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Senate Judiciary committee adopts amendment to expand civil penalties for agriculture-related violations; bill referred to Ways and Means
Summary
The Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 24 adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 832 that expands civil penalties to cover certain animal disease control and related agricultural operations and directs penalty revenue to the Department of Agriculture’s service fund.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Monday adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 832 that expands civil penalties to cover violations tied to animal disease control and certain agricultural facilities and requires the Department of Agriculture to deposit penalty revenues into its service fund.
The dash-1 amendment, described to the committee by staff as requiring the Department of Agriculture to deposit all monies recovered from penalties into the Department of Agriculture’s service fund, was moved by Senator Thacher and adopted without recorded opposition by voice vote. Chair Prozanski then accepted a motion by Senator Thacher to move SB 832 as amended to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation and a requested referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means; the motion carried.
Why it matters: Committee members said the measure gives the Department of Agriculture enforcement options in areas where the agency previously lacked civil penalty authority, and that the amendment clarifies where penalty revenue will be deposited.
Members who spoke in discussion included Chair Prozanski and Senator McLean, who said she met with Department of Agriculture Director Hansen and was satisfied the agency’s authority was necessary and not likely to be used excessively. McLean said the director’s answers resolved her concerns and she intended to vote yes.
Formal actions recorded in the committee included adoption of the dash-1 amendment and a motion to move the amended bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. Committee staff announced the dash-1 amendment was incorporated into the bill; after the final vote the Chair announced the motion carried and SB 832 was sent to Ways and Means.
No further details about specific penalty amounts, regulatory text, or an effective date were provided during the committee’s work session; staff summarized the scope as an expansion of civil penalties to include violations of animal disease-control and related reporting requirements.
The committee closed the work session on SB 832 and proceeded to the next agenda items.
