EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0389*
HOUSE BILL 389
M4 3lr2332
CF SB 34
By: Delegates T. Morgan, Bagnall, Crosby, Griffith, Hartman, D. Jones, Love,
M. Morgan, Rose, and Ziegler Ziegler, Addison, Baker, Boyce, Ciliberti,
Foley, Guyton, Healey, Holmes, Jacobs, Lehman, Nawrocki, Otto, Ruth,
Stewart, and Terrasa
Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2023
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2023
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Agriculture – State Ombudsman Specialist for Value–Added 2
Agriculture 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the State Ombudsman Specialist for Value–Added 4
Agriculture as a position in the Department of Agriculture; and generally relating to 5
the State Ombudsman Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Agriculture 8
Section 2–106 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Agriculture 13
Section 2–2201 and 2–2202 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 22. State 14
Ombudsman Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19 2 HOUSE BILL 389
Article – Agriculture 1
2–106. 2
(a) The following positions and units are included within the Department: 3
(1) The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board; 4
(2) The Chief of Weights and Measures; 5
(3) The State Chemist; 6
(4) The State Veterinarian; 7
(5) The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; 8
(6) The State Soil Conservation Committee; 9
(7) The Maryland Agricultural Commission; 10
(8) The Maryland Horse Industry Board; 11
(9) The Maryland Winery and Grape Growers’ Advisory Board; [and] 12
(10) The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission; AND 13
(11) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN SPECIALIST FOR VALUE–ADDED 14
AGRICULTURE . 15
(b) The Secretary shall appoint the State Chemist, State Veterinarian, STATE 16
OMBUDSMAN SPECIALIST FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE , and Chief of Weights 17
and Measures. 18
(c) The Department also includes any other position or unit which is declared 19
within the Department pursuant to law. 20
SUBTITLE 22. STATE OMBUDSMAN SPECIALIST FOR VALUE–ADDED 21
AGRICULTURE . 22
2–2201. 23
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE ”: 24
(1) MEANS THE ALTERATION OR ENHANCEMENT OF A RAW 25
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT , INCLUDING LIVESTOCK , OR AN AGRICULTURAL S ERVICE 26 HOUSE BILL 389 3
IN A WAY THAT INCREA SES THE PRODUCT’S PRODUCT OR SERVICE ’S WORTH TO A 1
CONSUMER AND BRINGS MORE REVENUE TO A FA RMER, PRODUCER, OR PROCESSOR ; 2
AND 3
(2) INCLUDES ALL ENTERPRI SES, INCLUDING THOSE PROV IDING 4
EQUINE ACTIVITIES , IN WHICH AN AGRICULT URAL BUSINESS OR THE 5
AGRICULTURAL BUSINES S’S PRODUCTS OR SERVICES ARE ALTERED , MARKETED, 6
PRODUCED, OR PROCESSED IN A WA Y THAT ADDS INCOME T O A FARMER, PRODUCER, 7
OR PROCESSOR . 8
2–2202. 9
(A) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN SPECIALIST FOR VALUE–ADDED 10
AGRICULTURE SHALL : 11
(1) SERVE AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR INDIVIDUALS 12
ENGAGING IN, OR INTERESTED IN ENG AGING IN, VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE IN 13
THE STATE; 14
(2) PROVIDE INFORMATION R EGARDING STATE AND FEDERAL 15
REGULATIONS RELATING TO VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE ; 16
(3) ACT AS A LIAISON BETW EEN STATE AND FEDERAL PAR TNERS 17
INVOLVED IN VALUE –ADDED AGRICULTURE ; AND 18
(4) PERFORM ANY OTHER DUT Y OR FUNCTION THAT S UPPORTS 19
VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE, AS REQUIRED BY THE SECRETARY. 20
(B) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN SPECIALIST FOR VALUE–ADDED 21
AGRICULTURE SHALL REC EIVE A SALARY AS PRO VIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That a Position Identification 23
Number (PIN) shall be created in the Department of Agriculture for the State Ombudsman 24
Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture. 25
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, during the first year after 26
the initial appointment of the State Ombudsman Specialist for Value–Added Agriculture, 27
the priority function of the Ombudsman Specialist is to focus on implementing the 28
recommendations of the Task Force to Study the Feasibility of Return to State Meat Process 29
Inspection. 30
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2023. 32