HF 2400 (LSB 6079YH (4) 83)

HOUSE FILE 2400

BY  KUHN

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the reestablishment of a technical advisory committee to reevaluate the master matrix used in approving sites for confinement feeding operations and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  REESTABLISHMENT OF A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REEVALUATION OF THE MASTER MATRIX.

   A technical advisory committee is created to reevaluate the master matrix as provided in section 359.305 and 567 IAC chapter 65, appendix C.

   1.  The committee shall be composed of all of the following:
   a.  A designee of the secretary of agriculture.
   b.  A designee of the director of the department of natural resources.
   c.  A designee of the president of the university of Iowa.
   d.  A designee of the president of Iowa state university.
   e.  A representative of the Iowa environmental council.
   f.  A representative of the Iowa state association of counties.
   g.  A representative of the Iowa farm bureau federation.
   h.  A representative of the Iowa’s farmers union.
   i.  Two representatives of organizations representing livestock producers who shall be jointly designated to the department of natural resources by the Iowa pork producers association, the Iowa cattlemens’ association, the Iowa dairy products association, the Iowa poultry association, and the Iowa turkey federation.
   2.  The department of natural resources shall provide administrative support to the committee. The attorney general shall appoint an assistant attorney general to provide the committee with legal counsel and assistance.
   3.  In conducting its reevaluation, the committee shall only consider methods to better further the purpose of the master matrix as specified in section 359.305, subsection 1, without further restriction, including any restriction contained in 2002 Iowa Acts, ch. 1137, § 62, or any other restriction provided in section 359.305.
   4.  The committee shall prepare a report, including findings and recommendations. The report may also include proposed legislation and proposed revisions to 567 IAC chapter 65, appendix C. The department on behalf of the committee shall submit its report in an electronic format to the general assembly not later than December 15, 2011.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
   In 2002, the general assembly enacted S.F. 2293 (2002 Iowa Acts, chapter 1137) which in part established a new procedure for approving or disapproving applications for the construction or expansion of confinement feeding operations by the department of natural resources in cooperation with participating county boards of supervisors, based on a master matrix (Code sections 459.304 and 459.305). The purpose of the master matrix is to provide a comprehensive assessment mechanism in order to produce a statistically verifiable basis for determining whether to approve or disapprove an application (Code section 359.305). The Act established a 10-member technical advisory committee to recommend matrix categories, criteria within the categories, and the point values assigned to the criteria. The department adopted a master matrix by rule (567 IAC chapter 65, appendix C). The committee’s function was to implement the statute.
   This bill reestablishes the committee and provides that in conducting its reevaluation, it shall consider methods to better further the purpose of the master matrix as specified in Code section 359.305, subsection 1, without further restriction, including any restriction contained in 2002 Iowa Acts, chapter 1137, § 62 or Code section 459.305 (e.g., no deduction of points).
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.