AB717: Bill Text

AB717,13,19 126.19 (4) (a) A grain dealer may not enter into a deferred payment contract with a grain producer or producer agent unless the deferred payment contract clearly discloses that it is not a storage contract. Whenever a grain dealer buys grain from a grain producer under a deferred payment contract, the grain dealer shall include includes the following statement in capitalized, boldface clear and conspicuous print immediately above the contract signature line: "This is not a storage contract. The grain dealer (buyer) becomes the owner of any grain that the producer or producer agent (seller) delivers to the grain dealer under this contract. The producer or producer agent relinquishes ownership and control of the grain, and becomes may become an unsecured creditor pending payment."

AB717, s. 37 Section 37. 126.19 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,14,2 126.19 (4) (b) A grain dealer may not enter into a deferred payment contract under which a grain producer or producer agent agrees to receive payment for grain more than 120 days after delivering the grain to the grain dealer unless the deferred payment contract clearly and conspicuously discloses that if the grain dealer defaults on payment under the deferred payment contract, any claim filed by the producer or producer agent with the department under s. 126.70 will be disallowed. The department may by rule or order specify the form and content of the disclosure.

AB717, s. 38 Section 38. 126.20 (4) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB717,14,5 126.20 (4) Prohibited practices. (intro.) No grain dealer, or officer, employee, or agent of a grain dealer, may do any of the following:

AB717,14,7 (a) Misrepresent the weight, grade, or quality of producer grain received from or delivered to any person.

AB717, s. 39 Section 39. 126.20 (4) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,14,10 126.20 (4) (g) Assault, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise interfere with an officer, employee, or agent of the department in the performance of his or her duties.

AB717, s. 40 Section 40. 126.26 (3) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB717,14,14 126.26 (3) License fees and surcharges. (intro.) A person applying for a grain warehouse keeper license shall pay the following fees and surcharges , unless in the amounts that the department specifies a different fee or surcharge amount by rule:

AB717,14,20 (a) A nonrefundable basic license processing fee of $25 plus $25 for each grain warehouse identified under sub. (2) (d). If a grain warehouse keeper operates 2 or more grain warehouses located within 0.5 mile of each other, the grain warehouse keeper may treat those grain warehouses as a single grain warehouse for purposes of this paragraph and par. (c) fee, which may be based on the number of grain warehouses that the applicant operates.

AB717, s. 41 Section 41. 126.26 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB717,14,23 126.26 (3) (b) A grain warehouse inspection fee, which may be based on the number and sizes of the grain warehouses that the applicant operates.

AB717, s. 42 Section 42. 126.26 (3) (c) to (f) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB717,15,2 126.26 (3) (c) A supplementary inspection fee of $275 for each grain warehouse that the applicant operates in excess of one grain warehouse.

AB717,15,7 (d) A license surcharge of $500 if the department determines that, within 365 days before submitting the license application, the applicant operated as a grain warehouse keeper without a license in violation of sub. (1). The applicant shall also pay any license fees, license surcharges, and fund assessments that are still due for the license year in which the applicant violated sub. (1).

AB717,15,10 (e) A license surcharge of $100 if during the preceding 12 months the applicant failed to file an annual financial statement required under s. 126.28 (1) (b) by the applicable deadline.

AB717,15,12 (f) A license surcharge of $100 if a renewal applicant fails to renew a license by the license expiration date of August 31.

AB717, s. 43 Section 43. 126.26 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,15,17 126.26 (3m) Effect of payment of surcharge. Payment of a license surcharge under sub. (3) (d) does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability that results from the violation of sub. (1), but does not constitute evidence of any law violation.

AB717, s. 44 Section 44. 126.26 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,16,2 126.26 (5) Fee credit. If the fund balance contributed by grain warehouse keepers exceeds $300,000 on June 30 May 31 of any license year, the department shall credit 12.5% of the excess amount against grain warehouse inspection fees charged under sub. (3) (b) to contributing grain warehouse keepers who file timely license renewal applications for the next license year. The department shall credit each contributing grain warehouse keeper on a prorated basis, in proportion to the total inspection fees that the warehouse keeper has paid under sub. (3) (b) for the 4 preceding license years.

AB717, s. 45 Section 45. 126.28 (3) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB717,16,9 126.28 (3) Reviewed or audited financial statement. A grain warehouse keeper filing a financial statement under sub. (1) or (2) may file either a reviewed financial statement or an audited financial statement, except that if the grain warehouse keeper operates grain warehouses with a combined capacity of more than 1,500,000 bushels, the grain warehouse keeper shall file an audited financial statement.

AB717, s. 46 Section 46. 126.31 (1) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 126.31 (1) (b) 2. and amended to read:

AB717,16,17 126.31 (1) (b) 2. A grain warehouse keeper shall file security with the department, and maintain that security until the department releases it under sub. (8) (am), if the grain warehouse keeper files an annual financial statement under s. 126.28 (1) that shows negative equity, a current ratio of less than 1.25 to 1.0, or a debt to equity ratio of more than 4.0 to 1.0 and the grain warehouse keeper's estimated default exposure is greater than the following amount: $20,000,000.

AB717, s. 47 Section 47. 126.31 (1) (b) 2. a. to c. of the statutes are repealed.

AB717, s. 48 Section 48. 126.31 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB717, s. 49 Section 49. 126.31 (3) (b) (intro.) and 3. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 126.31 (3) (b) and amended to read:

AB717,17,2 126.31 (3) (b) A grain warehouse keeper who is only required to file or maintain security only under sub. (1) (b) shall at all times maintain security equal to the grain warehouse keeper's estimated default exposure, as defined in sub. (1) (b) 1., less the following amount: 3. For a license year that begins on September 1, 2005, or later, $20,000,000.

AB717, s. 50 Section 50. 126.31 (3) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are repealed.

AB717, s. 51 Section 51. 126.31 (4) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB717, s. 52 Section 52. 126.31 (8) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB717, s. 53 Section 53. 126.32 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 126.32 (5) (a) and amended to read:

AB717,17,10 126.32 (5) (a) A grain warehouse keeper shall retain all of the following records required under this section and s. 126.33 (3) for at least 6 years from the date of their creation:.

AB717, s. 54 Section 54. 126.32 (5) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes are repealed.

AB717, s. 55 Section 55. 126.34 (5) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB717,17,14 126.34 (5) Prohibited practices. (intro.) No grain warehouse keeper, or officer, employee, or agent of a grain warehouse keeper, may do any of the following:

AB717,17,16 (a) Misrepresent the weight, grade, or quality of depositor grain received from or delivered to any person.

AB717, s. 56 Section 56. 126.34 (5) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,17,19 126.34 (5) (g) Assault, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise interfere with an officer, employee, or agent of the department in the performance of his or her duties.

AB717, s. 57 Section 57. 126.40 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 126.40 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB717,18,2 126.40 (1) (intro.) "Contributing milk contractor" means a milk contractor who is licensed under s. 126.41 (1), who either has paid one or more quarterly installments under s. 126.46 or is required to contribute to the fund, but the first quarterly installment under s. 126.46 (6) is not yet due, and who is has not been disqualified from the fund under s. 126.45 (3)., and who either:

AB717, s. 58 Section 58. 126.40 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:

AB717,18,4 126.40 (1) (a) Has paid one or more fund assessments under s. 126.46.

AB717,18,6 (b) Is required to contribute to the fund but the first fund assessment under s. 126.46 (6) is not yet due.

AB717, s. 59 Section 59. 126.41 (3) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB717,18,11 126.41 (3) Annual license fees and surcharges. (intro.) A milk contractor applying for a an annual license under sub. (1) shall include the following fees and surcharges with the license application, unless the department specifies a different fee or surcharge amount by rule:

AB717,18,13 (a) A nonrefundable basic license processing fee of $25, regardless of whether application is made after the beginning of a license year.

AB717, s. 60 Section 60. 126.41 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,18,20 126.41 (6) (a) The total milk payroll obligations that the applicant incurred during the applicant's last completed fiscal year, less the total amount reported under par. (br) 3., if any. If the applicant has not yet operated as a milk contractor in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total milk payroll obligations that the applicant will incur during the applicant's first complete fiscal year, less the total amount reported under par. (br) 3., if any.

AB717, s. 61 Section 61. 126.41 (6) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,18,22 126.41 (6) (b) (intro.) Either of the following amounts:

AB717, s. 62 Section 62. 126.41 (6) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 126.41 (6) (b) 1. and amended to read:

AB717,19,3 126.41 (6) (b) 1. The largest highest amount of unpaid milk payroll obligations that the milk contractor applicant had at any time during the milk contractor's applicant's last completed fiscal year.

AB717, s. 63 Section 63. 126.41 (6) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,19,7 126.41 (6) (b) 2. The highest amount of milk payroll obligations that the applicant incurred in any single month during the applicant's last completed fiscal year.

AB717, s. 64 Section 64. 126.41 (6) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,19,15 126.41 (6) (bg) The total amount in hundredweight of producer milk that the applicant procured in this state during the applicant's last completed fiscal year, less the total amount reported under par. (br) 2., if any. If the applicant has not yet operated as a milk contractor in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total amount in hundredweight of producer milk that the applicant will procure in this state during the applicant's first complete fiscal year, less the total amount reported under par. (br) 2., if any.

AB717, s. 65 Section 65. 126.41 (6) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,19,19 126.41 (6) (br) All of the following information related to each milk producer or producer agent that under s. 126.70 (1) (b) has permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the applicant:

AB717,19,21 1. A copy of the written waiver that the milk producer or producer agent filed under s. 126.70 (1) (c).

AB717,20,2 2. The total amount in hundredweight of producer milk that the applicant procured in this state from that milk producer or producer agent during the applicant's last completed fiscal year. If the applicant has not yet operated as a milk contractor in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total amount in hundredweight of producer milk that the applicant will procure in this state from that milk producer or producer agent during the applicant's first complete fiscal year.

AB717,20,9 3. The total milk payroll obligations that the applicant incurred during the applicant's last completed fiscal year for producer milk that the applicant procured from that milk producer or producer agent. If the applicant has not yet operated as a milk contractor in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total milk payroll obligations that the applicant will incur during the applicant's first complete fiscal year for producer milk that the applicant will procure from that milk producer or producer agent.

AB717, s. 66 Section 66. 126.41 (9) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB717,20,12 126.41 (9) A milk contractor who files and maintains security under s. 126.47 shall provide a monthly report to the department containing either of the following:

AB717,20,14 (a) The highest amount of the milk contractor's unpaid milk payroll obligations at any time during the preceding month.

AB717,20,16 (b) The total amount of milk payroll obligations that the milk contractor incurred during the preceding month.

AB717, s. 67 Section 67. 126.42 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,20,19 126.42 (6) Fee changes. The department may modify the license fees under sub. (1) by rule, as provided under s. 126.81 (2).

AB717, s. 68 Section 68. 126.44 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,20,24 126.44 (1) (a) A milk contractor shall file an annual financial statement with the department before the department first licenses the milk contractor under s. 126.41 (1), unless the milk contractor reports no more than $1,500,000 in annual milk payroll obligations 150,000 hundredweight of milk under s. 126.41 (6) (a) (bg).

AB717, s. 69 Section 69. 126.44 (1) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,21,3 126.44 (1) (c) 1. A contributing milk contractor who reports no more than $1,500,000 in annual milk payroll obligations 150,000 hundredweight of milk under s. 126.41 (6) (a) (bg).

AB717, s. 70 Section 70. 126.44 (5) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB717,21,9 126.44 (5) Reviewed or audited financial statement. A milk contractor filing a financial statement under sub. (1) or (2) may file either a reviewed financial statement or an audited financial statement, except that if the milk contractor reports more than 2,500,000 hundredweight of milk under s. 126.41 (6) (bg), the milk contractor shall file an audited financial statement.

AB717, s. 71 Section 71. 126.45 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,21,15 126.45 (3) (a) A milk contractor who is required to file security under s. 126.47 (1) (a) is disqualified from the fund until the department releases that security under s. 126.47 (7) (a). This paragraph does not apply, during the period beginning on May 1, 2002, and ending on April 30, 2007, to a qualified producer agent who files security under s. 126.47 (3) (a) 3.

AB717, s. 72 Section 72. 126.45 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 126.45 (3) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB717,21,19 126.45 (3) (b) (intro.) A milk contractor is disqualified from the fund if the department denies does any of the following:

AB717,21,20 1. Denies, suspends, or revokes the milk contractor's license.

AB717, s. 73 Section 73. 126.45 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,21,23 126.45 (3) (b) 2. Issues an order under s. 126.85 disqualifying the milk contractor from the fund.

AB717, s. 74 Section 74. 126.45 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB717, s. 75 Section 75. 126.45 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB717,22,5 126.45 (4) (a) A milk contractor disqualified under sub. (3) (c) (b) 2. may not engage in any activities for which a license is required under s. 126.41 (1) (a) if the milk contractor files an annual, quarterly, or interim financial statement under s. 126.44 that shows a current ratio of less than 1.25 to 1.0, a debt to equity ratio of more than 2.0 to 1.0, or negative equity.

AB717, s. 76 Section 76. 126.45 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB717,22,11 126.45 (5) Notice to producers. A milk contractor who is disqualified under sub. (3) shall immediately give written notice of the disqualification to all milk producers and producer agents to whom the milk contractor has unpaid milk payment obligations. The department may by rule or order specify the form and content of the notice.

AB717, s. 77 Section 77. 126.46 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 126.46 (1) and amended to read: