Agriculture commission study.

WORKING DRAFT
2012
STATE OF
WYOMING
12LSO-0287

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0107

A
griculture
commission
study.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Zwonitzer, Dn. and Blake

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
the administration of government; providing for a study related to options for reorganizing the department of agriculture; requiring a report;
specifying
report requirements; providing
an
appropriation;
and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

The legislature finds that it is appropriate to consider altering the current structure of the department of agriculture in a way that will empower the people of Wyoming and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.
T
he legislature believes that consolidating the department into a commission structure, like that of the transportation and game and fish departments,
may
promote efficiency and communication
while allowing Wyoming's citizens direct involvement and oversight.

Section 2.

(a)

The governor shall conduct a study to
estimate the costs and propose a plan for reorganizing the department of
agriculture
to be operated by an agriculture commission. The governor shall designate a study oversight entity, which may be a state agency, more than one (1) state agency or an ad hoc committee created by the
governor to conduct the study.

(b)

The oversight entity shall have the authority to contract with experts an
d consultants as may

be useful in
conducting the study and making the cost estimates.

(c)

The study shall be subject to the following:

(i)

The stud
y shall examine
the current structure of the department of agriculture and
other government agencies or
quasi-governmental entities which perform
agriculturally

related activities in Wyoming
;

(ii)

The study shall examine the commission structure that has been adopted to operate the Wyoming
department of transportation and the Wyoming game and fish department;

(i
i
i)

The study shall
propose
a
means by which the department of agriculture could
be operated under a
commission structure
and consider
:

(A)

Membership and election of commission members;

(B)

The d
uties
and functions

of an agriculture
commission;

(C)

The m
anagement structure of the
department of agriculture
if it were
directed by an agriculture commission;

(D
)

The benefits and detriments of assigning to the commission all agricultural

related activities that are currently being conducted by the department of agriculture or other governmental or quasi-governmental entities. This evaluation
shall
include
, but
not be limited to,
consideration of
such concepts as
consolidating the Wyoming
l
ivestock
b
oard
,
the
b
oard of
a
griculture
and the agrib
usiness division of the Wyoming
b
usiness
c
ouncil and the concept of assigning each such entit
y'
s duties to an agriculture commission.
The evaluation also shall
consider
any
integr
ation of management duties or
personnel necessary as a result of any consolidation.

(iv
)

The study shall evaluate the
Wyoming
l
ivestock
b
oard's branding unit
and
consider
whether removing the
unit
from the
b
oard
and allowing it to operate under a self-supporting entity would reduce the size of government while
providing equivalent service to the people of Wyoming;

(v
)

The study shall evaluate the costs
or cost-savings associated with creating an agriculture commission and
the costs or cost-savings associated with
any
other
alter
ations in structure, ope
ration or duties con
templated
within the study. This
cost
evaluation shall include identifying both the
estimated
costs of mak
ing
the changes c
ontemplated
and
estimates of
any long-term operating costs or savings which might res
ult from the
changes

contemplated
. The evaluation shall propose an estimate of the necessary operating budget for the department of agriculture under a commission structure
;

(v
i)

The study shall evaluate any statutory
modifications
necessary to affect the changes in structure or operation
contemplated
in the study;

(vii
)

The study shall consider the integration of agency rules and regulations necessitated by any changes
contemplated
in the study;
and

(v
iii
)

The
study shall identify any
changes
to
physical facilit
y
needs
, employee
classifications or number
of employees

and technology needs
that likely would result from the changes contemplated in the study.

(d)

The study shall be completed on or before September 1, 2012, unless the governor requires an earlier completion date, and
be
submitted to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee. The oversight entity appointed by the governor shall present the results of the study to the committee before the 2013 general session of the legislature.

Section 3.
There is appropriated one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)
from the general fund to the governor's office. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2013. This appropriation shall only be expended for the purpose of conducting the study required by this act and preparing the report required by this act.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2013. This appropriation shall not be included in the governor's 2013-2014 standard biennial budget request.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0107