HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1708        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 751

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Stephen Kulik

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the milk producer's security fund reimbursement.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Stephen Kulik

1st Franklin

1/17/2013

Keiko M. Orrall

12th Bristol

 

Peter V. Kocot

1st Hampshire

 

Sarah K. Peake

4th Barnstable

 

Christopher M. Markey

9th Bristol

 

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

 

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

1/29/2013

Matthew A. Beaton

11th Worcester

1/31/2013

Nicholas A. Boldyga

3rd Hampden

1/30/2013

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/31/2013

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

1/30/2013

Anne M. Gobi

5th Worcester

1/25/2013

Kenneth I. Gordon

21st Middlesex

1/31/2013

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

2/1/2013

Donald Humason

 

1/28/2013

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/29/2013

Michael R. Knapik

Second Hampden and Hampshire

1/31/2013

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Paul A. Schmid, III

8th Bristol

1/28/2013

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

1/30/2013

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/1/2013

William Smitty Pignatelli

4th Berkshire

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1708        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 751

By Mr. Kulik of Worthington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 751) of Stephen Kulik and others relative to the Milk Producers Security Fund reimbursement.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 240 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act relative to the milk producer's security fund reimbursement.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 13B of chapter 128 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting before the word “the”, in line 1, the following word:- (a).

SECTION 2. Said section 13B of said chapter 128, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-

(b) The commissioner may suspend collection of payments made pursuant to the previous paragraph from time to time as he determines to be in the best interests of the producers affected by this section and section 13A; provided, however, that the balance of the fund shall not be less than $1,000,000; and provided further, that the commissioner shall consider the quantity of milk covered by the fund and the current price levels for milk when making his determination. The commissioner shall provide 30 days’ written notice of any suspension or reinstatement of payments into the fund to the house and senate committees on ways and means and to all dealers and producers affected.

(c)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 13A to the contrary, a milk producer who pays into the fund pursuant to subsection (a) may, after application approved by the commissioner, be reimbursed up to an amount equal to the monies paid by the applicant into the fund minus any funds previously distributed to said applicant plus a pro rata share of the interest earned by the fund. The commissioner shall establish criteria for the approval of such applications that shall include, but shall not be limited to, whether the milk producer continues to produce milk, whether the milk producer has joined a cooperative association and other criteria the commissioner may deem relevant.  The commissioner shall not authorize a reimbursement if payment thereof would result in the balance of the fund falling below $1,000,000.  Upon approval of said application, the commissioner shall certify the amounts determined to be due thereon, and transmit the same for payment to the state treasurer under section 48 of chapter 10.

SECTION 3.  The commissioner of the department of agricultural resources shall establish guidelines for the implementation of sections 13A and 13B of chapter 128 of the General Laws.