AB230: Bill Text

This draft makes numerous changes in the laws regulating grain dealers and grain warehouse keepers. A grain dealer buys grain from and sells grain for growers. A grain warehouse keeper stores grain for growers and others. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (DATCP) administers the laws regulating grain dealers and warehouse keepers.

Under current law, certain large grain dealers (Class A grain dealers) must file annual financial statements with DATCP. If a Class A grain dealer fails to meet specified financial standards, the Class A grain dealer must file security with DATCP for the benefit of growers.

Under this bill, Class B (smaller) grain dealers who use contracts under which growers are not paid for grain within a week after receipt of the grain are required to file annual financial statements. If these grain dealers do not meet minimum financial standards, the bill requires them to file security with DATCP for the protection of growers.

The bill strengthens current financial standards applicable to grain dealers. The bill also changes the manner of calculating the amount of security that a grain dealer that does not meet financial standards must file and eliminates the current $500,000 cap on the amount of security that a grain dealer is required to file.

Under current law, a warehouse keeper that does not meet specified financial standards must file security with DATCP for the benefit of depositors. This bill eliminates the current $500,000 cap on the amount of security that such a warehouse keeper is required to file.

This bill requires warehouse keepers to make disclosures concerning insurance coverage to their depositors.

This bill requires a grain dealer who purchases grain under a contract under which the grower is not paid within a week of the grain dealer receiving the grain to pay the grower no more than 180 days after the day on which the price of the grain is established.

Under current law, most grain dealers and warehouse keepers are required to register with DATCP. This bill changes the registration requirement to a licensing requirement. The bill reduces the annual fee that must be paid by certain small grain dealers.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB230, s. 1 Section 1. 20.115 (1) (jm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,3,6 20.115 (1) (jm) Warehouse keeper and grain dealer regulation. All moneys received from the warehouse keeper registration license and inspection fees and surcharges under s. 127.02 (3) and from the grain dealer registration license fees and surcharges under s. 127.03 (3) for the administration and enforcement of the warehouse keepers and grain dealers security act program under ch. 127.

AB230, s. 2 Section 2. 127.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 127.01 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB230,3,9 127.01 (1) (intro.) "Affiliate" means any of the following:

AB230,3,11 (a) An officer, director, or partner, member or manager of a warehouse keeper or grain dealer, any.

AB230,3,13 (b) A firm or corporation owned or operated by an officer, director, or partner, member or manager of a warehouse keeper or grain dealer and any.

AB230,3,17 (c) A person acting who, as agent for a warehouse keeper or grain dealer, who is engaged in the business of buying buys or receives grain from, or contracting for the growing of grain by, a producer on behalf of or contracts with a producer to grow grain for delivery to a warehouse keeper or grain dealer.

AB230, s. 3 Section 3. 127.01 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,3,24 127.01 (1r) "Audited financial statement" means a financial statement on which an independent certified public accountant, or a an independent public accountant, who holds holding a certificate of authority under ch. 442, has expressed an opinion in accordance with according to generally accepted accounting principles and has conducted an audit in accordance with according to generally accepted auditing standards.

AB230, s. 4 Section 4. 127.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,4,3 127.01 (4) "Cash payment" means payment in the form of currency, certified check, money order, barter, or advance money transfer arrangement with a bank which is evidenced in writing or irrevocable letter of credit.

AB230, s. 5 Section 5. 127.01 (5d) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,4,7 127.01 (5d) "Class A grain dealer" means a person, other than an exempt grain dealer, a Class B grain dealer, a Class B2 grain dealer or a Class C grain dealer, who does any of the following:

AB230,4,9 (a) Buys grain from producers for resale or for introduction into commercial channels.

AB230,4,10 (b) Sells, on behalf of producers, grain received from those producers.

AB230,4,13 (c) A person who is a feeder of livestock or poultry or who operates a feed mill or other manufacturing facility if the person spends $400,000 or more during that person's fiscal year to buy grain from producers.

AB230, s. 6 Section 6. 127.01 (5p) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,4,19 127.01 (5p) "Class B grain dealer" means a person that, other than a Class B2 grain dealer, who buys grain from producers only in connection with or incidental to the operation of a feed mill or other manufacturing operation and that expends facility operated by that person and who spends less than $400,000 annually for the purchase of during that person's fiscal year to buy grain from producers.

AB230, s. 7 Section 7. 127.01 (5r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB230,4,25 127.01 (5r) "Class B2 grain dealer" means a person who buys grain from producers only in connection with the operation of a feed mill or other manufacturing facility operated by that person, who spends less than $50,000 during that person's fiscal year to buy grain from producers and who does not buy any grain under a deferred payment contract or a deferred price contract.

AB230, s. 8 Section 8. 127.01 (5t) of the statutes is renumbered 127.01 (5t) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB230,5,7 127.01 (5t) (intro.) "Class C grain dealer" means a feeder of livestock or poultry, or a producer that expends less than $400,000 annually for the purchase of who buys grain from producers solely for his or her own use as a feed or seed or a producer that is engaged solely in selling grain that he or she has produced. " Class C grain dealer" does not include a person who does any of the following:

AB230, s. 9 Section 9. 127.01 (5t) (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:

AB230,5,10 127.01 (5t) (a) Spends at least $400,000 during that person's fiscal year to buy grain from producers.

AB230,5,11 (b) Sells grain other than grain that the person produced.

AB230, s. 10 Section 10. 127.01 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,5,15 127.01 (6) "Current assets" means cash and assets , including trade or investment items, that may can be readily converted into cash in the ordinary course of business within one year after the date of the balance sheet.

AB230, s. 11 Section 11. 127.01 (8) and (9) of the statutes are repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,5,20 127.01 (8) "Deferred payment contract" means a contract for the sale of grain from a producer to a grain dealer under which the grain dealer takes custody of the grain more than 7 calendar days before paying the producer in full for the grain.

AB230,5,24 (9) "Deferred price contract" means a contract for the sale of grain from a producer to a grain dealer under which the grain dealer takes custody of the grain before the grain dealer and the producer agree on the price that the grain dealer will pay for the grain.

AB230, s. 12 Section 12. 127.01 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,6,1 127.01 (11) "Depositor" means any of the following:

AB230,6,3 (a) A person who delivers grain to a warehouse keeper for storage, conditioning, shipping, or handling or eventual sale.

AB230,6,8 (b) An owner or legal holder of A person who owns or legally holds a scale ticket, warehouse receipt or other document that is issued by a warehouse keeper for grain, who is lawfully entitled to possession or payment for the grain represented by the ticket, receipt or other document and that entitles that person to receive possession of that grain or its equivalent.

AB230, s. 13 Section 13. 127.01 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,6,11 127.01 (13) "Equity statement" means a report of the change in equity from the beginning to the end of the accounting period covered by the report.

AB230, s. 14 Section 14. 127.01 (13m) and (14) of the statutes are repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,6,16 127.01 (13m) "Exempt grain dealer" means a person who buys grain from producers and who makes full cash payment for all grain that the person receives from producers before taking custody of the grain.

AB230,6,22 (14) "Exempt warehouse keeper" means a warehouse keeper who has a total of less than 50,000 bushels of grain obligations to others, for all of the warehouse keeper's warehouses, at any time during a license year. "Exempt warehouse keeper" does not include a warehouse keeper who represents to any person that the warehouse keeper is bonded or has filed security with the department for the benefit of depositors.

AB230, s. 15 Section 15. 127.01 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,6,25 127.01 (15) "Federal act" means the federal warehouse act under 7 USC 241 to 271, in effect on September 1, 1985.

AB230, s. 16 Section 16. 127.01 (16) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,7,3 127.01 (16) "Financial statement" means a financial statement that meets the requirements under s. 127.06 (2) complies with s. 127.06.

AB230, s. 17 Section 17. 127.01 (18) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,7,9 127.01 (18) "Grain" means corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, sorghum, flaxseed, milo, sunflower seed and mixed grain as defined in the federal grain standards act of 1916 (,7 USC 71 et. seq.) as amended on July 1, 1980. The term to 87k. "Grain" does not include canning crops for processing or grain used or intended for use solely for sowing planting purposes.

AB230, s. 18 Section 18. 127.01 (19) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,7,13 127.01 (19) (intro.)  "Grain dealer" means a Class A grain dealer, Class B grain dealer, Class B2 grain dealer, Class C grain dealer or exempt grain dealer. "Grain dealer" does not include any of the following:

AB230, s. 19 Section 19. 127.01 (21) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,7,16 127.01 (21) "Income statement" means a report of the financial results of business operations for a specific the accounting period covered by the report.

AB230, s. 20 Section 20. 127.01 (22) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,7,19 127.01 (22) "Interim statement" means a financial statement prepared on a date other than the end of for a period shorter than a fiscal year.

AB230, s. 21 Section 21. 127.01 (25) of the statutes is renumbered 127.01 (25) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB230,7,24 127.01 (25) (intro.) "Producer" means an a person who is not a Class A grain dealer, a Class B grain dealer, a Class B2 grain dealer or an exempt grain dealer and who is one of the following:

AB230,8,2 (a) An owner, tenant or operator of land who is engaged in the growing and production of producing grain on the land in this state.

AB230, s. 22 Section 22. 127.01 (25) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB230,8,6 127.01 (25) (b) An owner, tenant or operator of land who is engaged in growing and producing grain on land outside of this state and who sells that grain to a grain dealer in this state or deposits that grain with a warehouse keeper in this state.

AB230, s. 23 Section 23. 127.01 (25m) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,8,10 127.01 (25m) "Reviewed financial statement" means a financial statement, other than an audited financial statement, that meets all of the following requirements:

AB230,8,12 (a) The grain dealer or warehouse keeper attests in writing, under oath, that the financial statement is accurate.

AB230,8,15 (b) The financial statement is reviewed according to generally accepted accounting principles by an independent certified public accountant or an independent public accountant who holds a certificate of authority under ch. 442.

AB230, s. 24 Section 24. 127.01 (26) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,8,20 127.01 (26) "Statement of cash flows" means a report of cash receipts and cash disbursements from operating, investing and financing activities, including an explanation of changes in cash and cash equivalents for the accounting period covered by the report.

AB230, s. 25 Section 25. 127.01 (28) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB230,8,24 127.01 (28) "Warehouse" means any building, bin or storage facility used for receiving, storing, conditioning, shipping or handling grain. This term "Warehouse" does not include transport vehicles or facilities used for on-farm drying of grain.

AB230, s. 26 Section 26. 127.02 (title), (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB230,9,2 127.02 (title) Registration requirement for warehouse keepers; Warehouse keepers' licenses and fees.

AB230,9,8 (1) Requirement, exception. No person may act as a warehouse keeper unless the person obtains holds an annual warehouse keeper's certificate of registration license issued by the department. The requirements of this section do not apply to, except that an exempt warehouse keeper unless the warehouse keeper holds himself or herself out as a bonded or registered warehouse keeper is not required to hold a license.

AB230,9,13 (2) Application. An application for an annual warehouse keeper's certificate of registration license shall be filed on a form prescribed by the department. The application shall include information reasonably required by the department for registration licensing purposes. An application shall be accompanied by all applicable fees and surcharges under sub. (3).

AB230, s. 27 Section 27. 127.02 (3) (a) and (am) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB230,9,18 127.02 (3) (a) (title) Registration License fees. The fee for an annual warehouse keeper's certificate of registration license is $50. A warehouse keeper maintaining more than one business location in this state shall pay an additional registration license fee of $25 for each additional location.

AB230,9,25 (am) (title) Registration License fee surcharge. An applicant for an annual warehouse keeper's certificate of registration license shall pay a registration license fee surcharge of $500 if the department determines that, within 365 days prior to submitting an application for a warehouse keeper's certificate of registration license, the applicant acted as a warehouse keeper without a certificate of registration license in violation of sub. (1). Payment of the registration license fee surcharge does not relieve the applicant of other civil or criminal liability that may result from acting as a warehouse keeper without a certificate of registration license, but does not constitute evidence of a violation of law.

AB230, s. 28 Section 28. 127.02 (3) (b) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB230,10,5 127.02 (3) (b) (title) Basic inspection fee.

AB230, s. 29 Section 29. 127.02 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 127.02 (3) (b), and 127.02 (3) (b) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB230,10,11 127.02 (3) (b) (intro.) A warehouse keeper shall pay an annual inspection fee to the department based on the combined storage capacity of all of the warehouse keeper's warehouses in this state. The inspection fee is, if the combined storage capacity is:

AB230, s. 30 Section 30. 127.02 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 127.02 (3) (bm) and amended to read:

AB230,10,17 127.02 (3) (bm) (title) Supplementary inspection fee. In addition to the inspection fee specified under subd. 1. par. (b), a warehouse keeper shall annually pay to the department an inspection fee of $100 for each business warehouse location other than the warehouse keeper's principal business warehouse location.

AB230, s. 31 Section 31. 127.02 (3m), (4) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read: