Brief (1)
SB 531 would make modifications to the Kansas Egg Law by requiring eggs for human consumption be held at an ambient temperature of not more than 45 degrees Fahrenheit after being received at the point of first purchase or assembly. In addition, new definitions for the terms "consumer," "container," and "ambient temperature" would be added to the law. Further the bill would make it unlawful to offer eggs for sale that have not been candled and graded or if there is a failure to mark all containers with official United States or Kansas grade AA, A, or B identification with a label to indicate that refrigeration is required.
The bill also would require that when egg samples are taken that there would be a minimum of 100 egg samples taken to fairly represent all of the lots or containers. The bill would allow the Secretary to assess a penalty of $5 per day against persons holding a permit to inspect eggs if they fail to pay the inspection fee to the Department of Agriculture. Current law makes the penalty mandatory and establishes it at $1 per day. The bill also would permit a producer to sell graded eggs, if the producer is in compliance with the Kansas Egg Law.
Background
This bill was introduced at the request of a spokesperson from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. At the hearing on the bill a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture stated that the changes in the bill were an attempt to incorporate new federal changes in egg safety handling provisions so that Kansas would be consistent with the federal government in regulation of the egg industry. No other conferees appeared on the bill.
The House Committee on Agriculture amended the bill to clarify that the new temperature at which eggs need to be held is at an "ambient" temperature of not more than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. "Ambient temperature" is one of the new terms being defined by the bill.
The fiscal note states that the Department of Agriculture indicates that the bill could be implemented without any additional budget authority.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html