HF 2427 (LSB 5523HV (4) 85)

RELATING TO CORN PROMOTION, INCLUDING SPECIAL REFERENDUMS, THE ASSESSMENT OF A CHECKOFF, AND THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE, AND MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 185C.21, Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   185C.21  State assessment.
   1.  The board shall determine and set the state assessment rate. State assessments collected pursuant to the promotional order shall be paid into the corn promotion fund established in section 185C.26. Except as provided in subsection 2, a state assessment shall not exceed one-quarter of one cent per bushel upon corn marketed in this state. The board shall establish the effective date of a rate change.
   2.  Upon request of the board, the secretary shall call a special referendum for producers to vote on whether to authorize an increase in the state assessment above one-quarter of one cent per bushel, notwithstanding subsection 1. The special referendum shall be conducted as provided in this chapter for referendum elections. However, the special referendum shall not affect the existence or length of the promotional order in effect. If a majority of the producers voting in the special referendum approve the increase, the board may increase the assessment to the amount approved in the special referendum.  The board shall establish the effective date of a rate change. However, a state assessment shall not 

exceed one cent per bushel of corn marketed in this state a scheduled maximum rate determined as follows:
   a.  Before September 1, 2014, one cent.
   b.  For each marketing year of the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2019, two cents.
   c.  For each marketing year beginning on and after September 1, 2019, three cents.
    Sec. 2.  IOWA CORN CHECKOFF TASK FORCE.
   1.  An Iowa corn checkoff task force is created. The task force shall study all of the following:
   a.  The development and implementation of a system that allows eligible producers to cast mail ballots during a special referendum conducted pursuant to section 185C.21.
   b.  An increase in refund awareness with first purchasers.
   2.  The task force is composed of five voting members, including all of the following:
   a.  The secretary of agriculture who shall serve as the chairperson.
   b.  Two first purchasers, as defined in section 185C.1, who shall be appointed as follows:
   (1)  One first purchaser appointed by the Iowa institute of cooperatives.
   (2)  One first purchaser appointed by the agribusiness association of Iowa.
   c.  Two producers, as defined in section 185C.1, who shall be appointed as follows:
   (1)  One producer appointed by the Iowa corn growers association who shall be a member of the Iowa corn growers association.
   (2)  One producer appointed by the Iowa farm bureau federation.
   3.  The task force consists of four members of the general assembly who shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. The members shall be appointed as follows:
   a.  Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate after consultation with the minority leader of the senate.
   b.  Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house and one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house after consultation with the minority leader of the house. 
   4.  a.  The task force shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the secretary of agriculture not later than September 1, 2014.
   b.  The task force is abolished on September 1, 2014.

______________________________
KRAIG PAULSEN

Speaker of the House

______________________________
PAM JOCHUM

President of the Senate

   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 2427, Eighty-fifth General Assembly.

______________________________
CARMINE BOAL

Chief Clerk of the House
Approved _______________, 2014

______________________________
TERRY E. BRANSTAD

Governor