As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
H. J. R. No. 2


Representatives Sayre, Ruhl 



A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing to enact Section 1 of Article XIV of the 1
Constitution of the State of Ohio to create the 2
Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.3

       Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, 4
three-fifths of the members elected to each house concurring 5
herein, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the 6
state, in the manner prescribed by law at the general election to 7
be held on November 3, 2009, a proposal to enact Section 1 of 8
Article XIV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to read as 9
follows:10

ARTICLE XIV
11

1.  (A) There is hereby created the Ohio Livestock 12
Care Standards Board for the purpose of establishing and 13
implementing standards governing the care and well-being of 14
livestock and poultry in this state. In carrying out its purpose, 15
the Board shall endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage 16
locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and 17
families. The Board shall be comprised of the following 18
thirteen members:19

       (1) The Director of Agriculture who shall be the chairperson 20
of the Board;21

       (2) Ten members appointed by the Governor with the advice and 22
consent of the Senate. The ten members appointed by the Governor 23
shall be residents of this state and shall include the following:24

       (a) One member representing family farms;25

       (b) One member who is knowledgeable about food safety in this 26
state;27

       (c) Two members representing a statewide organization that 28
represents farmers;29

       (d) One member who is a veterinarian who is licensed in this 30
state;31

       (e) The State Veterinarian in the Department of Agriculture;32

       (f) The dean of the agriculture department of a college or 33
university located in this state;34

       (g) Two members of the public representing Ohio consumers;35

       (h) One member representing a county humane society that is 36
organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code.37

       (3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 38
Representatives who shall be a family farmer;39

       (4) One member appointed by the President of the Senate who 40
shall be a family farmer.41

       Not more than seven members appointed to the Board at any 42
given time shall be of the same political party.43

       (B) The Board shall have authority to establish and implement 44
standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and 45
poultry in this state. In establishing and implementing those 46
standards, the Board shall consider factors that include, but are 47
not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such 48
care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal 49
morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the 50
protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.51

       (C) The Department of Agriculture shall have the authority to 52
administer and enforce the standards established by the Board.53

       (D) The General Assembly shall enact laws that are necessary 54
for the Board to carry out its functions and that set the length 55
of terms of office for the Board's members.56

EFFECTIVE DATE
57

       If adopted by a majority of the electors voting on this 58
proposal at the general election held November 3, 2009, the 59
enactment of Section 1 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the 60
State of Ohio takes effect immediately.61