Senate Bill 275

Chair's Name: Tom McCall

Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Senate Sponsor: John Bulloch

SB 275 adds a new code section dealing with the Department of Agriculture stating: �For purposes of establishing any criminal violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner as provided in this title, Title 4, Title 10, or Title 26, the term 'rules,' 'regulations,' or 'rules and regulations' shall mean those rules and regulations of the Commissioner in force and effect on January 1, 2007."

This bill 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 of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill will add a new code titled �2-2-9.2� to Chapter 2 of Title 2 in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The bill updates the rules and regulations for criminal violations within the Department of Agriculture. By adding a date for January 1, 2007, the rules and regulations pertaining to criminal violations will limit the possibility of loop holes in the current code section.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

It updates the authority of the Agriculture Commissioner and the Department.