House Bill 105

Chair's Name: Tom McCall

Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

House Sponsor: Gene Maddox

 HB 105 changes the fee structure where the administrative costs to the Department of Agriculture to collect certain fees were greater than the revenue generated by the fees.

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule.

Chairman McCall's opinion on this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

Due to administrative costs for collection of fees that exceed the amount collected for certain licenses required by the Department, this bill would give discretion to the Commissioner of Agriculture to charge reasonable license fees to offset the administrative costs to collect such fees. This would apply only to a rendering plant license, a poultry dealer, poultry broker, poultry market operator, or hatchery license.  Additionally, this bill removes code section 4-7-5 relating to sulfaguanidine and sulfathiazole since those antibiotics are no longer used to treat poultry.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

The license fees were not covering the administration cost because they were set by statute so low.

THIS LEGISLATION:

•     Reduces the Size of Government:

Does away with handling the fees.

•   Reduces the Tax Burden on our Citizens:

Less time required to administer programs

Senate Changes:

The Senate changed the original house language which let the commissioner set reasonable fees and eliminated the fees altogether. 

Further Action

The Senate ultimately receded from their amendments to the bill, leaving the bill as it was passed by the House.