Date: 03/03/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB10-038

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-038 to the CommitteePASS



02:10 PM -- Senate Bill 10-038

Representative Fischer, sponsor, presented SB 10-038 concerning the Organic Certification Act. This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to contract with independent inspectors to conduct inspections of organic product producers and handlers under the State Organic Certification Program. The Organic Certification Advisory Board will be increased from 9 to 12 members and include representation from the four categories of organic certification: crop production, livestock production, processing/handling, and wild crop handling.

The following individuals testified:

02:14 PM -- Mitch Yergert, Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the certification of wild crop harvesting. He also discussed the process for organic certification and provided some background on the state's organic program. He discussed need for changes to the Organic Certification Advisory Board. In response to questions from the committee, Mr. Yergert discussed the fees associated with organic certification.

02:25 PM -- Sally Keefe, Auroura Organic Dairy, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the growth of the organic food industry.


BILL:SB10-038
TIME: 02:27:56 PM
MOVED:Fischer
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-038 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:Hullinghorst
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Curry
Yes
Gardner C.
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Looper
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Solano
Yes
Sonnenberg
No
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Pace
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS