Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 05/06/08
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, and reported the following:
As
Committed(Unanimously):
Senate Resolution 284 (PN 1907)(Brubaker) A
Resolution recognizing the month of May 2008 as Beef
Month in Pennsylvania.
As
Amended (Unanimously):
Senate Bill 536 (PN 2018)(Greenleaf) This bill
amends the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law to strengthen remedies available for
purchases of dogs with health problems.
As
Amended (10-1):
Senate Bill 1317 (PN 2019)(Waugh) This bill
creates the Pennsylvania Farms to Fuels Initiative Act.
As
Amended (9-2):
House Bill 1422 (PN 3699)(Carroll) Amends and
codifies the Public Eating and Drinking Place Law, the
Food Act, and the Food Employee Certification Act.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 04/01/08
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, and reported the following:
Nomination of Richard Kriebel as Chairman of the
Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.
As
Committed (Unanimously):
Senate Resolution 239 (PN 1781)(Brubaker) A
Resolution commending the Pennsylvania State Association
of County Fairs for its promotion of Pennsylvania
agriculture, 4-H and Future Farmers of America, family
values, scholarships and tourism.
Senate Resolution 265 (PN 1864)(Brubaker) A
Resolution designating April 2, 2008, as Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau Day.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 11/28/07
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Wednesday, November 28, 2007, and reported the following
bill:
As Amended (unanimously):
Senate Bill 1020 (PN 1586)(Wonderling) This bill
amends the Conservation District Law further making
revisions and updates based upon recommendations made by
the LB&FC in a June 2005 Report.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 11/14/07
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, and reported the following
bills:
As
Committed (Unanimously):
Senate Resolution 193 (PN 1462)(Gordner) This
resolution commemorates the 20th anniversary of the
Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
Senate Resolution 195 (PN 1464)(Brubaker) This
resolution directs the LB&FC to review the Agricultural
Conservation Easement Purchase Program.
Senate Bill 863 (PN 1059)(Waugh) This bill
amends the Agricultural Area Security Law further
providing for the Agricultural Land Conservation
Assistance Grant Program.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 06/27/07
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Wednesday, June 27, 2007, and reported out the following
resolutions:
As
Committed (Unanimously):
Senate Resolution 114 (PN 980)(Madigan) This
resolution urges Congress and the United States
Department of Agriculture to use dairy farmers' cost of
production as part of the method for calculating Federal
order minimum milk prices.
Senate Resolution 139 (PN 1232)(Brubaker) This
resolution declares August, 2007, as "Pennsylvania
Produce Month".
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 05/08/07
The
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on
Tuesday, May 8, 2007, and reported out the following
bill:
As
Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 799 (PN 891)(MJ White) This bill
amends the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act adding
the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh to
the list of colleges and universities eligible to
receive grants through the Center for Rural
Pennsylvania. It also raises the maximum grant amount
to $60,000 from $50,000.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 03/13/07
The Senate
Agriculture Committee met on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, to unanimously
report the nomination of Dennis C. Wolf as Secretary of the Department
of Agriculture.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 06/28/06
The
Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on
Wednesday, June 28, 2006, and reported the following
bills:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 1107 (PN 1960)(Corman) This bill amends
the Agricultural Area Security Law to provide
definitions for "local moneys" and "donated value."
House Bill 2472 (PN 4055)(Hershey) This bill
establishes the Farmers' Market Development Act to
authorize the Department of Agriculture to establish a
program to award grants for the purpose of developing or
expanding farmers' markets.
Senate Resolution 325 (PN 1948)(Wenger) This
resolution designates the month of August 2006 as
Pennsylvania Produce Month.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 06/07/06
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee met on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, and reported out the following
bills:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 1209 (PN 1769)(Waugh) - This bill provides for the
Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program which will educate
kindergartners and their families about the importance of choosing
healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania
agriculture.
As Amended (unanimously):
Senate Bill 451 (PN 1812)(M. White) - This bill amends the Rural
Pennsylvania Revitalization Act to further provide for the addition of
the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau to the membership of the board of
directors, the eligibility of the regional campuses of the University of
Pittsburgh to the list of colleges and universites eligible for grants,
and an increase in the maximum grant amounts from $50,000 to $60,000.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 03/29/06
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Committee met on Wednesday, March 29, 2006, and reported out the
following bill:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Resolution 250 (PN 1648)(Wenger) - This resolution
designates Tuesday, April 4, 2006, as Farm Bureau Day in Pennsylvania.
As Amended (unanimously):
House Bill 671 (PN 3764)(Reichley) - This bill amends the
Agricultural Area Security Law to further provide for the purchase of
agricultural conservation easements.
House Bill 1580 (PN 3765)(Phillips) - This bill amends Title 3
(Agriculture) to further provide for the regulation of Cervidae
livestock operations.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 10/19/05
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Committee met on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, and reported the following
bills:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 940 (PN 1230)(Waugh) This bill amends the
Agricultural Area Security Law to provide for the Land Trust
Reimbursement Grant Program and the Agricultural Land Conservation
Assistance Grant program.
Senate Resolution 190 (PN 1215)(Gordner) This
Resolution urges the Department of Agriculture and the Historical and
Museum Commission to take inventory and catalog historic barns.
As Amended (unanimously):
Senate Bill 865 (PN 1242)(Madigan) This bill amends
Title 3 (Agriculture) to establish a domestic animal premises
registration program.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 07/01/05
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Committee met on Friday, July 1, 2005, and reported the following bill:
Reported as Committed (unanimously):
House Bill 1646 (PN 2433)(Hershey) This bill amends
Title 3 (Agriculture) by adding Chapters 3 (Local Regulation) and 5
(Nutrient Management and Odor Management). The bill prohibits local
government units from adopting or enforcing an unauthorized local
ordinance which is defined as an ordinance that prohibits or limits a
normal agricultural operation.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 06/30/05
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Committee met on Thursday, June 30, 2005, and unanimously reported the
following nomination:
Ms. Barbara Grumbine for the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 06/08/05
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, June
8, 2005 and reported the following bills:
As Amended (unanimously):
Senate Bill 723 (PN 879) (Wenger) This bill amends the Agricultural Area
Security Law to encourage financial partnerships between non-profit
organizations and local governments, counties and/or the Commonwealth to
purchase agricultural conservation easements in the state's Farmland
Preservation Program.
House Bill 619 (PN 2134) (Hershey) This bill amends the Agricultural
Area Security Law by defining "commercial equine activity" and providing
for the inclusion of such activity in an agricultural security area.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 11/15/04
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee met on Monday, November 15, 2004, and reported the following
bill:
As Committed (unanimously):
House Bill 2387 (PN 3768)(Hickernell) This bill adds a chapter to
Title 3 (Agriculture) relating to the labeling, sale, and distribution
of seed.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee 10/4/04
The Senate Agriculture
Committee met on Monday, October 4, 2004, and reported out the following
bills:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 564 (PN 628) (M. White) This bill amends the Rural
Pennsylvania Revitalization Act further providing for membership on the
Board of Directors and grant eligibility for regional campuses of the
University of Pittsburgh.
House Bill 1867 (PN 2433) (Causer) This bill repeals outdated provisions
regarding the measuring of grain in Philadelphia.
House Bill 1868 (PN 2434) (Causer) This bill repeals outdated provisions
regarding farmers who lease stalls or stands in Philadelphia.
House Bill 2589 (PN 3873) (Stairs) This bill allows the sale and
distribution of live turtles in Pennsylvania where not prohibited by
federal statute.
As Amended (Unanimously):
House Bill 657 (PN 4458) (Major) This bill amends the Farmland and
Forest Land Assessment Act by removing and clarifying certain provisions
relating to farmstead land.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 6/29/04
The Senate Agriculture & Rural
Affairs Committee met on Tuesday, June 29, 2004, and reported out the
following bill:
As Amended (unanimously):
House Bill 2512 (PN 4229)(Hershey) This bill amends the Milk Producers'
Security Act to further enhance the protection the act provides to
Pennsylvania milk producers.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 3/16/04
The Senate Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee met on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, and reported out the
following bills:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Resolution 206 (PN 1423) (Waugh) This resolution designates April
13, 2004, as Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Day in the Commonwealth.
As Amended (unanimously):
Senate Bill 871 (PN 1435) (Wenger) This bill creates the Humane Society
Police Officers Act and establishes the State Board of Humane Society
Police Officers under the PA Department of Agriculture for the purpose
of administering and regulating the appointment of humane society police
officers in the Commonwealth.
House Bill 1809 (PN 3458) (Egolf) This bill creates the Commercial
Manure Hauler and Broker Certification Act requiring the Department of
Agriculture to develop a program to train and certify commercial manure
haulers and brokers.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 9/17/03
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee met on Wednesday, September 17, 2003, and reported out
the following bills and executive nomination:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 834 (PN 1014) (Scarnati)
This bill amends the PA Farmland and Forestland Assessment Act of 1974 to
allow the leasing of enrolled cleand and green land for passive,
nonnmotorized, recreational uses. Such recreational uses would include
horseback riding, hunting, and corn mazes.
Senate Bill 912 (PN1161) This bill
creates the Crop Insurance Act by repealing the Drought, Orchard and
Nursey Indemnity and Flood Relief Act of 1999 and continuing the same
program under Title 3 (Agriculture). This allows for further
administration and development of programs to deal with future
catastrophic events.
House Bill 318 (PN 364) (Pickett)
This bill repeals an outdated Act 80 of 1903 which when passed was
intended to prevent the spread of rabies. We now cover rabies under a
number of other acts such as the Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic
Animals and Wildlife Act and the Dog Law.
The nomination of Mr. Luke F. Brubaker for
reappointment to the Milk Marketing Board was unanimously approved and
sent to the Rules Committee with a recommendation for approval by the full
Senate.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 4/24/03
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee
met on Wednesday, April 24, 2003, and reported the following legislation
and nomination:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 673 (PN 732) (Waugh) Amends the
Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Act to include teachers of
agriculture education in the loan forgiveness program.
Reported unanimously:
The nomination of Mr. Boyd Wolff to the Milk
Marketing Board.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 3/
24/03
The Senate
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Monday, March 24, 2003,
and reported the following:
As Committed
(unanimously):
Senate
Resolution 46 (PN 516) (Waugh) Designates April 8, 2003, as Pennsylvania
Farm Bureau Day.
As Amended
(unanimously):
Senate Bill 340
(PN 572) (Corman) Designates the new Livestock Meat Animal Evaluation
Center at Penn State as the Samuel E. Hayes, Jr., Livestock Meat
Evaluation Center.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 3/5/03
The
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met today to consider the
nomination of Mr. Dennis Wolff as Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture. Mr. Wolff was unanimously reported out of Committee with a
favorable recommendation.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 11/13/02
The Senate
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, November 13,
2002 and reported out the following bills:
As Committed
(unanimously):
House Bill 2350
(PN 3262) (Coy) This bill amends the Public Eating and Drinking Place
Law providing for school cafeteria inspections by the Department of
Agriculture.
As Amended
(unanimously):
Senate Bill
1552 (PN 2361) (Waugh) This bill establishes the Next Generation Farmer
Loan Program in statute.
House Bill 2842
(PN 4591) (Fairchild) This bill amends Title 3 expanding the authority
of the Department of Agriculture to fund eradication (clean up and
disposal) costs for farmers in the event of a quarantine or
depopulation.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee 9/30/02
The Senate
Agriculture Committee met on Monday, September 30, 2002, and reported
the following bill:
As Committed
(unanimously):
Senate Bill
1528 (PN 2244)(Waugh) This bill provides for a deposit of $16,500,000
into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund for fiscal
year 2004-2005. The source of the deposit is Title 27 relative to
disposal and/or tipping fees for municipal waste landfills as they
relate to the Growing Greener program.
Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee
4/23/02
The Senate
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met of Tuesday, April 23, 2002
and reported out the following bills:
As Committed
(unanimously):
Senate Bill
1413 (PN 1920) (Madigan) This bill amends the Right to Farm Law to
provide for the limitation on local ordinances that would unfairly
discriminate against agricultural operations.
House Bill 2398
(PN 3649) (Bunt) This bill amends the Job Enhancement Act to include
agricultural producers in the category of small business enterprises
making them eligible for Small Business First low interest loans.
