Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2015&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0050&pn=1597
Timestamp: 2017-06-28 06:58:56
Document Index: 74962877

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 7101', '§ 7508', '§ 7508', '§ 1001', '§ 7101', '§ 7508']

Regular Session 2015-2016 Senate Bill 0050 P.N. 1597
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 354, 1367, 1420PRINTER'S NO. 1597THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIASENATE BILL No.50 Session of 2015 INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, FOLMER, TEPLITZ, FARNESE, LEACH, YUDICHAK, WOZNIAK, McILHINNEY AND SMUCKER, FEBRUARY 12, 2015AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, MARCH 14, 2016AN ACTEstablishing an industrial hemp industry in this Commonwealth; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture; and THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU; prescribing penalties; AND ESTABLISHING AN ACCOUNT.The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:Section 1. Short title.This act shall be known and may be cited as the Industrial Hemp Act.Section 2. Definitions.The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:"Agricultural pilot program." A pilot program to research the growth, cultivation or marketing of industrial hemp in a manner that:(1) assures only the department or institutions of higher education within this Commonwealth are utilized to conduct such research; and<--<--<--12345678910111213141516171819
(2) requires the department to permit and regulate the institutions of higher education and sites, entities or individuals utilized by the institutions of higher education to grow or cultivate industrial hemp as allowed under this act."Department." The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth."Industrial hemp." The plant cannabis sativa l. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis."Institution of higher education." As defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329, 79 Stat. 1219)."Secretary." The Secretary of Agriculture of the Commonwealth.Section 3. Industrial hemp.(a) Authority.--The department shall have the authority to regulate and permit industrial hemp under this act in a manner consistent with the provisions of this act and all Federal laws, regulations and orders, and notwithstanding any laws of the Commonwealth to the contrary.(b) Activities authorized.--Notwithstanding the Controlled Substances Act (Public Law 91-513, 84 Stat. 1236), the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (Public Law 107-110, 20 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq.), 41 U.S.C. Ch. 81 (relating to drug-free workplace) or any other Federal law or the laws of this Commonwealth, including the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and 18 Pa.C.S. § 7508(a)(1)(relating to drug 20150SB0050PN1597 - 2 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
trafficking sentencing and penalties), the department under its pilot program, or an institution of higher education within this Commonwealth holding a permit from the department, may grow or cultivate industrial hemp for the purpose of research, including marketing studies.(c) Oilseed.--Industrial hemp shall be recognized as an oilseed in this Commonwealth.Section 4. Department.(a) Powers and duties.--The department shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To develop and implement regulations and permitting requirements necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, including research conducted under section 5.(2) To issue, renew, deny, revoke, suspend or refuse to renew permits to conduct research on the cultivation, growth or marketing of industrial hemp.(3) To develop an application for permits.(4) To create and maintain a database of permitted institutions of higher education and sites, entities or individual growers whom the institutions have utilized.(5) To inspect the facilities, sites, seeds, plants, individual growers and other items or entities utilized by each permitted institution of higher education to ensure compliance with this act and regulations promulgated under this act.(6) To establish permit requirements for the use or reuse of seeds, crops or products produced as the end result of any approved research program undertaken by an institution of higher education under this act.(7) To establish, through regulation as set forth under 20150SB0050PN1597 - 3 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
section 6, reasonable permitting and inspection fees that may not exceed the actual cost of administering this act.(8) Notwithstanding any provisions of 3 Pa.C.S. Ch. 71 (relating to seed) and its attendant regulations, to regulate the labeling and testing of industrial hemp and industrial hemp seeds within this Commonwealth.(9) To establish, through regulation as set forth under section 6, guidelines for research conducted under section 5.(b) Report.--Beginning one year after the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the majority chairperson and minority chairperson of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate and the majority chairperson and minority chairperson of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the following:(1) The number of institutions of higher education, sites, entities and individual growers permitted under this act.(2) A description of the regulations and permitting requirements implemented since the previous report.(3) Any suspensions, revocations, refusals to renew or deny and the reasons for those dispositions.(4) A financial accounting of the fees taken in and the expenditures of the department to carry out this act.(5) A summary of all research derived from this act.(6) Any other information requested by the General Assembly.Section 5. Research.The department may develop an agricultural pilot program and may grow or cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes 20150SB0050PN1597 - 4 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
under the agricultural pilot program. In addition, an institution of higher education located in this Commonwealth may apply to the department to conduct research in accordance with this act and the regulations promulgated under this act.Section 6. Regulations.(a) Requirement.--The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement this act. The regulations shall include permitting requirements.(b) Temporary regulations.--In order to facilitate the implementation of this act, regulations promulgated by the department shall be deemed temporary regulations which shall expire not later than two years following the publication of the temporary regulation. The temporary regulations shall include permitting and other requirements necessary to implement the provisions of this act. Temporary regulations shall not be subject to:(1) Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law.(2) Sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act.(3) The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.(c) Expiration.--The department's authority to adopt temporary regulations under subsection (b) shall expire two years after the effective date of this section. Regulations adopted after this period shall be promulgated as provided by law.(d) Publication.--The department shall begin publishing 20150SB0050PN1597 - 5 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
temporary regulations in the Pennsylvania Bulletin no later than three months following the effective date of this section.Section 7. Contracted persons.An institution of higher education holding a permit to conduct an agricultural pilot program may contract with entities and individual growers to the extent necessary to carry out the program. The contract terms shall incorporate the provisions of the permit issued to the institution of higher education. The entity or individual grower shall be subject to the terms and requirements of the permit issued to the institution of higher education and to enforcement by the department for violations of the provisions of this act, any regulation issued pursuant to this act or the permit.Section 8. Noncriminal offense.Activities conducted in compliance with this act shall not be in violation of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and 18 Pa.C.S. § 7508(a)(1) (relating to drug trafficking sentencing and penalties) or any other law of this Commonwealth regulating the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp.Section 9. Criminal and civil penalties.(a) Criminal penalties.--Any person that violates any of the provisions of this act or any rules or regulations issued pursuant to this act or who impedes, obstructs, hinders or otherwise prevents or attempts to prevent the department in performance of its duty in connection with the provisions of this act or the regulations promulgated under this act commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 for the first violation and not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for a 20150SB0050PN1597 - 6 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
subsequent violation that occurs within one year of the first conviction.(b) Civil penalties.--The following shall apply:(1) In addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity for a violation of this act, or the regulations promulgated under this act, the department may assess a civil penalty of not more than $5,000, plus cost of remediation, containment or eradication, upon any person for each violation of this act or a regulation promulgated or order issued under authority of this act. The civil penalty assessed shall be payable to the department. Such penalty amount shall be collectible in any manner provided by law for the collection of debt, including referring any collection matter to the Office of Attorney General, which shall recover such amount by action in the appropriate court.(2) No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the assessment in accordance with the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. Chs. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of Commonwealth agencies) and 7 Subch. A (relating to judicial review of Commonwealth agency action).(c) Civil remedy.--In addition to any other remedies provided for under this act, the Attorney General, at the request of the secretary, may initiate, in the Commonwealth Court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the defendant resides or has his or her place of business, an action in equity for an injunction to restrain any and all violations of this act or the rules and regulations promulgated under this act or an order of the department from which no timely appeal has been taken or which has been sustained on appeal. In any 20150SB0050PN1597 - 7 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
such proceeding, the court shall, upon motion of the Commonwealth, issue a preliminary injunction if it finds that the defendant is engaging in conduct which is causing immediate or irreparable harm to the public. The Commonwealth shall not be required to furnish bond or other security in connection with these proceedings. In addition to an injunction, the court may levy civil penalties as provided for under this act.Section 10. Disposition of funds.(a) Deposit.--Money received from licensing, permitting fees, fines and penalties shall be paid into a special restricted account in the General Fund known as the Plant Pest Management Account. All money deposited in the Plant Pest Management Account is appropriated to the department for the purpose of this act and the act of December 16, 1992 (P.L.1228, No.162), known as the Plant Pest Act, and may not replace money appropriated to the account as provided under subsection (b).(b) Supplements.--The Plant Pest Management Account may be supplemented by money received from the following sources:(1) State funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the department for purposes of this act.(2) Federal funds appropriated to the department for purposes of this act.(3) Gifts and other contributions from public or private sources for purposes of this act.Section 11. Repeals.All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this act.Section 12. Expiration.The provisions of this act shall expire 60 days after the United States Department of Agriculture has been authorized to 20150SB0050PN1597 - 8 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
regulate industrial hemp.Section 13. Effective date.This act shall take effect in 60 days.SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:"ACCOUNT." THE PLANT PEST MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 9."AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM." THE PROGRAM UNDER SECTION 3 TO RESEARCH THE GROWTH, CULTIVATION, MARKETING AND SALE OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP TO ENSURE THAT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND SITES AND PERSONS UTILIZED BY THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, GROW OR CULTIVATE INDUSTRIAL HEMP AS AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ACT."DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH."INDUSTRIAL HEMP." THE PLANT CANNABIS SATIVA L. AND ANY PART OF THE PLANT, WHETHER GROWING OR NOT, WITH A DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CONCENTRATION OF NOT MORE THAN 0.3% ON A DRY WEIGHT BASIS."INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION." AN INSTITUTION WHICH:(1) MEETS THE DEFINITION SET FORTH IN SECTION 101 OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 (PUBLIC LAW 89-329, 20 U.S.C. § 1001); AND(2) IS LOCATED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH."SECRETARY." THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.SECTION 3. INDUSTRIAL HEMP.(A) AUTHORITY.--NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW TO THE 20150SB0050PN1597 - 9 - <--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPLEMENT THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM TO RESEARCH INDUSTRIAL HEMP CONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT AND FEDERAL LAW.(B) PERMITS.--AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OR A PERSON THAT SUPPLIES SERVICES TO THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT OR OPERATE THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM, MAY APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A PERMIT UNDER SECTION 4(3).(C) OILSEED.--INDUSTRIAL HEMP SHALL BE RECOGNIZED AS AN OILSEED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.(D) PROHIBITION.--A PERSON MAY NOT GROW, CULTIVATE, MARKET OR SELL INDUSTRIAL HEMP UNLESS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:(1) THE PERSON IS PART OF THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO A CONTRACT WITH AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.(2) THE PERSON HAS A PERMIT UNDER SECTION 4(3).SECTION 4. DEPARTMENT.THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:(1) TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.(2) TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 5.(3) SUBJECT TO THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT (PUBLIC LAW 91-513, 84 STAT. 1236), THE SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ACT (PUBLIC LAW 107-110, 20 U.S.C. § 7101 ET SEQ.), 41 U.S.C. CH. 81 (RELATING TO DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE) AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE ACT OF APRIL 14, 1972 (P.L.233, NO.64), KNOWN AS THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, DRUG, DEVICE AND COSMETIC ACT, AND 18 PA.C.S. § 7508(A)(1) (RELATING TO DRUG TRAFFICKING SENTENCING AND PENALTIES), TO ISSUE, RENEW, DENY, REVOKE, SUSPEND OR REFUSE TO RENEW A PERMIT AS FOLLOWS:20150SB0050PN1597 - 10 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
(I) FOR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH RELATING TO THE CULTIVATION OR MARKETING OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP.(II) FOR A PERSON THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM.(4) TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OR REUSE OF SEEDS, CROPS OR PRODUCTS PRODUCED AS THE END RESULT OF THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM.(5) TO ADOPT AND PUBLISH PERMIT FEES, WHICH DO NOT EXCEED THE ACTUAL COST OF ADMINISTERING THIS ACT.(6) TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A DATABASE OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND PERSONS THAT HAVE PERMITS UNDER PARAGRAPH (3).(7) TO INSPECT FACILITIES, SITES, SEEDS, PLANTS, INDIVIDUAL GROWERS AND PERSONS OR THINGS UTILIZED AS PART OF THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THIS ACT.(8) TO ENSURE THAT NO INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS GROWN, CULTIVATED, MARKETED OR SOLD EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT.SECTION 5. REGULATIONS.(A) AUTHORITY.--THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE DEPARTMENT. REGULATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:(1) RESEARCH.(2) NOTWITHSTANDING 3 PA.C.S. CH. 71 (RELATING TO SEED) AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THAT CHAPTER, LABELING, PACKAGING AND TESTING OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP SEEDS.20150SB0050PN1597 - 11 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
(3) APPLICATIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT.(4) MARKETING AND ADVERTISING OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP.(B) TEMPORARY REGULATIONS.--(1) WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE TEMPORARY REGULATIONS.(2) TEMPORARY REGULATIONS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:(I) SECTIONS 201, 202, 203, 204 AND 205 OF THE ACT OF JULY 31, 1968 (P.L.769, NO.240), REFERRED TO AS THE COMMONWEALTH DOCUMENTS LAW.(II) SECTIONS 204(B) AND 301(10) OF THE ACT OF OCTOBER 15, 1980 (P.L.950, NO.164), KNOWN AS THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEYS ACT.(III) THE ACT OF JUNE 25, 1982 (P.L.633, NO.181), KNOWN AS THE REGULATORY REVIEW ACT.(3) TEMPORARY REGULATIONS SHALL EXPIRE TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.SECTION 6. CONTRACTED PERSONS.AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION HOLDING A PERMIT TO CONDUCT AN AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM MAY CONTRACT WITH ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUAL GROWERS TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT PROGRAM. THE CONTRACT TERMS MUST INCORPORATE THE PROVISIONS OF THE PERMIT. THE ENTITY OR INDIVIDUAL GROWER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERMIT ISSUED TO THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO ENFORCEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:(1) THIS ACT.(2) A REGULATION ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT.20150SB0050PN1597 - 12 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
(3) THE PERMIT.SECTION 7. NONCRIMINAL OFFENSE.THE DEPARTMENT MAY ASSESS A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000 FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT.SECTION 8. CRIMINAL PENALTIES.A PERSON THAT VIOLATES SECTION 3(D) COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE.SECTION 9. ACCOUNT.(A) DEPOSIT.--MONEY RECEIVED FROM LICENSING, PERMITTING FEES, FINES AND PENALTIES UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE PAID INTO A SPECIAL RESTRICTED ACCOUNT IN THE GENERAL FUND KNOWN AS THE PLANT PEST MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT. ALL MONEY DEPOSITED IN THE ACCOUNT IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT AND THE ACT OF DECEMBER 16, 1992 (P.L.1228, NO.162), KNOWN AS THE PLANT PEST ACT, AND MAY NOT REPLACE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE ACCOUNT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B).(B) SUPPLEMENTS.--THE ACCOUNT MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED BY MONEY RECEIVED FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:(1) STATE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT.(2) FEDERAL MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT.(3) GIFTS AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SOURCES FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT.SECTION 10. EXPIRATION.(A) FEDERAL ACTION.--IF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS AUTHORIZED TO REGULATE INDUSTRIAL HEMP, THE SECRETARY SHALL TRANSMIT NOTICE OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN.20150SB0050PN1597 - 13 - 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
(B) DATE.--THIS ACT SHALL EXPIRE 60 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE UNDER SUBSECTION (A).SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS:(1) THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY:(I) SECTION 3(A).(II) SECTION 4(1) AND (2).(III) SECTION 5.(IV) SECTION 10.(V) THIS SECTION.(2) THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.20150SB0050PN1597 - 14 - 12345678910111213