, Hammons, Harvey and Warren and Senator(s) Meier and Peterson

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to agriculture; establishing the agricultural innovation account as specified; providing for the administration of the account; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S.
9
‑
12
‑
114
is created to read:

9
‑
12
‑
114
.

Agricultural innovation account.

(a)

There is created an account known as the "agricultural innovation account." Funds in the account shall be expended to encourage agricultural innovations in the marketplace. Agricultural producers shall be encouraged to test and evaluate new methods or technologies that sustain agriculture as a viable industry in their home communities or th
e
state of
Wyoming
as a whole. Funds may be utilized to support producers in alternative crop production, livestock and breeding programs, agricultural products development, methods or techniques in production and other options or tools that sustain agriculture in the marketplace. These funds may also be utilized in promotion or marketing of innovative programs to the agricultural community on behalf of the agricultural innovation oversight committee
.

(b)

There is created the agricultural innovation oversight committee. The committee shall consist of:

(i)

The director of the department of agriculture or his designee;

(ii)

The
chief executive officer
of the
Wyoming
business council or his designee;

(iii)

One (1) person representing the
Wyoming
board of agriculture appointed by the board;

(iv)

The dean of the
University
of
Wyoming
college of agriculture or his designee;

(v)

One (1) person representing livestock interests appointed by the governor;

(vi)

One (1) person representing farming interests appointed by the governor.

(c)

The two (2) members of the committee appointed by the governor shall be appointed for staggered terms of four (4) years. Each appointed member shall be limited to serving on the board for eight (8) consecutive years, however, a member may be reappointed after a four (4) year absence. Each member shall hold office until his successor is appointed. The governor may remove any committee member as provided by W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202.

(d)

The
chief executive officer of the
Wyoming
business council
or his designee shall serve as chair of the committee. Each member of the committee not otherwise in full-time employment with the state shall receive per diem and travel expenses in the same manner and amount as state employees while attending and traveling to and from meetings of the committee. The fees and expenses of the committee shall be paid from the funds within the account.

(e)

The committee shall review applications for funding from the account. Any person may apply for an award from the account for an innovative agricultural practice as defined by
Wyoming
business council
rule and regulation. In no event shall any amount awarded to one (1) person exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) in any one (1) calendar year.

(f)

The
Wyoming
business council shall staff the committee and shall promulgate necessary rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this act.

Section 2.

There is appropriated three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) from the general fund to the account established in section 1 of this act. Any unexpended monies in the account shall not revert but shall remain in the account to be expended for the purposes specified in this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2007.

(END)

1
HB0186