Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2145%20intr.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&i=2145
Timestamp: 2018-02-22 15:56:25
Document Index: 312674561

Matched Legal Cases: ['§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19']

hb2145 intr
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §19-2H-1, §19-2H-2, §19-2H-3, §19-2H-4, §19-2H-5, §19-2H-6, §19-2H-7, §19-2H-8, §19-2H-9, §19-2H-10, §19-2H-11, §19-2H-12 and §19-2H-13, all relating to creating the "Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act"; making legislative findings; setting forth information requirements regarding the sale of genetically engineered seeds; plants and animals; identifying certain contractual provisions to be against public policy; preventing noncompetitive practices involving technology fees; establishing measures to be taken to avoid cross pollination of genetically engineered plants and seeds; requiring genetically engineered seeds to be so labeled; prohibiting loan discrimination; providing penalties; providing for civil and citizen suits; defining terms; and authorizing rule-making.
ARTICLE 2H. GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROP AND ANIMAL FARMER ____ PROTECTION ACT.
_____This article shall be known as the "Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act."
_____The Legislature finds the following:
_____(a) Agribusiness and biotechnology companies have rapidly consolidated market power at the same time as the average farmer's profits and viability have significantly declined.
_____(b) Policies promoted by biotech corporations, such as patenting of seeds, depriving farmers the right to save seed, unreasonable seed contracts, and intrusion into everyday farm operations, have systematically acted to remove basic farmer rights enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture and essential for agricultural sustainability and the survival of family farms.
_____(c) The introduction of genetically engineered crops has also created obstacles for farmers, including the loss of markets and increased liability concerns.
_____(d) To mitigate the abuses upon farmers, a clear set of farmer rights must be established.
_____For the purposes of this article, these definitions are applicable unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
_____(1) "Genetically engineered animal" means an animal that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced with a genetically engineered material. An animal shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material or to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if the animal has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material or is the offspring of an animal that has been so injected or treated.
_____(2) "Genetically engineered plant" means a plant that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced from a genetically engineered seed. A plant shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material if the plant has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material (except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be construed to mean that the plant is produced with a genetically engineered material).
_____(3) "Genetically engineered seed" means a seed that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced with a genetically engineered material. A seed shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material or to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if the seed (or the plant from which the seed is derived) has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material (except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be construed to mean that any resulting seeds are produced with a genetically engineered material).
_____(4) "Genetically engineered material" means material that has been altered at the molecular or cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes (including recombinant DNA and RNA techniques, cell fusion, microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes), other than a means consisting exclusively of breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitro fertilization, tissue culture, or mutagenesis.
_____(5) "Biotech company" means a person engaged in the business of creating genetically engineered material or obtaining the patent rights to that material for the purposes of commercial exploitation of that material. The term does not include the employees of such person.
_____(6) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture.
§19-2H-4. Information requirements regarding sale of genetically __________ engineered seeds, plants and animals.
_____(a) Full disclosure of risks of use. -- A biotech company that sells any genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed that the biotech company knows, or has reason to believe, will be used by the purchaser in this state to produce an agricultural commodity shall provide written notice to the purchaser that fully and clearly discloses the possible legal and environmental risks that the use of the genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed may pose to the purchaser.
_____(b) Effect of disclosure. -- The provision of written notice under subsection (a) of this section regarding the risks of using a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed does not relieve the biotech company from any liability that may result from the release of genetically engineered material into the environment. The receipt of the written notice by the purchaser shall not be construed to create any liability on the purchaser.
_____(a) Certain contract terms and limitations unenforceable. -- If a contract for the sale of a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed to a purchaser for use in agricultural production contains a provision described in subsection (b) of this section, the provision is hereby declared to be against public policy and therefore void and unenforceable as a matter of law.
_____(b) Prohibited terms and limitations. -- The provisions referred to in subsection (a) of this section are any of the following:
_____(1) In the case of a sale of genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, a provision that prohibits the purchaser from retaining a portion of the harvested crop for future crop planting by the purchaser or that charges a fee to retain a portion of the harvested crop for future crop planting;
_____(2) A provision that limits the ability of the purchaser to recover damages from the biotech company for a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed that does not perform as advertised;
_____(3) A provision that shifts any liability from the biotech company to the purchaser;
_____(4) A provision that requires the purchaser to grant agents of the seller access to the purchaser's property;
_____(5) A provision that mandates arbitration of any disputes between the biotech company and the purchaser;
_____(6) A provision that mandates any court of jurisdiction for settlement of disputes;
_____(7) A provision that mandates that the purchaser pay liquidated damages of more than a technology fee or similar fee itself, plus interest; or
_____(8) A provision that imposes any unfair condition upon the purchaser, as determined by the commissioner or a court.
_____(a) Disclosure of technology fees. -- Any biotech company that sells a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed for use in agricultural production in this state shall notify the commissioner, at such times and in such manner as the commissioner shall require, of the following:
_____(1) The nature and amount of any technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees collected by the biotech company in each country where that genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed is marketed; and
_____(2) In the case of genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, the prices charged by the biotech company for herbicides associated with that genetically engineered seed or plant.
_____(b) Prohibition on noncompetitive practices. -- A biotech company that sells a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed for use in agricultural production in this state may not charge higher technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees for sales of the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed in this state than in other countries in which the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed is sold.
_____(c) Publication of data. -- The commissioner shall publish all data received under subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section every six months in an electronic format.
_____(a) Designation of predominately outcrossed pollinators. -- The commissioner shall determine which plants are predominately outcrossed pollinators and make such information available to persons who sell or purchase such plants or the seeds of such plants for use in agricultural production.
_____(b) Minimizing the negative effects of predominately outcrossed pollinators. -- The commissioner shall propose rules to require effective mitigation strategies for any crop that is a predominately outcrossed pollinator.
_____(c) Providing instructions to avoid cross pollination. -- The seller of any genetically engineered plant or genetically engineered seed that has been identified as a predominately outcrossed pollinator shall provide written instructions to each purchaser of the plants or seeds regarding how to plant and cultivate the plants or seeds so as to avoid cross contamination.
_____A seed company or other person may not sell, or offer for sale, seeds for planting that are labeled as nongenetically engineered or otherwise represented as not containing genetically engineered material if the commissioner finds that any sample of the seeds contains genetically engineered material.
_____Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective forty-five days after the date of the enactment of this article, a person may not manufacture, distribute, sell, plant, or otherwise use any seed that is genetically engineered to produce a plant whose seeds are not fertile or are rendered infertile by the application of an external chemical inducer.
_____A financial institution may not discriminate against an agricultural producer that refuses to use genetically engineered plants or animals or add as condition to a loan the requirement that the producer use genetically engineered plants or animals.
_____(a) Authority to assess penalties. -- The commissioner may assess, by written order, a civil penalty against a biotech company or other person that violates a provision of this article, including a rule promulgated or order issued under this article. Each violation, and each day during which a violation continues, shall be a separate offense.
_____(b) Amount and factors in assessing penalties. -- The maximum amount that may be assessed under this section for a violation may not exceed $100,000. In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the commissioner shall take into account:
_____(1) The gravity of the violation;
_____(2) The degree of culpability;
_____(3) The size and type of the business; and
_____(4) Any history of prior offenses under this article or other laws administered by the commissioner.
_____(c) The civil penalty is payable to the State of West Virginia and is collectible in any manner now or hereafter provided for collection of debt. If any person liable to pay the civil penalty neglects or refuses to pay the same, the amount of the civil penalty, together with interest at ten percent, is a lien in favor of the State of West Virginia upon the property, both real and personal, of such a person after the same has been entered and docketed to record in the county where such property is situated. The clerk of the county, upon receipt of the certified copy of such, shall enter same to record without requiring the payment of costs as a condition precedent to recording.
_____(a) General. -- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person may commence a civil action in an appropriate circuit court against:
_____(1) A person who has introduced a genetically engineered organism into the environment without approval under this article;
_____(2) The commissioner, where there is alleged a failure of the commissioner to perform any act or duty under this article that is the responsibility of the commissioner and is not discretionary; or
_____(3) Another state agency, if there is alleged a failure of the agency to perform any act or duty under this article that is the responsibility of the agency and is not discretionary.
_____(b) Relief. -- In a civil action under this section, the circuit court involved may, as the case may be:
_____(1) Enforce the compliance of a person with the applicable provisions referred to in the complaint; or
_____(2) Order the commissioner or the agency head to perform the act or duty referred to in the complaint.
_____(c) Limitations. --
_____(1) A civil action may not be commenced under subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section prior to sixty days after the plaintiff has provided to the commissioner notice of the violation involved; and
_____(2) A civil action may not be commenced under subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section against the commissioner if the commissioner has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action in a circuit court to enforce compliance with the applicable provisions referred to in the complaint.
_____(d) Right of commissioner to intervene. -- In any civil action under subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner, if not a party, may intervene as a matter of right.
_____(e) Award of costs; filing of bond. -- In a civil action under subsection (a) of this section, the circuit court involved may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party whenever the court determines such an award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure.
_____(f) No restrictions. -- This section does not restrict any right that the commissioner or a person (or class of persons) may have under any other provision of this code or common law to seek enforcement of the provisions of this article, or to seek any other relief (including relief against the commissioner or the head of another state agency).
_____The commissioner shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement and enforce this article.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the "Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act." The bill makes legislative findings, sets forth information requirements regarding the sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants and animals, identifies certain contractual provisions to be against public policy and prevents noncompetitive practices involving technology fees. The bill also sets forth measures to be taken to avoid cross pollination of genetically engineered plants and seeds and requires genetically engineered seeds to be so labeled. The bill further prohibits loan discrimination. Also, the bill provides for civil and citizen suits. The bill defines terms and provides rule-making authority.