Brief Description: Modifying provisions relating to the dairy products commission.

Sponsors: Senators Schoesler and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Background: The Dairy Products Commission has authority to administer programs to promote dairy products and conduct market research projects. The commission is funded by an assessment on milk products.

Ten members are currently on the commission including a dairy producer from each commission district, one dealer, one producer-dealer, and the Director of the Department of Agriculture. Members serve three year terms. Commission districts are created by rule to provide reasonably equal representation on the commission.

A process exists for dairy producers to nominate other dairy producers from their district to serve as a member of the commission. An advisory vote is held within the district and the two names of the candidates receiving the most votes are forwarded to the Director for potential appointment to the commission. If only one candidate is nominated for a position, the commission currently selects a second candidate to be forwarded to the Director.

Summary: The number of members on the commission is reduced from ten to nine through the deletion of the producer-dealer member. If only one person is nominated for a position on the commission, the requirement that the commission forward the name of a second candidate to the Director is deleted. The Director is provided with explicit authority to appoint or to reject a single nominee.

Vacancies that occur during the term of a member may be filled from a list of candidates forwarded by the commission to the Director. If only one name is forwarded, the Director has the discretion to appoint or reject the candidate and to request additional candidates.

Clarification is provided that producer members must be engaged as an owner or shareholder of the entity producing dairy products.

If a commission member has excessive absences or engages in dishonesty or willful misconduct, the commission is to recommend to the Director the removal of the member. If the Director finds that adequate cause exists, the member must be removed from the commission.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   0
House      91   4

Effective: June 12, 2008