An Act to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, and for other purposes.
PL 95-409 (S.3272), enacted 10/02/1978

92 STAT. 886 
PUBLIC LAW 95-409—OCT. 2, 1978 
Oct. 2. 1978 
[S. 3272] 
Packers and 
Stockyards Act, 
1921, 
amendment. 
7 use 181. 
7 use 205, 206, 
208. 
Public Law 95-409 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, and for other purposes. 
Be it eThocted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Packers 
and Stockyards Act, 1921, is amended as follows: 
(a) Section 305 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 206) is amended by inserting 
immediately before the period at the end thereof the following: 
": Provided^ That rates and charges based upon percentages of the 
gross sales prices of livestock shall not be prohibited merely because 
they are based upon such percentages rather than on a per head basis"; 
and 
(b) Section 310 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 211) is amended by— 
(1) in the introductory paragraph, striking out "unjust, unrea-
sonable, or discriminatory" and inserting in lieu thereof "violative 
of section 304,305, or 307"; 
(2) in subsection (a) thereof— 
(A) striking out "just and reasonable" and inserting after 
the word "May" the following: "in accordance with the stand-
ard set forth in section 305"; 
(B) striking out "as both the maximum and minimum" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "as the maximum or minimum 
or both"; 
(C) inserting immediately before the semicolon at the end 
thereof ": Provided^ That the Secretary shall prescribe the 
rate or charge, or rates or charges, on a percentage or per 
head basis at the election of the stockyard owner or market 
agency, or on any other basis elected by the stockyard owner 
or market agency unless the Secretary finds such other basis 
to be violative of section 305"; and 
(3) in subsection (b), striking out "more or less than the rate 
or cnarge" and inserting in lieu thereof "other than the rate or 
charge or rates or charges". 
PUBLIC LAW 95-409—OCT. 2, 1978 
92 STAT. 887 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of Agriculture shall appoint an interagency Interagency task 
task force within the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of force, 
analyzing and recommending methods by which any livestock sellers, 7 USC 221 note, 
or their agents, may furnish to livestock marketing agencies, dealers, 
or packers, who purchase livestock or provide marketing services, 
information concerning the existence of any lien or security interest 
in or against such livestock. The Secretary shall submit a report of the Report to 
findings and conclusions of such task force, including legislative rec- congressional 
ommendations, to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For- committees, 
estry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives no later than February 1, 1979. 
Approved October 2, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1337 accompanying H.R. 9482 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-1053 (Comm. on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Aug. 4, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 19, H.R. 9482 considered and passed House; passage vacated and S. 3272 
passed in lieu.