72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 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 1635
House Bill 3554
Sponsored by Representatives KROPF, MACPHERSON, Senators
ATKINSON, COURTNEY, FERRIOLI; Representatives ANDERSON,
AVAKIAN, BARKER, BATES, BERGER, BROWN, BUTLER, DALTO,
DINGFELDER, GARRARD, HASS, KAFOURY, KITTS, KRIEGER, KRUMMEL,
KRUSE, MARCH, MERKLEY, MILLER, MONNES ANDERSON, NOLAN,
PATRIDGE, SCHAUFLER, SCOTT, SHETTERLY, TOMEI, VERGER, WESTLUND,
WIRTH, ZAUNER, Senators BURDICK, CORCORAN, DECKERT, MESSERLE,
WALKER
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.
Requires state agencies purchasing food to give preference to
food produced in Oregon. Establishes State Agricultural Policy
Council to develop program establishing guidelines for state
agencies to give purchasing preference to foods produced from
Oregon agricultural products.
Requires State Agricultural Policy Council to conduct certain
reviews and perform certain actions for purposes of public
information and market improvement for Oregon agricultural
producers.
Sunsets purchase preference program on January 2, 2018.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to agricultural products.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + The Legislative Assembly finds and declares
that:
(1) An economically and environmentally thriving rural Oregon
is vitally important to all Oregonians.
(2) Increasing institutional, organizational and individual
consumer support for Oregon agriculture furthers the economic and
environmental goals of the state.
(3) Oregon farmers and ranchers produce some of the highest
quality agricultural products in the world. Notwithstanding the
quality of Oregon agricultural products, Oregon consumers and
institutions often buy cheaper products from outside the state,
including products grown in a less stringent regulatory
environment.
(4) Oregon's food production system is designed to produce a
safe, affordable, nutritious and adequate food supply. Oregon's
food production system must also balance economic, environmental
and social considerations that are important to the people of
this state.
(5) Reducing the environmental and fiscal costs of food
transportation is both desirable and beneficial to the people of
Oregon. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) The state shall implement a purchase
preference program that increases the amount of Oregon-grown food
products purchased by state agencies.
(2) The goals of the purchase preference program for
Oregon-grown food products are:
(a) To expand markets for Oregon-grown food products;
(b) To recognize, encourage and reward Oregon farmers and
ranchers who practice environmental stewardship;
(c) To reduce unnecessary use of fuel and energy;
(d) To educate Oregonians about where food comes from;
(e) To strengthen ties between urban and rural Oregonians;
(f) To increase the food safety and food security of all
Oregonians; and
(g) To enhance Oregon's rural communities and rural
landscapes. + }
SECTION 3. { + (1) There is established a State Agricultural
Policy Council consisting of 21 members.
(2) The administrative heads of the following state agencies
shall each appoint one member to the council to serve at the
pleasure of the administrative head in representing their
respective agencies:
(a) The State Department of Agriculture;
(b) The Oregon State University Extension Service;
(c) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services;
(d) The Department of Transportation;
(e) The Department of Education;
(f) The Land Conservation and Development Commission;
(g) The Department of Human Services; and
(h) The Economic and Community Development Department.
(3) The Dean of the Oregon State University College of
Agricultural Sciences shall appoint one member to the council.
(4) The Governor shall appoint 12 members to the council. Of
the members appointed by the Governor:
(a) Two must be Oregon agricultural producers;
(b) One must be an Oregon food processor;
(c) One must be an Oregon food distributor;
(d) One must be an Oregon food retailer;
(e) One must be a representative of the Oregon public health
community;
(f) One must be a person with expertise in agricultural policy
and legal issues;
(g) One must be a person with expertise in food security
issues;
(h) One must be a person with expertise in direct marketing of
agricultural products;
(i) One must be a person from the environmental community;
(j) One must be a person with expertise in Oregon land use or
farmland protection issues; and
(k) One must be a public member representing Oregon consumers.
(5) A member appointed to the council by the Governor is
appointed for a four-year term, but serves at the pleasure of the
Governor. A member is eligible for reappointment.
(6) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation,
but at the discretion of the Director of the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services may be reimbursed from funds available to
the department for actual and necessary travel and other expenses
incurred by the member in the performance of the member's
official duties in the manner and amount provided in ORS 292.495.
(7) A majority of the members of the council constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
(8) The Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State
University shall provide staffing for the council.
(9) The purpose of the council is to promote and support a
thriving agricultural economy while increasing opportunities for
improving environmental stewardship and for improving
communication and cooperation between Oregon's urban and rural
communities. + }
SECTION 4. { + The State Agricultural Policy Council shall:
(1) Review incentives and barriers facing agricultural
producers interested in achieving organic or sustainable
certification in Oregon and recommend policies for:
(a) Increasing the ability of agricultural producers to achieve
organic or sustainable certification; and
(b) Maximizing the market advantages of those that achieve
certification;
(2) Help Oregonians understand the food production system,
including increasing awareness of:
(a) Where food comes from;
(b) How food is produced;
(c) How informed decisions involving food purchases can support
Oregon agriculture and rural Oregon communities; and
(d) How successful farming, high-quality food and a healthy
environment are related;
(3) Coordinate and promote state and local efforts to help
Oregon agricultural producers develop niche marketing and
value-added opportunities;
(4) Strengthen relationships between Oregon markets and Oregon
agricultural producers by promoting local preferences at the
institutional, organizational, business and individual levels;
(5) Encourage public and private partnerships that help Oregon
agricultural producers develop new investment options that
increase value-added opportunities or develop new alternative
natural resources enterprises;
(6) Promote and encourage educational and research programs
that help agricultural producers focus more on profits and
markets and less on bulk production; and
(7) Prepare and submit a biennial report to the Legislative
Assembly that includes a summary of the work of the council and
an assessment of state baseline agricultural production output.
The output assessment must include data on:
(a) The amount of food produced annually in Oregon;
(b) The amount of food that is purchased and consumed by Oregon
residents; and
(c) The extent to which the food produced in Oregon is
processed, distributed, marketed and purchased by local
individuals and businesses. + }
SECTION 5. { + The State Agricultural Policy Council shall:
(1) Develop the purchase preference program for Oregon-grown
food products described in section 2 of this 2003 Act by:
(a) Determining the most effective and efficient form of
purchase preference for achieving the goals of the program;
(b) Establishing methods and timelines for implementing the
purchase preference program;
(c) Specifying the characteristics that qualify food products
as Oregon-grown food products; and
(d) Developing a system for identifying Oregon-grown food
products in the marketplace;
(2) Work with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services
to ensure the production and distribution of support materials
for the implementation of the purchase preference program; and
(3) Develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the
purchase preference program in achieving the goals set forth in
section 2 of this 2003 Act. + }
SECTION 6. { + Upon development of the purchase preference
program by the State Agricultural Policy Council pursuant to
section 5 of this 2003 Act:
(1) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall
provide for distribution of the program information to all state
agencies purchasing food products. The department and the council
shall take all reasonable and necessary steps to assist state
agencies in understanding and implementing the program. The
department shall monitor agency compliance with the program and
report the compliance findings to the council.
(2) All state agencies purchasing food products shall, to the
extent practicable, comply with the purchase preference
program. + }
SECTION 7. { + The State Agricultural Policy Council shall
develop the purchase preference program and present the program
to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services on or before
January 1, 2005. + }
SECTION 8. { + The State Agricultural Policy Council shall
evaluate the effectiveness of the purchase preference program
developed under section 5 of this 2003 Act and adjust aspects of
the program as appropriate to more effectively achieve the goals
set forth in section 2 of this 2003 Act. The council shall
complete the evaluation and adjust aspects of the program no
later than January 1, 2010. + }
SECTION 9. { + The State Agricultural Policy Council shall
evaluate the effectiveness of the purchase preference program
developed under section 5 of this 2003 Act and shall report to
the Seventy-eighth Legislative Assembly no later than January 31,
2015, regarding:
(1) Whether the program is meeting the goals as determined by
the evaluative criteria developed under section 5 (3) of this
2003 Act; and
(2) If the program is not meeting the goals, whether, with
changes, the program can reasonably be expected to meet the goals
within five years if continued. + }
SECTION 10. { + Sections 2 and 5 to 9 of this 2003 Act are
repealed January 2, 2018. + }
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