1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to agriculture; establishing task force to 
  1.3             make recommendations on modifications to the 
  1.4             agricultural marketing and bargaining law. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING TASK 
  1.7   FORCE.] 
  1.8      (a) The commissioner of agriculture shall establish an 
  1.9   advisory task force to make recommendations on modifications to 
  1.10  the agricultural marketing and bargaining law under Minnesota 
  1.11  Statutes, sections 17.691 to 17.701.  The task force must 
  1.12  include recommendations on a system to resolve disputes between 
  1.13  an accredited grower's association and a canning processor. 
  1.14     (b) The advisory task force shall be composed of: 
  1.15     (1) two representatives of accredited agricultural producer 
  1.16  associations; 
  1.17     (2) one representative of a statewide farm organization; 
  1.18     (3) one representative of a statewide association 
  1.19  representing growers and processors; 
  1.20     (4) four representatives of the food processing industry; 
  1.21     (5) one representative of a potato growers association; 
  1.22     (6) one representative with education and experience in 
  1.23  mediation and arbitration; 
  1.24     (7) one representative of the department of trade and 
  1.25  economic development; 
  2.1      (8) one representative from a higher education institution 
  2.2   with education and experience in agricultural economics; and 
  2.3      (9) one representative of the commissioner of agriculture 
  2.4   who will chair the task force. 
  2.5      (c) The commissioner shall coordinate the meetings of the 
  2.6   advisory task force, provide staff support, and participate in 
  2.7   the advisory task force meetings.  Citizen members of the task 
  2.8   force may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota 
  2.9   Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6. 
  2.10     (d) The commissioner shall prepare and submit a written 
  2.11  report with recommendations for the legislature to the senate 
  2.12  committee on agriculture and rural development and the house 
  2.13  committee on agriculture by December 15, 1997. 
  2.14     (e) The task force expires June 30, 1998. 
  2.15     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.16     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.