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AL SB91
Bill
AI Summary
SB91 Summary
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Extends the assessment period for agricultural commodities (peanuts, nuts, bulbs, fruits, vegetables, and sheep/goats) from three years to five years between referendums.
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Reduces the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries' administrative deduction from five percent to three percent of assessment sums remitted for nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables.
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Extends the audit requirement interval for certified associations from every two years to every five years, while maintaining public inspection and financial reporting requirements.
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Requires additional publication of peanut assessment referendums in newspapers in counties where USDA inspection and buying points are located for three successive weeks before the referendum.
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Changes assessment collection authority from mandatory ("shall") to discretionary ("may") for organizations calling subsequent referendums after failed votes, requiring a 90-day waiting period between attempts.
Legislative Description
Relating to Agriculture, to amend Sections 2-8-126, 2-8-128, 2-8-131, 2-8-133, 2-8-134, 2-8-135, and 2-8-323, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the requirements for giving notice of a referendum on an assessment to be used to promote peanuts specifically as well as other nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables; to revise the time an assessment on the sale of nuts, bulbs, fruits, or vegetables is effective between referendums; to revise the percentage the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries may deduct from the sum of the assessment on nuts, bulbs, fruit, and vegetables; to revise the length of time between audits of an organization certified to conduct a referendum regarding an assessment on the sale of sheep and goats; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.
Agriculture, further provide for promotion of products programs
Last Action
Enacted
4/20/2023