EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0034*
SENATE BILL 34
M4 3lr0991
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Hester
Requested: November 20, 2022
Introduced and read first time: January 11, 2023
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Agriculture – State Ombudsman for Value–Added Agriculture 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the State Ombudsman for Value–Added Agriculture as a 3
position in the Department of Agriculture; and generally relating to the State 4
Ombudsman for Value–Added Agriculture. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Agriculture 7
Section 2–106 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Agriculture 12
Section 2–2201 and 2–2202 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 22. State 13
Ombudsman for Value–Added Agriculture” 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Agriculture 19
2–106. 20
(a) The following positions and units are included within the Department: 21
(1) The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board; 22
2 SENATE BILL 34
(2) The Chief of Weights and Measures; 1
(3) The State Chemist; 2
(4) The State Veterinarian; 3
(5) The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; 4
(6) The State Soil Conservation Committee; 5
(7) The Maryland Agricultural Commission; 6
(8) The Maryland Horse Industry Board; 7
(9) The Maryland Winery and Grape Growers’ Advisory Board; [and] 8
(10) The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission; AND 9
(11) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE . 10
(b) The Secretary shall appoint the State Chemist, State Veterinarian, STATE 11
OMBUDSMAN FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE , and Chief of Weights and Measures. 12
(c) The Department also includes any other position or unit which is declared 13
within the Department pursuant to law. 14
SUBTITLE 22. STATE OMBUDSMAN FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE . 15
2–2201. 16
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE ”: 17
(1) MEANS THE ALTERATION OF A RAW AGRICULTURAL P RODUCT IN 18
A WAY THAT INCREASES THE PRODUCT ’S WORTH TO A CONSUMER AND BRING S MORE 19
REVENUE TO A FARMER, PRODUCER, OR PROCESSOR ; AND 20
(2) INCLUDES ALL ENTERPRI SES IN WHICH AN AGRI CULTURAL 21
BUSINESS OR THE AGRICULTURAL BUS INESS’S PRODUCTS ARE ALTERED , 22
MARKETED, PRODUCED, OR PROCESSED IN A WA Y THAT ADDS INCOME T O A FARMER, 23
PRODUCER, OR PROCESSOR . 24
2–2202. 25
(A) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE SHALL: 26
SENATE BILL 34 3
(1) SERVE AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR INDIVIDUALS 1
ENGAGING IN, OR INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN, VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE IN 2
THE STATE; 3
(2) PROVIDE INFORMATION R EGARDING STATE AND FEDERAL 4
REGULATIONS RELATING TO VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE ; 5
(3) ACT AS A LIAISON BETW EEN STATE AND FEDERAL PAR TNERS 6
INVOLVED IN VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE ; AND 7
(4) PERFORM ANY OTHER DUT Y OR FUNCTION THAT S UPPORTS 8
VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE, AS REQUIRED BY THE SECRETARY. 9
(B) THE STATE OMBUDSMAN FOR VALUE–ADDED AGRICULTURE SHALL 10
RECEIVE A SALARY AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That a Position Identification 12
Number (PIN) shall be created in the Department of Agriculture for the State Ombudsman 13
for Value–Added Agriculture. 14
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, during the first year after 15
the initial appointment of the State Ombudsman for Value–Added Agriculture, the priority 16
function of the Ombudsman is to focus on implementing the recommendations of the Task 17
Force to Study the Feasibility of Return to State Meat Process Inspection. 18
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2023. 20