S.B. 101
128th General Assembly
(As Introduced)
Sens. Carey and Wilson, Buehrer, Grendell, Hughes, D. Miller, Morano, Sawyer, Schaffer, Schuring, Smith, Turner, Wagoner
BILL SUMMARY
· Creates the Ohio Beekeepers Task Force, and requires it to prepare a report addressing specified topics related to Ohio's bee populations.
CONTENT AND OPERATION
The bill creates in the Department of Agriculture the Ohio Beekeepers Task Force consisting of the following members:
(1) Two members of the standing committee of the House of Representatives that is primarily responsible for considering agricultural matters appointed by the Governor, each from a different political party;
(2) Two members of the standing committee of the Senate that is primarily responsible for considering agricultural matters appointed by the Governor, each from a different political party;
(3) The Chief of the Division of Plant Industry in the Department of Agriculture or the Chief's designee;
(4) The Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee;
(5) Two representatives of the Ohio State Beekeepers Association appointed by the Association;
(6) The Director of The Ohio State University Extension or the Director's designee;
(7) An apiculture specialist of The Ohio State University Extension appointed by the Director of The Ohio State University Extension;
(8) The Chair of The Ohio State University Department of Entomology or the Chair's designee;
(9) A representative of the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketing Association appointed by the Association;
(10) A representative of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Bee and Honey Committee appointed by the Federation;
(11) A representative of the Ohio Farmers Union appointed by the Union; and
(12) A representative of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio appointed by the Association.
The bill requires the members to be appointed no later than 60 days after the bill's effective date. The Task Force must hold its first meeting no later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill. The Governor must select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members of the Task Force, and the chairperson may appoint a secretary. The members of the Task Force are to receive no compensation for their services.
The bill requires the Task Force, no later than ten months after the effective date of the bill, to submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Ohio State Beekeepers Association. The report must do all of the following:
(1) Provide an overview of the characteristics of the honeybee crisis in Ohio;
(2) Examine and provide an overview of and conclusions regarding whether pollinator shortages are affecting crop pollination in Ohio;
(3) Review and provide an overview of the Ohio Honeybee Emergency Action Plan;
(4) Review and provide a summary of the federal initiatives regarding Ohio's bee population and of all of the Department of Agriculture's and the Ohio State Beekeepers Association's programs concerning Ohio's bee population;
(5) Provide an overview of the five-year goals of the Department of Agriculture concerning honeybees, including recommendations for the restoration of Ohio's bee population;
(6) Examine and describe the funding that is available for honeybee programs and issues affecting honeybees; and
(7) Any other issues that the Task Force considers appropriate.
Not later than 90 days following the submission of the report, the Task Force must meet and respond to any question from a person who received the report. The Task Force ceases to exist upon submitting its response to all questions from persons who received the report.
HISTORY
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ACTION |
DATE |
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Introduced |
04-09-09 |
S0101-I-128.docx/jc