House Bill 433

Chair's Name: Tom McCall

Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

House Sponsor: Tony Sellier

HB 433 amends the Georgia Meat Inspection Act, allowing the Commissioner of Agriculture to have concurrent jurisdiction with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in enforcing federal meat inspection regulations. Licenses for meat and poultry plants are made permanent and annual fees are eliminated. However, any processing plant that operates under a federal grant of inspection is exempt for the license requirement.

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman McCall�s opinion of this legislation: 

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill addresses two issues related to meat processors.  The first part provides that the Agriculture Commissioner may exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the secretary of agriculture of the United States and may enforce the article and any regulations promulgated thereto without regard to licensing agency.  The second and third parts create a permanent meat processors license and remove the annual fees associated with the license.  This would apply to both meat and poultry.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

Agriculture Commissioner needs to clarify the enforcement of law and regulations relating to meat processors.  This is largely a housekeeping bill.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Other:

This bill is necessary to clarify that the Commissioner of Agriculture may enforce laws and regulations relating to meat processors.