MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 445, State Capitol

February 3, 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. Derrin Owens

                                                Rep. Kraig Powell

                                                Rep. Scott D. Sandall

                                                Rep. Mike Schultz      

Members Excused:    Rep. Michael E. Noel 

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 4:11 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Owens,

                        Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

H.B. 213         Agricultural Modifications (Rep. S. Sandall)

Rep. Sandall explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of LuAnn Adams, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 8, Line 240:       

240 (2) The advisory council shall consist of [eight] {  nine  }  10  members appointed by the

2.    Page 9, Lines 251 through 253:      

251  {  (e) two members, recommended by the Department of Agriculture, shall represent the

252interest of the hunting parks owners;  } and

253  {  (f)  }  (e)  {  two  }  five  members, recommended by the Department of Agriculture, shall represent the

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Owens, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 34 through 57:   

34   4-2-7. Agricultural Advisory Board created -- Composition -- Responsibility --

35Terms of office -- Compensation.

36   (1) There is created the Agricultural Advisory Board composed of {  16  }  21  members, with

37each member representing one of the following:

38   (a) Utah Farm Bureau Federation;

39   (b) Utah Farmers Union;

40   (c) Utah Cattlemen's Association;

41   (d) Utah Wool Growers' Association;

42   (e) Utah Dairymen's Association;

43   (f) Utah Pork Producer's Association;

44   (g) egg and poultry producers;

45   (h) Utah Veterinary Medical Association;

46   (i) Livestock Auction Marketing Association;

47   (j) Utah Association of Conservation Districts;

48   (k) the Utah horse industry;

49   (l) the food processing industry;

50   (m) the fruit and vegetable industry;

51   (n) the turkey industry;

52   (o) manufacturers of food supplements; [and]

53   (p) a consumer affairs group[.];

54   (q) dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Science and vice president of

55extension from Utah State University; {  and  }

56   (r) urban and small farmers {  .  }  ;

       (s) Utah Elk Breeders Association;

       (t) Utah Beekeepers Association; and

       (u) Utah Fur Breeders Association. 

57   (2) (a) The Agricultural Advisory Board shall advise the commissioner regarding:

2.    Page 3, Lines 83 through 84:   

83   (b) Attendance of [nine] {  10  }  11  members at a duly called meeting constitutes a quorum for

84the transaction of official business.

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

H.C.R. 6         Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the Utah Farm Bureau Centennial (Rep. S. Chew)

Rep. Chew explained the resolution to the committee with the assistance of Randy Parker, CEO, and Ron Gibson, President, Utah Farm Bureau.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Chew moved to place H.C.R. 6 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

S.B. 28            Water System Conservation Pricing (Sen. S. Jenkins)

Sen. Jenkins explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Sagers moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Handy and Rep. McKell absent for the vote.

1st Sub. S.B. 23         Water Law - Protected Purchaser Amendments (Sen. M. Dayton)

Sen. Dayton explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Boyd Clayton, Deputy Director, Division of Water Rights. "SB23 Protected Purchaser Amendments" was provided to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Briscoe moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Steve Handy absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Schultz moved to place 1st Sub. S.B. 23 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Steve Handy absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Schultz moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Steve Handy absent for the vote.

Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 4:58 p.m.

Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair