AB891: Bill Text

MCP:kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 891

January 30, 2018 - Introduced by Representatives Vruwink, Spreitzer, Doyle, Hesselbein, Shankland, Berceau and Sargent. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AB891,1,4 An Act to create 20.115 (4) (ap) and 93.485 of the statutes; relating to: creating a small farm start-up grant program, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to create a Small Farm Start-Up grant program, under which DATCP may award grants of up to $50,000 to new agricultural production operations that will be conducted on 50 acres or less of land, and appropriates $500,000 in general purpose revenue for the 2018-19 fiscal year for this purpose. The bill requires a grant recipient to provide equal matching funds for its operations and outlines certain reporting requirements the recipient must follow during the three years after receiving a grant.

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:

AB891,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB891,2 Section 2. 20.115 (4) (ap) of the statutes is created to read:

AB891,2,3 20.115 (4) (ap) Small farm start-up grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for small farm start-up grants under s. 93.485.

AB891,3 Section 3. 93.485 of the statutes is created to read:

AB891,2,13 93.485 Small farm start-up grant program. (1) For the purpose of supporting new agricultural producers to increase the diversity of agricultural production in this state, the department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (ap) to individuals or organizations to fund start-up costs for new agricultural production operations that will be conducted on 50 acres or less of land. The department may not award a grant under this section of more than $50,000, and may not award a grant under this section unless the applicant contributes matching funds equal to the amount of the proposed grant. The department shall promulgate rules for the program under this section.

AB891,2,15 (2) An individual or organization that receives a grant under this section shall submit all of the following to the department:

AB891,3,2 (a) One year after receiving the grant, a report that includes an itemized list of expenditures for which the grant was used and the amount of each expenditure; the amount of income earned from the agricultural operation; the number of employees of the agricultural operation; and any other information required by the department by rule.

AB891,3,6 (b) Two years and 3 years after receiving the grant, reports that include the amount of income earned from the agricultural operation; the number of employees of the agricultural operation; and any other information required by the department by rule.

AB891,4 Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB891,3,18 (1) Emergency rules. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may promulgate emergency rules under section 227.24 of the statutes implementing section 93.485 of the statutes. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (c) and (2) of the statutes, emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 19th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB891,3,19 (End)