H. B. 4115
(By Delegates Douglas, Collins,
Stalnaker, Tucker and Capito)
[Originating in the Committee
on Government Organization]
[Introduced January 28, 1998]
A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article two-b, chapter
nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, continuing the meat
inspection division of the department of agriculture.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article two-b, chapter nineteen of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2B. INSPECTION OF MEAT AND POULTRY.
§19-2B-1. Purpose and construction; continuation of meat and poultry inspection program.
Subject to the provisions of section seven of this article,
the basic purpose of this article is to provide for the
inspection, labeling and disposition of animals, poultry,
carcasses, meat products and poultry products which are to be
sold or offered for sale through commercial outlets for human
consumption, the licensing of commercial slaughterers, custom
slaughterers and processors, and the inspection of slaughterhouses and processing plants located in the state of
West Virginia. This article, being intended to protect the
health of the citizens of West Virginia, shall be liberally
construed.
After having conducted a performance and fiscal audit
preliminary performance review through its joint committee on
government operations, pursuant to section nine article ten,
chapter four of this code, the Legislature hereby finds and
declares that the meat inspection program should be continued and
reestablished. Accordingly, notwithstanding the provisions of
section four article ten, chapter four of this code, the meat and
poultry inspection program shall continue to exist until the
first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight two
thousand four.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to continue the Meat
Inspection Division of the Department of Agriculture until July
1, 2004, pursuant to the provisions of the West Virginia Sunset
Law. A preliminary performance review was completed during the
1997 interim.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.
This bill is recommended by the Joint Committee on
Government Operations for passage during the 1998 Regular Session
of the Legislature.