February 26, 1998



Mr. Speaker:

    The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee reports a favorable recommendation on H.B. 407, AQUACULTURE AMENDMENTS, by Representative D. Ure, with the following amendments:
1.    Page 6, Lines 25 - 31:    Delete lines 25 - 31

2.    Page 7, Lines 1 - 6:    Delete lines 1 - 6 and insert the following:

        "(A) one member shall be jointly appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and food and the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources;
        (B) two members shall be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and food;
        (C) two members shall be appointed by the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources;
        (D) one member shall be the state veterinarian; and
        (E) one member shall be the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.
        (ii) Each member appointed under Subsections (4)(a)(i)A) through (C) shall be knowledgeable about the control of aquatic diseases.
        (iii) The member appointed under Subsection (4)(a)(i)(A) may not be an employee of, or a member of a board within, the Department of Agriculture or Department of Natural Resources;
        (iv) Of the members appointed under Subsection (4)(a)(i)(B), one shall be an employee of the Division of Animal Industry and one shall be a representative of the aquaculture industry.
        (v) Of the members appointed under Subsection (4)(a)(i)(C), one shall be an employee of the Division of Wildlife Resources and one shall represent sport fishermen."

3.    Page 7, Line 12:    After "veterinarian" insert "and the director of the Division of

Wildlife Resources"

4.    Page 7, Line 19:    Delete "state veterinarian" and insert "member appointed under Subsection (4)(a)(i)(A)"

5.    Page 8, Line 16:    After line 16 insert the following:

        "Section. 10. Legislative intent.
        It is the intent of the Legislature that:
        (1) the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee take comment from any interested parties during the 1998 interim meetings on progress made by the Fish Health Policy Board; and
         (2) if it is the opinion of the committee, after taking comment from interested parties, that the performance of the Fish Health Policy Board is being hindered by the lack of a tie-breaking vote on the board, the chairmanship issue shall be revisited in the 1999 legislative session."