BEFORE THE BOARD OF MILK CONTROL

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM          32.23.301 pertaining to licensee assessments

)    )    )

NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT    NO PUBLIC HEARING CONTEMPLATED

  TO: All Concerned Persons

  

          1. The Board of Milk Control (board) and the Department of Livestock (department) propose to amend the above-stated rule. 

          2. The Department of Livestock will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in the rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the Department of Livestock no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 10, 2017, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact the Department of Livestock, 301 N. Roberts St., Room 308, P.O. Box 202001, Helena, MT 59620-2001; telephone: (406) 444-9321; TTD number: 1 (800) 253-4091; fax: (406) 444-1929; e-mail: [email protected]. 

          3. The rule as proposed to be amended provides as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined: 

          32.23.301 LICENSEE ASSESSMENTS (1) Pursuant to 81-23-202, MCA, the following assessments for the purpose of deriving funds to administer and enforce the Milk Control Act are levied upon the Milk Control Act licensees of this department.

          (a) A fee of $0.07 $0.05 per hundredweight, with no assessment for fees less than $5.00 per month, on the total volume of all milk subject to the Milk Control Act produced and sold by a producer-distributor.

          (b) A fee of $0.035 $0.025 per hundredweight, with no assessment for fees less than $5.00 per month, on the total volume of all milk subject to the Milk Control Act sold by a producer.

          (c) A fee of $0.035 $0.025 per hundredweight, with no assessment for fees less than $5.00 per month, on the total volume of milk subject to the Milk Control Act sold by a distributor, excepting that which is sold to another distributor.  If the distributor is foreign, the assessment must be paid either by the foreign distributor or by the import jobber.

          (2) and (3) remain the same.

         

          AUTH:          81-1-102, 81-23-104, 81-23-202, MCA

          IMP:             81-1-102, 81-23-103, 81-23-202, MCA 

 

          Reason: The board proposes to amend the above-stated rule: 

• to raise sufficient revenue to provide for the administration of Title 81, chapter 23, MCA, as proposed for Fiscal Year 2018; and

• to ensure assessments are commensurate with the costs as required by 81-1-102(2), MCA, while maintaining a reasonable cash balance in the related special revenue fund to ensure solvency. 

The 28% reduction in assessment rates potentially will affect approximately 133 businesses. The milk control bureau estimates that the rate changes will reduce milk control assessment revenue by approximately $98,500 in Fiscal Year 2018 compared to estimated Fiscal Year 2017 assessment revenue.

 

          4. The department intends to adopt the proposed amendment effective July 1, 2017.

 

          5. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments in writing concerning the proposed action to the Executive Officer, Department of Livestock, 301 N. Roberts St., Room 308, P.O. Box 202001, Helena, MT 59620-2001, by faxing to (406) 444-1929, or by e-mailing to [email protected] to be received no later than 5:00 p.m., February 17, 2017.

 

          6. If persons who are directly affected by the proposed action wish to express their data, views, or arguments orally or in writing at a public hearing, they must make a written request for a hearing and submit this request along with any written comments they have to the same address as in 5 above. The written request for hearing must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., February 17, 2017.

 

          7. If the department receives requests for a public hearing on the proposed action from either 10 percent or 25, whichever is less, of the persons who are directly affected by the proposed action; from the appropriate administrative rule review committee of the Legislature; from a governmental subdivision or agency; or from an association having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected, a public hearing will be held at a later date. Notice of the public hearing will be published in the Montana Administrative Register. Ten percent of those persons directly affected has been determined to be 14, based upon there being approximately 133 businesses licensed by the Milk Control Bureau that are currently operating.

 

          8. The board and department maintain lists of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency. Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices. Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the contact person in 5 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

          9. An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of this notice conform to the official version of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.

 

          10. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

          11. With regard to the requirements of 2-4-111, MCA, the department has determined that the amendment of the above-referenced rule will not significantly and directly impact small businesses.

 

 

/s/ Scott Mitchell                                   /s/ Michael S. Honeycutt            

Scott Mitchell                                        Michael S. Honeycutt

Chair                                                     Executive Officer

Board of Milk Control                            Board of Livestock

                                                              Department of Livestock

 

                                                             /s/ Cinda Young-Eichenfels        

                                                            Cinda Young-Eichenfels

                                                            Rule Reviewer

 

 

Certified to the Secretary of State January 9, 2017.