House File 515 HOUSE FILE BY KUHN and WHITAKER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act prohibiting the sale or offer for sale of certain 2 agricultural seed that has been genetically engineered, making 3 penalties applicable, and providing an effective date. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2710YH 80 6 da/cf/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 199.1, Code 2003, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsections: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 6A. "Genetically engineered" means to 1 4 alter the genetic characteristics of a plant by modifying the 1 5 deoxyribonucleic acid of the plant's seed in a manner other 1 6 than by breeding or pollination. 1 7 NEW SUBSECTION. 14A. "Patent holder" means a person who 1 8 holds intellectual property rights in a plant or plant part, 1 9 including but not limited to a genetically engineered 1 10 agricultural seed or crop originating from a genetically 1 11 engineered agricultural seed, which is granted a letters 1 12 patent by the United States patent and trademark office of the 1 13 United States department of commerce. 1 14 NEW SUBSECTION. 19A. "Seed labeler" means a person 1 15 required to label seed as provided in section 199.3 or 199.4. 1 16 Sec. 2. Section 199.8, Code 2003, is amended by adding the 1 17 following new subsection: 1 18 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. It is unlawful for a person who is a 1 19 patent holder or seed labeler to provide for the sale or offer 1 20 for sale of agricultural seed for the end purpose of crop 1 21 production if the agricultural seed has been genetically 1 22 engineered to render the agricultural seed or the crop that it 1 23 produces sterile. 1 24 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 1 25 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 1 26 EXPLANATION 1 27 This bill amends Code chapter 199, which regulates the sale 1 28 of seed, including agricultural seed. The bill amends Code 1 29 section 199.8, which lists a number of illegal activities, by 1 30 providing that a person who is a patent holder of agricultural 1 31 seed or a person required under the Code chapter to label 1 32 agricultural seed is prohibited from selling agricultural seed 1 33 for crop production if the agricultural seed has been 1 34 genetically engineered to render the agricultural seed or the 1 35 crop that it produces sterile. This is sometimes commonly 2 1 referred to as a "terminator gene". 2 2 According to Code section 199.13, a person who violates 2 3 Code section 199.8 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor 2 4 punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days or a fine 2 5 of at least $50 but not more than $500, or by both. 2 6 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 2 7 LSB 2710YH 80 2 8 da/cf/24