MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Representative Pigott

House Bill 666

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 69-24-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE TIME DURING WHICH DISTRIBUTORS OF SOIL OR PLANT AMENDMENTS MUST SUBMIT STATEMENTS ON NET TONNAGE DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE FROM A QUARTERLY BASIS TO AN ANNUAL BASIS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 69-24-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     69-24-13.  (1)  There shall be paid to the commissioner for all soil or plant amendments distributed in this state an inspection fee of Thirty-five Cents ($.35) per ton * * *; provided,.  However, * * *that products sold in packages of ten (10) pounds or less or one (1) gallon or less, shall be subject to an annual inspection fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) in lieu of the Thirty-five Cents ($.35) per ton fee.  * * *Such The annual inspection fee shall be paid upon date of registration. 

     (2)  Every person who distributes a soil or plant amendment in the state shall file with the commissioner, on forms furnished by * * *him, quarterly statements for periods ending September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30, the commissioner, an annual statement setting forth the number of net tons of each soil or plant amendment distributed in the state during * * *such quarter the previous year.  The report shall be due within thirty (30) days following * * *each quarter the end of the reporting year.  Such statement shall be accompanied by a payment of the inspection fee at the rate of Thirty-five Cents ($.35) per ton, except as specified in subsection (1) of this section.

     (3)  When more than one (1) distributor is involved in the distribution of a soil or plant amendment product, the last registrant who distributes to a non-registrant (dealer or consumer) is responsible for reporting the tonnage and paying the inspection fees unless the reporting and paying of fees has been made by a prior distributor of the soil or plant amendment product.  If the report is not filed or is filed falsely, or the inspection fee is not paid within thirty (30) days following * * *each quarter the end of the reporting year, the commissioner and State Chemist may revoke the registration of * * *such those products and a penalty of Ten Dollars ($10.00) per day for each subsequent day shall be assessed against the registrant.  The inspection fee and the penalty shall constitute a debt and become the basis for a judgment against * * *such the registrant, which may be collected by the commissioner and in any court of competent jurisdiction without prior demand.

     (4)  The report required by this section shall not be a public record, and it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to divulge any information given in * * *such the report which would reveal the business operations of a person or registrant making the report * * *; provided,.  However, * * *that nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to prevent or make unlawful the use of information concerning the business operation of any registrant in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted under this chapter, including any civil action for collection of unpaid inspection fees, which action is hereby authorized and which shall be as an action at law in the name of the commissioner. 

     (5)  All fees paid to the commissioner for registration, inspection, or penalties for product deficiencies shall be deposited into the general fund account of the State of Mississippi.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.