ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDME NT TO ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO . 422 By: Simpson of the Senate and Burns of the House An Act relating to the Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program; amending 2 O.S. 2011, Sections 5-3.2, as last amended by Sec tion 1, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 and 5 -3.4, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 (2 O.S. Supp. 2020, Sections 5-3.2 and 5-3.4), which relate to the purpose and categories of the program, and grants and loan criteria; removing purpose; modifyin g and removing categories; removing authorization for matching funds; removing and modifying preferences and exclusions; requiring nondisclosure pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act; removing authorization for executive sessions by the Board under cer tain circumstances; exempting certain advisory meeting from the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; updating statutory language; and providing an effective date. AUTHORS: Remove Representative Burns as principal House author and substitute with Representative Kerbs Add Representative Burns as coauthor AMENDMENT NO. 1. Delete the title, enacting clause and entire bill and replace with: "[ revenue and taxation - agricultural sales tax exemptions - effective date - emergency ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPL E OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2011, Section 1358.1, is amended to read as follows: Section 1358.1 A. In order to qualify for any exemption authorized by Section 1358 of this title, at the time of sale , the person to whom the sale is made shall be required to furnish the vendor proof of eligibility for the exemption as required by this section. B. All vendors shall honor the proof of eligibility for sales tax exemption as authorized by this section and sales to a person providing such proof shall be exempt from the tax levied by this article, Section 1350 et seq. of this title. C. The agricultural exemption permit, the size and design of which shall be prescribed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, shall constitute proof of eligibility for sales tax exemptions authorized by Section 1358 of this title. The permit shall be obtained by listing personal property used in farming or ranching by the person with the county assessor each year as provided by law. I f the assessor determines that the personal property is correctly listed and assessed for ad valorem taxation and the county treasurer certifies whether the person has delinquent accounts appearing on the personal property tax lien docket in the county tre asurer's office, the assessor shall certify the assessment upon a form prescribed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. One copy shall be retained by the assessor, one copy shall be forwarded to the ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Oklahoma Tax Commission and one copy shall be given to the per son listing the personal property. Upon verification that the applicant qualifies for the exemptions authorized by Section 1358 of this title and that the applicant has no delinquent accounts appearing on the personal property tax lien docket in the offic e of the county treasurer, a permit shall be issued as prescribed by this section. The permit shall be renewable every three (3) years in the manner provided by this section. D. A person who does not otherwise qualify for a permit pursuant to subsection C of this section, except as provided in subsection E of this section, shall file with the Oklahoma Tax Commission an application for an agricultural exemption permit constituting proof of eligibility for the sales tax exemptions authorized by Section 1358 of this title, and except as prohibited by subsection I of this section, setting forth such information as the Tax Commission may require. The application shall be certified by the applicant that the applicant is engaged in custom farming operations or in the business of farming or ranching. If the applicant is a corporation, the application shall be certified by a legally constituted officer thereof. E. Except as provided in this subsection, for a person who is a resident of another state and who is en gaged in custom farming operations in this state, the person shall provide the vendor proof of residency, the name, address and telephone number of the person ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 engaging the custom farmer and certification on the face of the invoice, under the penalty of per jury, that the property purchased shall be used in agricultural production as proof of eligibility for the sales tax exemption authorized by Section 1358 of this title. Any person who is a resident of another state and who is engaged in custom farming operations in this state and who owns property in this state, shall obtain proof of eligibility as provided in subsection C or D of this section. F. If an agricultural exemption permit holder purchases tangible personal property from a vendor on a regular ba sis, the permit holder may furnish the vendor proof of eligibility as provided for in subsections C and D of this section and the vendor may subsequently make sales of tangible personal property to the permit holder without requiring proof of eligibility f or each subsequent sale. Provided, the permit holder shall notify the vendor of all purchases which are not exempt from sales tax under the provisions of Section 1358 of this title and remit the applicable amount of tax thereon. If the permit holder fail s to notify the vendor of purchases not exempt from sales tax, then sufficient grounds shall exist for the Oklahoma Tax Commission to cancel the agricultural exemption permit of the permit holder who so failed to notify the vendor. G. If an out-of-state agricultural exemption permit holder purchases tangible personal property from a vendor within this state ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 who is not in the business of shipping the tangible personal property purchased, then the out -of-state agricultural exemption permit holder is responsi ble for providing an export bill of lading or other documentation to the vendor from whom the tangible personal property was purchased showing that the point of delivery of such goods for use and consumption is outside the State of Oklahoma. H. A purchaser who uses an agricultural exemption permit or provides proof of eligibility pursuant to subsection E of this section to purchase, exempt from sales tax, items not authorized for exemption under Section 1358 of this title shall be subject to a penalty in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). I. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall accept any one of the following as proof of eligibility for the exemptions authorized by this section or pursuant to Section 1358 of this title: 1. Schedule F, or a copy of Schedule F, or any equivalent form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, with respect to a federal income tax return; 2. A three-year business plan form provided by the Oklahoma Tax Commission; or 3. A farm exemption tax form provided by the Oklah oma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergenc y is hereby ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. " Passed the House of Representatives the 20th day of April, 2021. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2021. Presiding Officer of the Senate ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 422 By: Simpson of the Senate and Burns of the House An Act relating to the Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program; amending 2 O.S. 2011, Sections 5-3.2, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 and 5 -3.4, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 (2 O.S. Supp. 2020, Sections 5-3.2 and 5-3.4), which relate to the purpose and categories of the program, and grants and loan criteria; removing purpose; modifying and removing categories; removing authorization for matching funds; removing and modifying preferences and exclusions; requiring nondisclosure pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act; removing authorization for executive sessions by the Board under certain circumstances; exempting certain advisory meeting from the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; updating statutory language; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2011, Section 5 -3.2, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 (2 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 5-3.2), is amended to read as follows: Section 5-3.2. A. The State Boar d of Agriculture is hereby authorized to establish and administer the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program. B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program is to promote and encourage the interest s of ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 agriculture through the allocation of funds, by grant or loan, to individuals, cooperatives and other agricultural entities to: 1. Develop new or expanded uses of agricultural products; 2. Develop new or expanded benefits of agricultural events; 3. Increase agricultural productivity; 4. 3. Provide added value to agricultural products or events; 5. 4. Benefit the agricultural producer; and 6. 5. Benefit the agricultural interests of Oklahoma this state. C. The Program shall consist of the followi ng categories: 1. Cooperative marketing Value-added agriculture grants and loans for entities or individuals intending to work together to develop or establish production, processing or marketing of agricultural products. The purpose of this category is to provide funding for promoting productivity, providing added value to agricultural products, stimulating and fostering agricultural diversification and encouraging processing innovations; 2. Marketing and utilization grants and loans to assist in the development or implementation of sound domestic or foreign marketing plans for Oklahoma agricultural products, by -products, or new and better uses for existing agricultural products through the financing of marketing feasibility studies, business plans, and test marketing; ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Farm diversification grants or loans for projects dealing with the diversification of family farms or ranches to nontraditional crops, livestock, agritourism, or on-farm, value- added processing of agricultural commodities; 4. Basic and applied 3. Product development and research grants and loans for agricultural business creation or expansion, or research which will likely lead to a marketable agricultural product through the focusing of research efforts on uses and processing of Oklahoma agricultural products and by -products, including but not limited to: a. focused research which enhances the value of an agricultural product or by -product, b. feasibility studies, and c. product development and test marketing costs, and d. projects that are driven by an entrepreneur or the industry; and 5. 4. Agricultural event or events that benefit and further the public interest in agriculture; and 5. Veteran or young farmer grants or loans for veterans and young farmers that are engaged or will be engaged in expansion or creation of events that benefit and further the public interest in agriculture an agricultural business . ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D. The State Board of Agriculture shall promulgate rules governing the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program. SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2011, Section 5 -3.4, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2015 (2 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 5-3.4), is amended to read as follows: Section 5-3.4. A. The Oklahoma Department of Agricult ure, Food, and Forestry shall require eligible applicants to submit information, forms and reports as are necessary to properly and efficiently administer the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program. B. Persons may apply to the Depart ment for grant or loan funds in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture. Applications for grant or loan funds shall be approved or denied by the Department in accordance with criteria promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program. C. The State Board of Agriculture may also allocate monies from the fund to eligible applicants on a matching basis. D. Grant or loan funds may be made available to eligible applicants pursuant to evaluation by the Department based on the following criteria: 1. Preference may be given to the applicants whose: ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. industrial and nonfood production processes utilize agricultural products, b. food, feed and fiber products and us es are innovative and add to the value of agricultural products, c. applications demonstrate a high probability of job creation and return-on-investment, d. proposals feature research that is innovative as well as commercially plausible, e. proposals demonstrate a high probability of rapid commercialization, f. projects demonstrate a shared commitment for funding from other private or public sources or from the applicant, g. proposals center efforts on nonurban locales, h. principals are individuals, a grou p of individuals, an individual on behalf of a group, or corporations which meet the criteria set forth in Section 951 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, to market a product or formulate or implement a marketing plan for agricultural products which have not been marketed through existing marketing cooperatives produced or processed in this state , i. proposals contain the potential to create additional income for the farm unit, and ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 j. proposals provide for new and innovative plans for marketing the produc t, and k. proposals for agricultural events benefit the entire state or a large geographic region of the state ; and 2. Consideration shall not be given to applications for: a. research or marketing plans which do not clearly meet the stated objectives of the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Act, b. proposals which are aimed solely at business expansion or creation without regard to agricultural products utilization, or c. research or marketing plans that cannot reasonably be expected to result in a viable commercial application, or that are or have been duplicated by other research efforts, or d. proposals for agricultural events that do not result in expansion of the event or encourage additional public interest in the event . E. D. 1. Any information submitted to or compiled by the Department with respect to the marketing plans, financial statements, trade secrets, research concepts, methods or products, or any other proprietary information of persons, firms, associations, partnerships , agencies, corporations, institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions or other entities ENGR. S. B. NO. 422 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 pursuant to the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program shall not be disclosed pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act or in public hearings and shall be kept confidential, except to the extent that the person or entity which provided such information or which is the subject of such information consents to disclosure. 2. Executive sessions may be held to discuss such material s if deemed necessary by the Board In the event an independent advisory group of reviewers are used to analyze and make recommendations for projects for approval by the Board, any meetings of such advisory groups shall be exempt from the Oklahoma Open Meet ing Act. SECTION 6. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021. Passed the Senate the 4th day of March, 2021. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2021. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives