Resolve, To Streamline the Laws Governing Small Slaughterhouses

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to report back to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry before the end of the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Examination of laws and rules governing small slaughterhouses. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall examine the laws and rules governing small slaughterhouses with particular emphasis on obstacles that prevent small slaughterhouses from processing many different species of animals as efficiently and safely as possible. The department shall examine the process it uses to answer questions posed to it by owners and operators of small slaughterhouses and describe steps it will take to ensure that the answers it provides are in writing and timely, clear, consistent and complete. The department shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than May 1, 2011. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature on the subject matter of the department's report.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to examine the laws and rules governing small slaughterhouses with particular emphasis on obstacles that prevent small slaughterhouses from processing many different species of animals as efficiently and safely as possible. The department shall examine the process it uses to answer questions posed to it by owners and operators of small slaughterhouses and describe steps it will take to ensure that the answers it provides are in writing and timely, clear, consistent and complete. The department shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than May 1, 2011. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature on the subject matter of the department's report.