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Committee adds DPHHS, Department of Agriculture and MSU Extension to SJR 11 study; amendment approved
Summary
The Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee amended Senate Joint Resolution 11 to include the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and Montana State University Bozeman Extension Service as resource participants in a study of farmers markets; the amendment and the resolution passed on voice votes.
The Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee voted to amend Senate Joint Resolution 11 to add the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and Montana State University Bozeman Extension Service as participants in an interim study of farmers markets. The committee approved the amendment and later voted the resolution out as amended.
Senator Curtin, who presented the amendment, told the committee that after a previous hearing he had asked witnesses to consider adding those agencies because they oversee food sold in markets and have experience supporting farmers markets, including Montana State University’s Western Area Research Center near Corvallis. "This is not over regulation. This is not a part of regulation," Curtin said, adding the agencies would serve as resources to the interim committee rather than as decision-makers.
Senator McCamey questioned whether the agencies have the capacity to participate and expressed concern about past instances of perceived government overreach in aquaculture regulation. McCamey said he worried the process could be "hijacked" by government agencies; Curtin responded that the interim committee would retain authority over the study and that agencies would provide technical assistance.
Committee members also discussed whether it was premature to act while the study is underway. Some senators said the study format makes it appropriate to bring stakeholders together now so they can shape recommendations; others described a "soft opposition" but ultimately supported adding agencies as resources.
After discussion, the committee held a voice vote on the amendment; the chair announced the motion carried. A subsequent motion that SJR 11 "do pass once amended" also passed on a voice vote. Committee records show several senators were recorded as voting by proxy in related procedural items.
The committee staff noted that the Economic Affairs interim committee would be the likely forum to oversee related work if the study proceeds and that inclusion of the named agencies is intended to provide technical expertise to the studying panel. The resolution is advanced for the interim study as amended.
