Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 59 would repeal numerous statutes dealing with the regulation of the dairy industry and would enact numerous new statutes to carry out existing policy. The bill would consolidate the two existing dairy fee funds into one fund; eliminate discrepancies in statutes relating to penalties for late fee payments; repeal obsolete statutes; and reorganize the statutes into general categories relating to ungraded milk, Grade A milk, manufacturing milk, and frozen dairy desserts. The bill also would provide that the existing rules and regulations of the Kansas Department of Agriculture dealing with the dairy industry would continue until revised, amended, revoked, or nullified pursuant to law.

Background

This bill was introduced at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture. At the hearing on the bill, the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture explained that early in 2000, the Governor had directed state agencies to review the rules and regulations each administers to find areas of duplication, unclear language, and obsolete articles. The spokesperson stated that the agency's review team identified the dairy statutes as one set which needed to be brought up to date. This bill would incorporate those recommendations. A spokesperson from the Kansas Dairy Association appeared in support of the bill. There were no opponents to the bill.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture amended the bill to provide that the existing rules and regulations of the Kansas Department of Agriculture dealing with the dairy industry would continue until revised, amended, revoked, or nullified pursuant to law. The other amendment was technical.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture indicates passage of SB 59 would have no fiscal effect.

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/fulltext.cgi