H. B. 4782
(By Delegates Douglas, Butcher, Perdue, Marshall,
Flanigan, Stalnaker and Willison)
(Originating in the Committee on Government Organization)
[February 28, 2000]
A BILL to amend and reenact section four, article one, chapter
nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, authorizing the commissioner
of agriculture to administer the state rural development
council.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section four, article one, chapter nineteen of the code
of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
§19-1-4. Duties of commissioner.
The commissioner of agriculture shall perform the following
duties:
(a) Devise means of advancing the agricultural interests of the state, and, in the performance of such duty, he or she shall
have authority to call upon any state department, or officer of the
state or county, to cooperate with him in promoting the
agricultural interests of the state. It shall be the duty of any
such department, or officer, upon request of the commissioner to
render the assistance desired;
(b) Promote and encourage the organization of such societies
and associations as have for their object the improvement and
development of the state's agricultural, horticultural and kindred
interests, especially in production, processing for market and
distribution;
(c) Conduct cooperative work with the United States department
of agriculture in inspecting and determining the grade and
condition of farm produce at collecting centers, receiving centers
and shipping points;
(d) Induce the investment of capital in, and immigration into,
this state by the dissemination of information relative to the
soil, climate, health, natural resources, market opportunities and
advantages of the state;
(e) Investigate and report upon the kinds, conditions and
extent of the mineral products of the state and their value;
(f) Take charge of the museum of the department of agriculture, collect, preserve and exhibit therein specimens of
agricultural, horticultural and kindred products, products of the
forests, minerals, flora and fauna of the state;
(g) Administer the state rural development council through the
marketing and development division established in section three-a
of this article, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding
between the United States department of Agriculture and the state
concerning the president's initiative on rural development;
(g)(h) Publish and distribute from time to time such reports
and bulletins concerning agriculture, horticulture and kindred
subjects as may be of value to the farmers of the state, and, as
conditions may demand, publish a handbook giving the resources of
the several counties of the state, the varieties of soil and
products, both mineral and vegetable, and the adaptability of the
different sections of the state to the different branches of
agriculture, horticulture and kindred interests;
(h)(i) Submit a biennial report to the governor and
Legislature containing such information as to the operations of the
department as may be helpful to the agricultural interests of the
state, together with an itemized statement of all receipts and
disbursements during the biennial period covered thereby, and
giving the name of every person employed during such period, the time employed, and the amount paid each employee;
(i)(j) Perform such other duties and exercise such other
powers as are provided in this chapter and by general law; and
(j)(k) Promulgate and adopt rules, regulations and standards
Propose rules, including regulatory standards, for legislative
approval in accordance with the provisions of article three,
chapter twenty-nine of this code for the purpose of carrying out
the requirements of this chapter.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.