Loading chat...
IN HB1632
Bill
Status
1/24/2019
Primary Sponsor
Donald Lehe
Click for details
AI Summary
-
Indiana Department of Agriculture required to promote industrial hemp industry expansion and authorized to establish research pilot programs and issue licenses for growing, handling, cultivating, processing, or marketing industrial hemp
-
Creates an 8-member Industrial Hemp Commission (plus 1 nonvoting member) including representatives from the department of agriculture, state police, Purdue University, farm organizations, seed trade, sheriffs' association, and industry to provide oversight and adopt rules
-
Licensees must provide GPS coordinates of cultivation sites, consent to inspections by law enforcement, and pass annual criminal background checks; persons convicted of a felony or drug-related misdemeanor within 10 years are ineligible
-
Violations may result in license suspension up to 60 days, permanent revocation after hearing, or civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation; unlicensed cultivation carries the same penalties as marijuana violations under IC 35-48-4
-
Establishes the Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program Fund funded by fees, appropriations, grants, and civil penalties; program may be discontinued if federal law changes make it impractical or unnecessary
Legislative Description
Industrial hemp pilot program. Requires the department of agriculture (department) to promote the expansion of Indiana's industrial hemp industry to the maximum extent permitted by federal law. Allows the department to establish research pilot programs (programs) and license persons to grow, handle, cultivate, process, or market industrial hemp or industrial hemp products. Establishes the industrial hemp commission to provide oversight and adopt rules with respect to plans, policies, rules, fees, and procedures applicable to the administration of the department's programs. Provides for penalties. Allows the director of the department to discontinue the program if certain changes are made in federal law. Establishes the industrial hemp research pilot program fund. Provides that the industrial hemp regulations of the department and the state seed commissioner are separate. Provides that the state seed commissioner may issue a license to a grower that produces industrial hemp for commercial purposes in collaboration with an industrial hemp research program conducted by a state educational institution. Makes a technical correction. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on agriculture and natural resources.)
Last Action
First reading: referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
1/24/2019