Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2016/cite/17A/full
Timestamp: 2020-05-25 15:46:57
Document Index: 595715503

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 6', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

﻿ Ch. 17A MN Statutes
CHAPTER 17A. LIVESTOCK MARKET AGENCY AND DEALER LICENSING
17A.01 CITATION.
17A.02 PURPOSE.
17A.036 CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT FOR SHIPPERS PROCEEDS.
17A.05 AMOUNT OF BONDS.
17A.06 CLAIMS AGAINST BONDS.
17A.07 PROHIBITED CONDUCT.
17A.08 RECORD KEEPING.
17A.09 FEEDER PIG MARKETS.
17A.091 Subdivisions renumbered, repealed, or no longer in effect
17A.10 LIVESTOCK SCALES AND WEIGHING.
17A.11 FEES FOR LIVESTOCK WEIGHING.
17A.12 WEIGHMASTER QUALIFICATIONS.
17A.13 GROSS MISDEMEANORS.
17A.14 PENALTIES.
17A.145 CIVIL PENALTY PROCEDURES.
17A.15 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.
17A.151 DUTY TO PROSECUTE.
17A.16 INJUNCTIVE REMEDY.
17A.17 AUDIT BY DEPARTMENT.
This chapter may be cited as the Minnesota Livestock Market Agency and Dealer Licensing Act.
1974 c 347 s 1; 1991 c 288 s 1
This chapter establishes jurisdiction and authority with the commissioner of agriculture over livestock marketing by requiring financial responsibility and fair trade practices for the benefit and protection of farmers, livestock producers, marketing agencies, dealers, any business entity engaged in the marketing process, and the public.
1974 c 347 s 2; 1981 c 54 s 1
Every market agency engaged in selling livestock on a commission or agency basis in this state shall establish and maintain a separate bank account designated as "custodial account for shippers proceeds."
1990 c 530 s 19
Subdivision 1.Livestock market agencies.
The amount of each livestock market agency bond filed with the commissioner shall be not less than $10,000 or such larger amount as required, based on the commissioner's consideration of the principal's financial statement, the volume of business reported, or any other factor the commissioner deems pertinent for the protection of the public. Each such bond shall be executed on a Packers and Stockyards Act form and shall contain the condition clause applicable when the principal sells on commission. A bond equivalent executed in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended, (United States Code, title 7, section 181 et seq.) is acceptable.
Subd. 2.Livestock dealers.
The amount of each livestock dealer bond filed with the commissioner shall be not less than $10,000 or such larger amount as required, based on the commissioner's consideration of the principal's financial statement, the volume of business reported, or any other factor the commissioner deems pertinent for the protection of the public. Each such bond shall contain the condition clause applicable when the principal buys on commission or as a dealer. A livestock dealer's bond shall be executed on a form furnished by the commissioner or in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended (United States Code, title 7, section 181 et seq.).
When a bond is executed on a state form furnished by the commissioner, the bond shall be for the protection of both the buyer and the seller named in the transaction when the principal fails to pay when due for livestock purchased or sold for the principal's own account or the account of others and shall be limited to the protection of claimants whose residence or principal place of livestock business is in the state of Minnesota at the time of the transaction. If the bond is filed on a form in accordance with the Packers and Stockyards Act, the bond shall cover claimants regardless of place of residence.
1974 c 347 s 5; 1977 c 299 s 5; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 23; 1986 c 444; 2000 c 477 s 4
Subdivision 1.Filing of claims.
Any person claiming to be damaged by any breach of the conditions of a bond given by a licensee may enter complaint thereof to the commissioner, which complaint shall be a written statement of the facts constituting the complaint, accompanied by documentary proof of the claim against the licensee.
Subd. 2.Hearing on claims.
In case of default by the licensee, the commissioner shall have the power to have the matter heard as a contested case pursuant to procedures outlined in chapter 14. No hearing shall be required if all affected parties to a bond claim proceeding waive their right to a hearing and agree to accept the commissioner's determination as to the validity of the claim and the allocation of the proceeds of the bond.
Subd. 3.Public notice.
Prior to a hearing, the commissioner shall publish a notice setting forth the default of the licensee and requiring all claimants to file proof of claim with the commissioner within 45 days of the date such notice is published or be barred from participating in the proceeds of the bond. Such publication shall be made in a newspaper published in the county in which the licensee's principal place of business is located. The commissioner shall also fulfill any notice requirements prescribed by chapter 14 and rules of the Office of Administrative Hearings. No claim shall be allowed unless it is filed with the commissioner within one year of the date of the transaction. If a livestock market agency or livestock dealer has on file a Packers and Stockyards Act bond and is registered with the Packers and Stockyards Administration, the terms of the bond or that federal agency's regulations will control.
1974 c 347 s 6; 1977 c 299 s 7; 1977 c 346 s 2,3; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 216 art 1 s 8; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 24; 1986 c 444
It shall be unlawful for any person to (1) carry on the business of a livestock market agency, livestock dealer, or public stockyard without a valid and effective license issued by the commissioner under the provisions of section 17A.04; (2) carry on the business of a livestock market agency or livestock dealer without filing and maintaining a valid and effective surety bond in conformity with sections 17A.04 and 17A.05; (3) carry on the business of a livestock market agency or livestock dealer if the person cannot pay debts as they become due or ceases to pay debts in the ordinary course of business as they become due; (4) use or allow to be used any livestock scale or monorail scale which has not been certified and approved for official use or has been found to be inaccurate; (5) fail to maintain and operate livestock or monorail scales in a manner to ensure accurate and correct weights; (6) weigh livestock or carcasses at other than true and correct weights or issue accounts and records on the basis of inaccurate or incorrect weights; (7) engage in or use any unfair or deceptive practice or device in connection with marketing of livestock; (8) willfully make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any application, financial statement or report filed with the department under this chapter.
1974 c 347 s 7; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 25; 1986 c 444
Every person shall make and retain such accounts, records, and memoranda necessary to fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the person's business, including the true ownership of such business by stockholding or otherwise. Whenever the commissioner finds that the accounts, records, and memoranda of any such person do not fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the person's business, the commissioner may prescribe the manner or form and length of time for retention which such accounts, records, and memoranda shall be kept. The commissioner shall at all reasonable times have access to, for the purpose of examination, and the right to copy any documentary evidence of any person being investigated or proceeded against.
1974 c 347 s 8; 1986 c 444
The commissioner may, by rules promulgated in accordance with sections 14.05 to 14.28, establish requirements for record making and retention, of livestock purchases and sales by operators of feeder pig markets, as the commissioner deems necessary to protect the public.
1974 c 347 s 9; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1995 c 233 art 2 s 56
17A.091
Subdivision 1.Commercial livestock scales.
All livestock scales and monorail scales used for the purpose of buying or selling livestock or livestock carcasses within the state must meet the construction, maintenance, testing, and certification requirements of the Division of Weights and Measures of the Department of Commerce, and be in compliance with the scales and weighing regulations of the Packers and Stockyards Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture and be tested and certified by the state Division of Weights and Measures. The Division of Weights and Measures or an authorized scale company shall test all livestock scales at least twice per year. The Department of Agriculture may perform scale maintenance inspections at least twice per year at intervals that will provide alternate testing or inspection of each scale every 90 days. Special tests may be required as necessary. The basic maintenance tolerance for livestock scales is one pound per 1,000 pounds of test load. The responsibility for compliance of a scale with these requirements rests with the owner or manager of the scale.
Subd. 2.State livestock weighmasters.
The commissioner shall appoint state employees as necessary to provide state weighing service at public stockyards, packing plants, slaughtering houses, buying stations, or livestock market agencies on application from the business entity requesting official state livestock weighing. State livestock weighmasters shall weigh all livestock coming to these places for sale, keep a record of the weights, and furnish the interested parties a certificate of state weight stating the number of animals weighed and the weight of the animals. The certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts certified. An application for official state livestock weighing constitutes an agreement between the business entity requesting state weighing and the commissioner. The agreement is for one year beginning July 1 and ending the following June 30. The agreement automatically renews each year unless the business entity gives the commissioner a written notice of intent to terminate at least 360 days prior to July 1. Otherwise the commissioner shall continue to provide state weighing services in accordance with this chapter.
Subd. 3.Supervision and enforcement.
State livestock weighmasters have charge over the scales on which official certificates of state weight are issued to ensure compliance with scale maintenance and testing requirements and proper weighing procedures.
The commissioner shall appoint law compliance personnel as necessary to provide maintenance inspections, checkweighing, comparison weighing, and record audits and to investigate complaints in order to enforce this chapter.
The regulations pertaining to livestock and monorail scales adopted by the Packers and Stockyards Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture are applicable in Minnesota, and a memorandum of understanding with the Packers and Stockyards Administration provides for a cooperative state and federal enforcement program.
1974 c 347 s 10; 1977 c 299 s 8; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 26; 1Sp1985 c 10 s 44; 1Sp2001 c 4 art 6 s 77
The commissioner shall prescribe the fee necessary to cover the cost of state weighing, to be assessed and collected from the seller in the manner the commissioner may prescribe. The fee assessed must be the same, and the manner of collection of the fee must be uniform at all facilities. At any location where state weighing is performed in accordance with this chapter and the total annual fees collected are insufficient to pay the cost of the weighing, the annual deficit shall be assessed and collected in the manner the commissioner may prescribe. Additional money arising from the weighing of animals by the commissioner, which has been collected and retained by any person, shall be paid on demand to the commissioner. All money collected by the commissioner shall be deposited in the agricultural fund and credited to the livestock weighing account. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner to carry out the duties of section 17A.10 and for activities and duties required under chapter 31B.
1974 c 347 s 11; 1977 c 299 s 9; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 27; 1985 c 241 s 1; 1Sp1985 c 10 s 45; 1993 c 172 s 22; 1999 c 231 s 36
No state livestock weighmaster shall, during the weighmaster's term of service, be in any manner financially interested in the handling, shipping, purchase, or sale of livestock or in the employment of any person engaged therein.
1974 c 347 s 12; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 28
Any weigher who shall knowingly or carelessly weigh any livestock improperly, or give any false certificate of weight, or accept money or other consideration directly or indirectly for any neglect or improper performance of duty, or who shall be guilty of any neglect of duty, and any person who shall improperly influence or attempt to influence any such weigher in the performance of a duty by preventing proper access to the scales used in the weighing of livestock, or otherwise, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
1974 c 347 s 13; 1986 c 444
Any person, duly licensed or otherwise, who violates this chapter, for which violation a penalty has not been specifically set out, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor.
Subd. 2.Civil penalties.
(a) The commissioner, as an alternate to misdemeanor prosecution, may impose a civil penalty on a person who violates a statute or rule enforceable by the commissioner. For a first violation, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation. For a second or succeeding violation, the commissioner may impose a penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation.
(b) In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the commissioner may consider:
(3) the person's history of past violations;
(5) the economic benefit from the violations; and
(6) other factors identified in the commissioner's citation.
(c) For a second or succeeding violation, the commissioner shall determine the amount of a penalty by considering the factors in paragraph (b) and:
(1) similarity between the violations;
(2) time elapsed since the last violation; and
(3) the person's response to the most recent violation.
1974 c 347 s 14; 1981 c 54 s 3; 1991 c 288 s 6
If the commissioner believes that a person has violated this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter, the commissioner shall issue a written citation to the person by personal service or by certified mail. The citation must describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the statute, rule, or order alleged to have been violated. In addition, the citation must fix a reasonable time for the abatement of the violation and notify the person of the penalty, if any, proposed to be assessed. The citation must also advise that the person has 30 working days within which to notify the commissioner in writing that the person wishes to contest the citation, proposed penalty assessment, or time allowed for correction. The commissioner may issue notices instead of citations with respect to minor violations if the commissioner believes a notice will best serve the public interest.
Subd. 2.Final order.
If within 30 working days after receiving the commissioner's notice or citation the person fails to notify the commissioner in writing that the person intends to contest the citation, proposed penalty, assessment, or time allowed for correction in the citation, the citation and assessment as proposed become a final order and are not subject to further review. For good cause shown the commissioner may extend the time period for responding.
The time allowed for correcting a violation does not begin to run until the entry of a final order if the person has initiated review proceedings under this section in good faith. If the commissioner has reason to believe that a person has failed to correct a violation for which a citation has been issued within the time allowed, the commissioner shall notify the person by certified mail of the failure. The notification must state the penalty proposed to be assessed for the failure under section 17A.14 and must state that the person has 30 working days to notify the commissioner in writing that the person wishes to contest the notification or the proposed penalty assessment. If within 30 working days after receiving the notification the person fails to notify the commissioner in writing that the person intends to contest the notification or proposed penalty assessment, the notification and assessment as proposed become a final order and are not subject to further review. For good cause shown the commissioner may extend the time period for responding.
Subd. 4.Citation contest.
If a person who has received a citation or a proposed penalty assessment notifies the commissioner that the person intends to contest the citation or the proposed penalty assessment within the time limits in subdivisions 2 and 3, the commissioner shall file a complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings and serve a copy on the respondent by first class mail. The complaint must be served and copies filed within 40 days of receiving the notice of contest. The complaint must set forth all alleged violations and proposed penalties that are contested.
Subd. 5.Contested case hearing.
Notwithstanding chapter 14, after an answer has been timely filed the case must be heard as a contested case except that the report of the administrative law judge is the final decision of the Department of Agriculture.
1991 c 288 s 7
The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of Laws 1974, chapter 347 and shall promulgate, in the manner provided by law, such rules as the commissioner deems necessary or desirable, and may cooperate with any department of state or government, to carry out the provisions of sections 17A.01 to 17A.15. The commissioner or a duly authorized agent shall have the power to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, receive evidence, and shall have the power to require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all such documentary evidence relating to any matter under investigation or administrative proceeding.
1974 c 347 s 15; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444
It is the duty of each county attorney or city attorney to whom the commissioner reports a violation of this chapter to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted in the proper courts without delay and to be prosecuted in the manner required by law. Before a violation of this chapter is reported to a county attorney or city attorney for the institution of a criminal proceeding, the person against whom the proceeding is contemplated must be given appropriate notice and an opportunity to present views before the commissioner or the commissioner's designated agent, either orally or in writing, in person, or by attorney, with regard to the contemplated proceeding.
1991 c 288 s 8
The operation of a livestock market agency or the buying or selling of livestock as a dealer by a person not licensed and bonded as required by this chapter may be enjoined by the district court on petition from the commissioner upon a showing that a person is engaged in the business of a livestock market agency or livestock dealer as defined in section 17A.03 without the license and bond required by this chapter. The court shall enjoin the person from further activities as a livestock market agency or livestock dealer until the license and bond have been properly obtained. It is not necessary to show that any individual has been injured by the actions complained of in order to obtain the issuance of the injunction. The injunctive relief provided by this section is an additional remedy to the criminal penalties provided in this chapter.
1981 c 54 s 4
The department may audit records, including incoming purchase records of a livestock packer and shipping weights or transfer of weight invoices, in order to ensure there are no weight discrepancies in hot weight or grade and yield transactions.
1984 c 654 art 3 s 29