MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Representative Moore (60th)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI POULTRY INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD; TO PROVIDE THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD; TO REQUIRE THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE SHALL MAKE CERTAIN ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES SHALL NOT ADMINISTER LOANS OR GRANTS OF FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDS BASED ON COMMITMENT LETTERS WITHOUT CERTAIN DOCUMENTS ATTACHED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Poultry Industry Advisory Board. This board shall be composed of: one (1) representative from each company producing poultry in Mississippi; one (1) grower from each company doing business in Mississippi chosen by the Commissioner of Agriculture; the Commissioner of Agriculture or his appointee; one (1) representative of the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Department; two (2) representatives of the banking community; one (1) representative of the Department of Economic and Community Development; two (2) appointees by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and two (2) appointees by the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Each member shall serve a period of two (2) years and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall serve as the ex officio chairman.

(2) The board shall meet no less than four (4) times per year to discuss industry problems, environmental problems, health/health department problems, marketing problems or grower/company relations problems.

(3) The board may hold hearings and has subpoena power to obtain necessary information from state agencies or individuals regarding regulations, statistics and facts which could affect positively or negatively the performance of the poultry industry. The board is responsible for hearing and investigating grower/company relations issues and for reporting the results of its findings to the affected parties. The board is responsible for hearing production agreement conflicts, for investigating the conflicts and for advising the interested parties of its findings. The board shall review existing production agreements and shall advise the interested parties of potential problems.

(4) The board shall make recommendations to the Legislature as needed, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall make an annual report to the Legislature of the results of the findings of the board.

(5) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall compile a record of all telephone calls he and his staff receive regarding industry-related problems and shall publicize an available telephone number for the reporting of such problems by companies, grower, lenders or others affected by the industry. The commissioner shall supply an agenda and listing of items to be discussed at each meeting. The commissioner shall report all calls received to the Legislature in the annual report required herein.

SECTION 2. The Department of Economic and Community Development and other state agencies shall not administer loans or grants of federal or state funds or guarantee any loans based on a commitment letter between the company producing poultry and the grower unless there is attached to the commitment contract a producer agreement and building specifications and such agreement and specifications are signed and notarized by the parties affected.

SECTION 3. (1) Sections 1 and 2 of House Bill No.____, 2000 Regular Session, shall be repealed on June 30, 2001.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall be codified as a separate code section.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.