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Enrolled Version - Final Version Senate Bill 424 History

OTHER VERSIONS  -  Committee Substitute (1)  |  Introduced Version  |     |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

 WEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

ENROLLED

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 424

By Senators Sypolt, Baldwin, Karnes, Phillips, Smith, Woodrum, Hamilton, Martin, Lindsay, Jeffries, Romano, Clements, Maroney, and Rucker

[Passed March 12, 2022; in effect 90 days from passage]

 

 

AN ACT to repeal §19-1-10, and §19-15-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §11-13DD-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-1-4a and §19-1-11 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto one new section, designated §19-1-13; to amend and reenact §19-9-7a of said code; to amend and reenact §19-12E-4 and §19-12E-5 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-15A-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-16-6 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-16A-21 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-20C-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §19-36-5 of said code, all relating generally to the 2022 Farm Bill; increasing the West Virginia Farm-to-Food bank tax credit; allowing for retroactive application of the tax credit; allowing the Commissioner of Agriculture to accept certain funds and property from federal agencies, individuals, and certain businesses; repealing requirement for Social Security numbers on applications; removing requirement that commissioner file annual report on rural rehabilitation loan program with Joint Committee; requiring commissioner to file annual report detailing department activities with President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Joint Committee on Government and Finance and sending copy to archives and history; requiring license from state to produce industrial hemp; changing the National Animal Identification System to the Animal Disease Traceability Program; requiring license from state to produce industrial hemp; allowing commissioner to recognize hemp license issued by the USDA; repealing publication requirement for fertilizer law; removing requirement that commissioner publish annual report on the liming material law; removing requirement that commissioner publish and distribute annual report on the law; allowing commissioner to deny, suspend, modify, or revoke license or application for license for violation, conviction, or penalty assessment under a certain  federal act; removing requirement that commissioner file annual spay and neuter report; providing that agritourism on land classified as agricultural does not change use of land for zoning purposes; providing that agritourism business may use certain facilities for certain events without complying with fire codes.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


chapter 11. taxation.

article 13dd. west virginia farm-to-food bank tax credit.

§11-13DD-3. Amount of credit; limitation of credit.


(a) There is allowed to farming taxpayers who make donations of edible agricultural products to one or more nonprofit food programs in this state, a credit against taxes imposed by §11-21-1 et seq. and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code in the amount set forth in this section.

(b) The amount of the credit is equal to 30 percent of the value of the donated edible agricultural products, but not to exceed  $5,000 during a taxable year or the total amount of tax imposed by §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, whichever is less, in the year of donations.

(c) If the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s tax liability for the taxable year, the amount which exceeds the tax liability may be carried over and applied as a credit against the tax liability of the taxpayer pursuant to §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code to each of the next four taxable years unless sooner used.

(d) No more than $200,000 of tax credits may be allocated by the department in any fiscal year. The department shall allocate the tax credits in the order the donation forms are received.

(e)  It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section during the regular session of the Legislature, 2022, that the amendments be applied retroactively to apply to any donations of qualifying edible agricultural products to one or more nonprofit food programs in this state made on or after January 1, 2022.

chapter 19. agriculture.

ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.


§19-1-4a. Commissioner authorized to accept gifts, etc., and enter into cooperative agreements.

Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the Commissioner of Agriculture is hereby empowered and he or she shall have authority to accept and receive donations, gifts, contributions, grants, and appropriations of money, services, materials, real estate, or other things of value from the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Food and Drug Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, any other agency of the United States government, or any of their divisions or bureaus, and he or she shall have authority to use, utilize, develop, or expend such money, services, material, or other contributions in conformity with the conditions and provisions set forth in such grants, appropriations, or donations.

The commissioner may accept and receive donations, gifts, contributions, and grants of money, services, materials, real estate, and other things of value from individuals, partnerships, associations, or corporations, and he or she shall have authority to utilize such contributions to encourage, promote, and develop the agricultural interests or industries of the state.

The commissioner is hereby empowered, and he or she shall have authority to enter into agreements with any department of state government for the purpose of carrying out any regulatory laws where or when any related functions or duties exist. He or she shall also have authority to enter into agreements with any city council or county commission of the State of West Virginia, for carrying out the provisions of the agricultural laws over which he or she has enforcement authority.


§19-1-10. Requirement for social security number on applications.

[Repealed.]

§19-1-11. Rural Rehabilitation Loan Program.


(a) The Rural Rehabilitation Loan Program is an important tool for the Department of Agriculture to promote investment in the agricultural industry in the state. Rules are needed for the loan program to remain viable.

(b) The commissioner shall propose emergency and legislative rules for approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code. The rules shall, at a minimum:

(1) Establish minimum requirements and qualifications for the loan committee, including the addition of public members who have agricultural or business loan experience;

(2) Prohibit department employees and loan committee members, and their immediate family members, from receiving program loans;

(3) Establish minimum financial requirements for receiving a program loan;

(4) Require loans to be used for agricultural or related purposes;

(5) Require collateral sufficient to secure the loan;

(6) Establish policies for the application, applicable interest rates, delinquencies, refinancing, collection proceedings, collateral requirements, and other aspects of the loan program;

(7) Require the department to advertise the loan program to the public, including information on the department’s website and in the department’s market bulletin; and

(8) Transfer the servicing of the program loans to a financial institution via competitive bid or to the State Treasurer’s office or other governmental entity.

(c) The commissioner shall not be required to utilize the services of the state agency for surplus property for the disposition of items purchased by participants in the loan program and subsequently repossessed by the committee to be sold in order to satisfy the balance of an outstanding loan.

§19-1-13. Annual reporting to the Legislature.


On or before January 31 of each year, the commissioner shall file a report with the President of the State Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance detailing the activities of the department, including all boards and commissions under the commissioner’s authority, during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall include all donations, gifts, contributions, grants, and appropriations of money, services, materials, real estate, or other things of value accepted and received by the department. A copy of the commissioner’s annual report shall also be provided to the Division of Archives and History to be kept as a permanent record of the state.


article 9. Diseases among domestic animals.

§19-9-7a. Animal disease traceability; rulemaking; exemption.


West Virginia shall be a participating state in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Traceability program. The commissioner may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code governing the collection of farm premises and animal identification data.

The premises and animal identification data collected by the commissioner in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Disease Traceability program are specifically exempt from disclosure under the provisions of §29B-1-1 et seq. of this code.

article 12E. industrial hemp development act.

§19-12E-4. Industrial hemp authorized as agricultural crop; license required.


(a) Industrial hemp is considered an agricultural crop in this state if grown for the purposes authorized by the provisions of this article. Upon meeting the requirements of §19-12E-5 of this code, an individual in this state may plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, sell, or buy industrial hemp.

(b) A person shall not cultivate, handle, or process industrial hemp in this state unless the person holds an industrial hemp license issued by this state.

§19-12E-5. Industrial hemp; licensing.


(a) A person growing industrial hemp shall apply to the commissioner for a license on a form prescribed by the commissioner.

(b) The application for a license must include the name and address of the applicant and the legal description and global positioning coordinates of the land area to be used to produce industrial hemp.

(c) The commissioner shall require each first-time applicant and may establish requirements for other persons involved with the industrial hemp program, to submit to a state and national criminal history record check. The criminal history record check shall be based on fingerprints submitted to the State Police or its assigned agent for forwarding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(1) The applicant shall meet all requirements necessary to accomplish the state and national criminal history record check, including:

(A) Submitting fingerprints; and

(B) Authorizing the board, the State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use all records submitted and produced for the purpose of screening the applicant for a license.

(2) The results of the state and national criminal history record check may not be released to or by a private entity except:

(A) To the individual who is the subject of the criminal history record check;

(B) With the written authorization of the individual who is the subject of the criminal history record check; or

(C) Pursuant to a court order.

(3) The criminal history record check and related records are not public records for the purposes of §29B-1-1 et seq. of this code.

(4) The applicant shall pay the actual costs of the fingerprinting and criminal history record check.

(d) If the applicant has completed the application process to the satisfaction of the commissioner, the commissioner shall issue the license, which is valid until December 31 of the year of application: Provided, That an individual applying to renew a current license may continue to operate under an existing license, as long as his or her completed renewal application has been submitted to the department on or before the deadline established by the department.

 (e) Any person seeking to grow, cultivate, or process industrial hemp shall provide to the department prior written consent allowing the department, State Police, and other state and local law-enforcement agencies to enter onto all premises where industrial hemp is grown, cultivated, processed, or stored to conduct physical inspections or otherwise ensure compliance with the requirements of this code and the legislative rules promulgated pursuant to this code.

(f) In the alternative, the commissioner may choose to recognize industrial hemp grower licenses issued by the United States Department of Agriculture.

 (g) Sale of industrial hemp products —

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of the code to the contrary, a person need not obtain a license to possess, handle, transport, or sell hemp products or extracts, including those containing one or more hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD.

(2) Hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD, are not controlled substances or adulterants.

(3) Products containing one or more hemp-derived cannabinoids, such as CBD, intended for ingestion are to be considered foods, not controlled substances or adulterated products.

(4) Applicable state agencies shall make available any and all customary registrations to the processors and manufacturers of hemp products.

(5) Retail sales of hemp products may be conducted when the products and the hemp used in the products were grown and cultivated legally in another state or jurisdiction and meet the same or substantially the same requirements for processing hemp products or growing hemp under this article and rules promulgated under §19-2E-7 of this code.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, derivatives of hemp, including hemp-derived cannabidiol, may be added to cosmetics, personal care products, and products intended for animal or human consumption, and the addition is not considered an adulteration of the products.

(7) Hemp and hemp products may be legally transported across state lines, and exported to foreign nations, consistent with U.S. federal law and laws of respective foreign nations.

ARTICLE 15. WEST VIRGINIA FERTILIZER LAW.

§19-15-11. Publications.


[Repealed.]


ARTICLE 15A. WEST VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL LIMING MATERIALS LAW.

§19-15A-4. Inspection fee; report of tonnage; annual report.

(a) Each sales invoice prepared in normal course of business by either a registrant or distributor shall reflect the amount of the inspection fee and the name of the payor.

(b) Within 30 days following June 30 and December 31, of each year, each registrant and distributor shall submit on a form furnished by the commissioner a summary of tons of each agricultural liming material sold or distributed by each registrant and distributor in the state during the previous six months’ period. The report of tonnage shall be accompanied by payment of an inspection fee as established by legislative rule. If the tonnage, or portion thereof, has been paid by another person, documentation by invoice must accompany such report. The semiannual payment and late fee shall be established by legislative rule.

ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA SEED LAW.

§19-16-6. Duties and authority of Commissioner of Agriculture.


The commissioner may:

(a) Establish by legislative rule germination standards for agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub, or flower seeds;

(b) Enter and inspect, during reasonable hours, any location where agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub, or flower seeds, or seed potatoes for sowing purposes are manufactured, distributed, transported, or used, and where records relating to the manufacture, distribution, shipment, labeling, or sale of seed are kept. This inspection shall include, but is not limited to, examining, photographing, verifying, copying, and auditing records as is necessary to determine compliance with this article, labels, consumer complaints, and papers relating to the manufacturing, distribution, sampling, testing, and sale of agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub seeds, or seed potatoes;

(c) Open, examine, sample, and test agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub, or flower seed, or seed potatoes, equipment, containers, transport containers, and packages used or intended to be used in the manufacture and distribution of seeds used for sowing purposes;

(d) Issue certificates of registration pursuant to this article;

(e) Refuse applications for registration, or suspend or revoke registrations as provided in this article;

(f) Issue “stop sale or embargo” orders as provided in this article;

(g) Condemn and confiscate any agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub, or flower seed, or seed potato that is not brought into compliance with this article;

(h) Collect fees and penalties and expend moneys under the terms of this article;

(i) Conduct sampling in accordance with the official methods as established by the Association of American Seed Control Officials, the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Association of Official Seed Analysts;

(j) Conduct hearings as provided by this article;

(k) Assess civil penalties and refer violations to a court of competent jurisdiction;

(l) Obtain court orders directing any person refusing to submit to inspection, sampling, and auditing to submit;

(m) Establish and maintain seed testing facilities, establish reasonable fees for the tests, incur expenses, and conduct tests in accordance with the Association of Official Seed Analysts;

(n) Be guided by the analytical results of the official sample when determining whether the agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub, or flower seed is deficient in any component;

(o) Report the analytical results on all official deficient samples to the registrant, dealer, purchaser if known, and or the distributor;

(p) Upon request made within 30 days from the date the official sample results are reported, furnish a portion of the official sample to the registrant;

(q) Cooperate with and enter into agreements with governmental agencies of this state and other states, agencies of the federal government and foreign governments, and private associations in order to carry out the purpose and provisions of this article;

 (r) Establish fees by legislative rule;

 (s) Propose rules for promulgation, in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code;

 (t) Promulgate emergency rules within 90 days of the passage of this bill into law; and

 (u) Inspect and approve seed conditioning facilities in the state, issue permits, and establish fees.


article 16a. west virginia pesticide control act.

§19-16A-21. Violations.

It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute, sell or offer for sale, use or offer to use:

(1) Product registration. — (A) Any pesticide which is not registered pursuant to the provisions of this article, or any pesticide if any of the claims made for it or any of the directions for its use differ in substance from the representation made in connection with its registration, or if the composition of a pesticide differs from its composition as represented in connection with its registration, in the discretion of the commissioner, a change in the labeling or formula of a pesticide may be made, within a registration period, without requiring registration of the product, however, changes are not permissible if they lower the efficiency of the product.

(B) Any pesticide sold, offered for sale, or offered for use which is not in the registrant’s or the manufacturer’s unbroken container and to which there is not affixed a label, visible to the public, bearing the following information:

(i) The name and address of the manufacturer, registrant, or person for whom manufactured;

(ii) The name, brand, or trademark under which the pesticide is sold; and

(iii) The net weight or measure of the content, subject to such reasonable variation as the commissioner may permit.

(C) Any pesticide which contains any substance or substances in quantities highly toxic to humans, unless the label bears, in addition to any other matter required by this article:

(i) A skull and crossbones;

(ii) The word "poison" prominently in red, on a background of distinctly contrasting color; and

(iii) A statement of an antidote for the pesticide.

(D) The pesticides commonly known as lead arsenate, basic lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, magnesium arsenate, zinc arsenate, sodium fluoride, sodium fluosilicate, and barium fluosilicate unless they have been distinctly colored or discolored as provided by rules issued in accordance with this article, or any other white powder pesticide which the commissioner, after investigation of and after public hearing on the necessity for such action for the protection of the public health and the feasibility of coloration or discoloration, by rules, requires to be distinctly colored or discolored, unless it has been so colored or discolored. The commissioner may exempt any pesticide to the extent that it is intended for a particular use or uses from the coloring or discoloring required or authorized by this subsection if he or she determines that such coloring or discoloring for such use or uses is not necessary for the protection of the public health.

(E) Any pesticide which is adulterated or misbranded, or any device which is misbranded.

(F) Any pesticide that is subject of a stop sale, use, or removal order provided for hereinafter in this article until such time as the provisions of that section hereafter have been met.

(2) Business/applicator violations. — In addition to imposing civil penalties or referring certain violations for criminal prosecution the commissioner may, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, deny, suspend, modify, or revoke a license issued under this article, if he or she finds that the applicant, or licensee, or his or her employee has committed any of the following acts, each of which is declared to be a violation:

(A) Made false or fraudulent claims through any media, misrepresenting the effect of materials or methods to be utilized or sold;

(B) Used or caused to be used any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling or rules of the commissioner: Provided, That such deviation may include provisions set forth in section 2(ee) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.), as the same is in effect on the effective date of this article, disposed of containers or unused portions of pesticide inconsistent with label directions or the rules of the commissioner in the absence of label directions if those rules further restrict such disposal;

(C) Acted in a manner to exhibit negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in acting as a pesticide business;

(D) Made false or fraudulent records, invoices, or reports;

(E) Failed or refused to submit records required by the commissioner;

(F) Used fraud or misrepresentation, or presented false information in making application for a license or renewal of a license, or in selling or offering to sell pesticides;

(G) Stored or disposed of containers or pesticides by means other than those prescribed on the label or adopted rules;

(H) Provided or made available any restricted use pesticide to any person not certified under the provisions of this article or rules issued hereunder;

(I) Made application of any pesticide in a negligent manner;

(J) Neglected or, after notice, refused to comply with the provisions of this article, the rules adopted hereunder or of any lawful order of the commissioner;

(K) Refused or neglected to keep and maintain records or reports required under the provisions of this article or required pursuant to rules adopted under the provisions of this article or refused to furnish or permit access for copying by the commissioner any such records or reports;

(L) Used or caused to be used any pesticide classified for restricted use on any property unless by or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;

(M) Made false or misleading statements during or after an inspection concerning any infestation of pests found on land;

(N) Refused or neglected to comply with any limitations or restrictions on or in a duly issued certification;

(O) Aided, abetted, or conspired with any person to violate the provisions of this article, or permitted one’s certification or registration to be used by another person;

(P) Impersonated any federal, state, county, or city inspector or official;

(Q) Made any statement, declaration, or representation through any media implying that any person certified or registered under the provisions of this article is recommended or endorsed by any agency of this state;

(R) Disposed of containers or unused portions of pesticide inconsistent with label directions or the rules of the commissioner in the absence of label directions if those rules further restrict such disposal;

(S) Detach, alter, deface, or destroy, in whole or in part, any label or labeling provided for in this article or the rules promulgated under the provisions of this article;

(T) Refuse, upon a request in writing specifying the nature or kind of pesticide or device to which such request relates, to furnish to or permit any person designated by the commissioner to have access to and to copy such records of business transactions as may be essential in carrying out the purposes of this article; or

(U) Violated or been convicted or is subject to a final order assessing a penalty pursuant to §14(a) or (b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.).

ARTICLE 20C. WEST VIRGINIA SPAY NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

§19-20C-3. Rulemaking; annual report.


(a) The commissioner shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this article.

(b) Rules promulgated under this section shall, at a minimum:

(1) Identify the types of nonprofit organizations and programs that qualify for spay neuter grants;

(2) Establish parameters for spay neuter grants;

(3) Establish procedures and requirements for grant applications; and

(4) Establish administration, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for nonprofit organizations and programs that receive spay neuter grants.

Article 36. agritourism responsibility act.


§19-36-5. Maintenance of property status for certain purposes; exceptions.


(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the occurrence of agritourism does not change the nature or use of property that otherwise qualifies as agricultural for building code, zoning, or property tax classification purposes.

(b) An agritourism business may use certain of its facilities for occasional events without complying with building and fire codes applicable to structures used for such purposes on a full-time basis if such facilities are deemed structurally sound and otherwise safe for the intended use.


 

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