MINUTES OF THE HOUSE
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 445, State Capitol
February 17, 2016
Members Present: Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair
Rep. Douglas V. Sagers, Vice Chair
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe
Rep. Melvin R. Brown
Rep. Scott H. Chew
Rep. Susan Duckworth
Rep. Stephen G. Handy
Rep. Timothy D. Hawkes
Rep. Mike K. McKell
Rep. Michael E. Noel
Rep. Derrin Owens
Rep. Kraig Powell
Rep. Scott D. Sandall
Rep. Mike Schultz
Staff Present: J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary
NOTE: A list of visitors and handouts are filed with committee minutes
Chair Perry called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
H.B. 115 Beekeeping Modifications (Rep. M. Roberts)
Rep. Roberts explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Stan Moulton, beekeeper, and provided an overhead presentation. Joey Caputo, entomologist, Department of Agriculture and Food, answered questions from the committee.
MOTION: Rep. Schultz moved to amend the bill as follows:
1, Lines 11 through 17
11 This bill:
12 ► amends bee raising registration requirements;
► addresses mosquito abatement district liability;
13 ► amends county bee inspector duties;
14 ► modifies inspection provisions;
15 ► provides for bee raising restrictions under certain circumstances;
16 ► prohibits a political subdivision from adopting an ordinance, rule, regulation, or
17resolution prohibiting a property owner from establishing or maintaining { an apiary } certain apiaries ;
1. Page 3, Lines 63 through 64:
63registration on or before December 31 of each year.
(2) A mosquito abatement district, subject to the provisions of Chapter 2a, Part 7, Mosquito Abatement District Act, is not liable for damages to a beekeeper for bees damaged as a result of an aerosol spray applied to reduce a mosquito population.
64 { (2) } (3) (a) A person may not operate a wax-salvage plant without a license issued by the
2. Page 6, Lines 178 through 181:
178 4-11-18. Prohibition of beekeeping by a political subdivision.
179 { A } (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a political subdivision may not adopt an ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution
180prohibiting a property owner from establishing or maintaining an apiary on the property
181owner's property.
(2) A political subdivision may adopt an ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution prohibiting a person from locating an apiary of migratory bees within the boundaries of the political subdivision.
The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.
Spoke against the bill:
James Peirce, citizen
Sammie Dickson, Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement
Alex Grover, Utah Sustainable Gardening
Casey Lofthouse, citizen
Kurt Stembridge, citizen
MOTION: Rep. McKell moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Noel moved to hold the bill. The motion passed with Rep. Chew, Rep. Duckworth, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Schultz voting in opposition and Rep. Briscoe and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.
H.B. 315 Bee Keeping Amendments (Rep. K. McIff)
Rep. McIff explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Jim Jones, Mountain Springs Honey Company, and Darren Cox, President, American Honey Producers Association. "Subjects for Consideration" handout was provided to the committee. LuAnn Adams, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food, and Joey Caputo, entomologist, Department of Agriculture and Food, answered questions from the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Brian Stephenson, Stephenson Honey
Kurt Stembridge, HK Stembridge, LLC
Spoke against the bill:
Rob Bliss, Bliss Honey
Doug Rowley, fruit growers of Utah County
James Peirce, citizen
Alex Grover, Utah Sustainable Gardening
Casey Lofthouse, citizen
Jerry Anderson, J Beebiz
Sinead Hogan McSweeney, citizen
MOTION: Rep. Noel moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously with
Rep. Briscoe and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.
MOTION: Rep. Duckworth moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.
Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 9:59 a.m.
Lee B. Perry, Chair