An Act To Increase Transparency in Cooperative Agreements within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §9, as amended by PL 1973, c. 44, is further amended to read:
§ 9. Cooperative agreements or arrangements
The commissioner department may enter into cooperative agreements or cooperative arrangements , in accordance with this section, with a state or federal agency or with any person, firm or corporation for the purpose of controlling diseases of plants and domestic animals, advertising and increasing the sale and consumption of Maine food products or disseminating information concerning the grade, quality or condition of same Maine food products, and supplying inspection and grading services with respect to such Maine food products. He The department may receive, administer and disburse any funds or contributions from such a state or federal agency, person, firm or corporation, either independently or in conjunction with state funds allocated to said that purpose. Funds so contributed shall in accordance with this section do not lapse at the end of any fiscal year but shall be are carried forward to be used for the purpose originally intended.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the law governing cooperative agreements and arrangements entered into by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for the purpose of controlling diseases of plants and domestic animals and advertising or disseminating information concerning Maine food products. This bill requires the department to:
1. Provide public notice of each proposed cooperative agreement or arrangement;
2. Solicit public comments and provide responses regarding proposed cooperative agreements or arrangements;
3. Consider requests submitted in writing to decline to receive future funding from a cooperative agreement or arrangement; and
4. Report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters regarding the cooperative agreements and arrangements entered into during the previous fiscal year.
Under the bill, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters may schedule a public hearing on any cooperative agreement or arrangement about which the committee has questions.