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25LSO-0492
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0492
Introduced
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0205
Wyoming state fair department.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Strock, Banks, Campbell, K, Eklund, Johnson, Lien and Winter and Senator(s) Boner and Smith, D
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; creating the Wyoming state fair department from the state fair division within the department of agriculture; providing for the appointment of a director; removing the state fair functions and division from the department of agriculture for transfer to the Wyoming state fair department; authorizing the transfer of positions and funds; providing for subsequent budgeting for the Wyoming state fair department; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
(a)
The state fair division within the department of agriculture and associated functions for the state fair are transferred by a type 1 transfer, as defined by W.S. 9
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2
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1707(b)(i), to the Wyoming state fair department created by this act. All positions, personnel, appropriations, obligations, property, equipment and authority associated with the state fair shall be under the control of the Wyoming state fair department as provided by this act. The validity of rules, regulations, contracts, agreements or other obligations of agencies or programs transferred by this act shall not be affected or impaired by this act.
(b)
Notwithstanding W.S. 11
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10
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102(c)(vi), as amended by section 3 of this act, the state fair manager previously appointed by the state fair board before the effective date of this act shall serve as temporary director for the Wyoming state fair department upon the effective date of this act. As soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of this act, the state fair board shall appoint a director of the Wyoming state fair department in accordance with this act.
Section 2.
W.S. 9
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2
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2022, 9
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2
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3301 and 9
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2
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3302 are created to read:
9
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2
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2022.
Wyoming state fair department created.
As part of the reorganization of Wyoming state government, there is created the Wyoming state fair department consisting of the state fair division within the department of agriculture as the division existed before July 1, 2025. The Wyoming state fair department shall not be subject to a transition period as defined in W.S. 9
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2
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1703(a)(ix). A reorganization plan shall not be required of the director of the Wyoming state fair department.
ARTICLE 33
WYOMING STATE FAIR DEPARTMENT
9
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2
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3301.
Wyoming state fair department created.
There is created the Wyoming state fair department.
9
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2
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3302.
Department director; appointment; removal; governance; duties of department; budget.
(a)
The state fair board shall appoint an executive director of the department in accordance with W.S. 11
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10
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102(c)(vi) and with the advice and consent of the senate.
(b)
The executive director's salary shall be determined by the state fair board.
(c)
The executive director shall be the chief administrative officer of the department and shall have general supervision of the activities, functions and employees of the department, subject to the actions and direction of the state fair board.
(d)
The department shall perform all duties specified by the state fair board and specified in title 11, chapter 10 of the Wyoming statutes.
(e)
The department shall submit a budget in accordance with W.S. 9
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2
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1010 through 9
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2
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1014.
Section 3.
W.S. 9
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2
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2016(a), 11
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10
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101, 11
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10
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102(a), (b), (c)(vi) and (viii), 11
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10
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106(b), 11
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10
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111 and 11
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10
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115(a) by creating a new paragraph (x), by amending and renumbering (x) as (xi) and by renumbering (xi) as (xii) are amended to read:
9
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2
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2016.
Department of agriculture created; director appointed; structure.
(a)
As part of the reorganization of Wyoming state government, there is created the department of agriculture consisting of the existing state department of agriculture, the agricultural mediation board, the wheat marketing commission, the Wyoming beef council, the Wyoming weed and pest council, the board of certification of the Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1973, the weed and pest board of certification, the interstate agricultural grain marketing commission
, the state fair advisory board
and
, except for those programs and functions related to the state fair and otherwise specified in W.S. 11
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10
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101 through 11
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10
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118,
all programs and functions specified in titles 11 and 35 and otherwise under law relating to agriculture and livestock.
Except for W.S. 9
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2
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1703(a)(v) and (ix), the limitation of number of principal departments in W.S. 9
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2
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1704(a) and 9
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2
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1707(a)(iii) and (iv), the provisions of the Wyoming Government Reorganization Act of 1989, W.S. 9
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2
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1701 through 9
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2
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1707, apply to this section.
11
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10
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101.
Annual state fair; where held; purpose; definitions.
(a)
The state fair board, with the assistance of the
Wyoming state fair
department
,
of agriculture,
shall hold an annual state fair at Douglas, Wyoming dedicated to honoring Wyoming's agricultural heritage and culture by cultivating Wyoming's agricultural future through competitions, educational displays and experiential exhibits for youth producers and the general public.
(b)
As used in this chapter:
(i)
"Department" means the Wyoming state fair department;
(ii)
"Executive director" means the executive director of the Wyoming state fair department.
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10
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102.
Duties and responsibilities with respect to the annual state fair and fairgrounds.
(a)
The general charge and supervision of the state fair is under the state fair board with the assistance of the department
.
of agriculture.
(b)
The department shall prepare budget requests on behalf of and subject to the approval of the state fair board for the conduct and management of the annual state fair and for the operation and maintenance of the state fairgrounds, including building and facility needs for major maintenance and repair.
Budgets prepared and approved under this subsection shall be submitted in accordance with W.S. 9
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2
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1010 through 9
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2
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1014.
(c)
The state fair board shall:
(vi)
To the extent the employment of a state fair manager would aid in accomplishing the duties required by this chapter,
A
ppoint a state fair
manager
executive director
to conduct and supervise the annual state fair and to manage the year round operation and maintenance of the state fairgrounds. Any appointment shall be made with the approval of the governor
and the advice and consent of the senate
and shall be subject to removal authority provided by W.S. 9
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1
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202.
The state fair board may hire and provide for the supervision of other employees necessary to accomplish the duties required by this chapter and may contract for services to advertise and promote the annual state fair and the fairgrounds;
(viii)
Pursuant to W.S. 9
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2
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3204, make and execute contracts and other instruments, including financial contracts and instruments that the state fair board determines are reasonable and advisable to carry out the purposes and programs of the state fair board
. The state fair board may authorize the executive director to make and execute contracts under this paragraph
;
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10
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106.
Admission charges; other revenues.
(b)
The department
of agriculture
may receive any money or property of any kind or character donated, granted or bequeathed for any activities of the state fair.
Monies shall be credited to the Wyoming state fair account except as otherwise provided by W.S. 11
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10
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107 and 11
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10
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118. The department, on behalf of the state fair board, shall include within its biennial budget request submitted under W.S. 9
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2
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1013 a report itemizing all gifts, income and expenditures under this subsection, W.S. 11
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10
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107 and 11
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10
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118 for each of the immediately preceding two (2) fiscal years.
11
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10
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111.
Reports.
The
executive
director
of the department of agriculture
shall make reports as required by W.S. 9
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2
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1014 in regard to the state fair.
11
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10
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115.
State fair board; membership; terms; compensation.
(a)
There is created the state fair board consisting of the following members:
(x)
The director of the department of agriculture, or the director's designee, shall serve as a voting member;
(x)
(xi)
The
executive
director
, or the director's designee,
shall serve as a
voting
nonvoting, ex officio
member;
(xi)
(xii)
The governor or his designee and the dean of the University of Wyoming college of agriculture, or the dean's designee, shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members.
Section 4
.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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HB0205