71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 1646
 
                         House Bill 2048
 
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
  Presession filed (at the request of Joint Interim Committee on
  Water, Agriculture and Natural Resources for Representative
  Jeff Kropf)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Creates task force to study and make recommendations regarding
efficacy of measures for indemnifying producers of farming
commodities for losses arising out of defaults by processors or
purchasers of farming commodities.
  Requires legislation proposed by task force be prepared for
presentation to regular session of Seventy-second Legislative
Assembly.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to indemnification for producers of farming commodities.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) As used in this section, 'farming
commodities' means agricultural, horticultural, floricultural and
viticultural products of the soil, oils or extracts derived at
the harvest site, nuts, grains, grasses, seeds, Christmas trees,
livestock, poultry, eggs, dairy products, bee products and other
products having their situs of production on a farm, ranch or
nursery.
  (2) There is created an Agricultural Bonding and Indemnity Task
Force consisting of 15 members. Notwithstanding ORS 171.620 (2),
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the
chairperson of the task force from among the members of the House
of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall appoint
the vice chairperson of the task force from among the members of
the Senate. The Governor shall appoint 13 members that include,
but need not be limited to, individuals representing producers of
farming commodities, associations for producers of farming
commodities, processors or purchasers of farming commodities,
warehousemen, insurers, the banking industry and state regulatory
agencies.
  (3) The task force shall study and make legislative
recommendations regarding the efficacy of bonding requirements,
commodity assessments or other measures for purposes of partially
or wholly indemnifying producers of farming commodities for
losses arising out of defaults by purchasers or processors of
farming commodities.
 
 
  (4) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the
task force is subject to the provisions of ORS 171.605 to 171.635
and has the authority contained in ORS 171.505 and 171.510.
  (5) The appointing authorities, in consultation with the
chairperson and the vice chairperson of the task force, may
develop a work plan consisting of a list of subjects for study by
the task force and the duration of the study. The chairperson
shall file the work plan with the Legislative Administrator.
  (6) The task force shall use the services of permanent
legislative staff to the greatest extent practicable. The State
Department of Agriculture may supply staffing services to the
task force as necessary to supplement legislative staff in
advancing the work of the task force.
  (7) Task force members who are members of the Legislative
Assembly are entitled to an allowance as authorized by ORS
171.072 from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly.
Other members of the task force are entitled to compensation and
expenses under ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses incurred in
performing functions of the task force shall be paid out of funds
available for that purpose.
  (8) All agencies, departments and officers of this state are
directed to assist the task force in the performance of its
functions and to furnish information and advice that the members
of the task force consider necessary to perform task force
functions.
  (9) Official action by the task force established under this
section requires the approval of a majority of a quorum of the
members. All legislation recommended by official action of the
task force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of
the task force. The task force shall prepare legislation in time
for presession numbering and presession filing pursuant to ORS
171.130, for presentation to the regular session of the
Seventy-second Legislative Assembly. + }
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