An Act To Establish a Moratorium on Genetically Engineered Plants
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1219
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S229 (Senate)

SENATE 
AMENDMENT "A" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 
893, 
L.D. 
1219, Bill, 
"An Act 
To Establish a 
Moratorium on 
Genetically Engineered Plants" 
Amend the amendment by striking out the substitute title and 
replacing it with the following: 
'Resolve, 
To 
Study 
the 
Current 
and 
Future 
Benefits 
of 
Agricultural Biotechnology' 
Further amend the amendment by striking out all of sections 
and 2 and inserting in their place the following: 
'Sec. 1. Study of potential benefits to Maine's agriculture and 
forestry industries through use of currently available and future 
agricultural biotechnology products and practices and its relationship to 
organic marketing. Resolved: 
That the Conunissioner of Agriculture, 
Food 
and 
Rural 
Resources 
shall 
convene 
a 
working 
group to 
evaluate 
the 
advantages 
and 
disadvantages 
and 
make 
reconunendations 
regarding 
current 
and 
future 
benefits 
of 
agricultural biotechnology to the majority of Maine's farmers and 
citizens. 
The working group shall examine the growing organic 
market 
sector 
in 
the 
State 
and 
examine 
the 
issue 
of 
cross-pollination of organic crops with biotech and nonorganic 
crops and potential loss of market premium. 
To further study how 
the organic industry can be promoted and protected, the working 
group shall review the National Organic Program of the Uni ted 
States 
Department 
of 
Agriculture's 
Agricultural 
Marketing 
Service. 
In addition, using available data from Maine's organic 
farming industry, the working group shall examine sales, farm 
locations, total acreage and type and maturation of crops planted 
in order to ascertain the likelihood, if any, of loss of market 
premium due to cross-pollination with biotech-derived crops. 
The 
conunissioner or the conunissioner's designee shall serve as chair 
and invite the following to participate as members of the working 
group: 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE 
AMENDMENT "A" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 893, 
L.D. 1219 
1. 
Standing 
selected 
Two 
members 
of the Senate 
who 
serve 
Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation 
by the President of the Senate; 
on 
and 
the Joint 
Forestry, 
2. 
Three members of the House of Representative who serve 
on the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry, selected by the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
A scientist from the Maine Agricultural Center at the 
University of Maine; 
4. 
A 
representative 
from 
the 
Grocery Manufacturers 
of 
America or National Food Processors Association; and 
5. 
A representative from each of the following entities, 
selected by the respective body or executive director of each: 
A. 
The Maine Farm Bureau; 
B. 
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association; and 
C. 
CropLife 
America, 
a 
trade 
association 
representing 
biotech companies. 
The 
participants 
in 
the 
working 
group 
serve 
without 
compensation, except that the legislative members of the working 
group are entitled to the legislative per diem, as defined in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for 
travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance 
at authorized meetings of the working group. 
The Department of 
Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall provide staff for the 
working 
group 
using 
existing 
department 
resources. 
The 
commissioner shall report the results of the study to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no 
later than December 15, 2003; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Authority to report out legislation. Resolved: 
That the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Agriculture, 
Conservation 
and 
Forestry may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session 
of the l2lst Legislature pursuant to the recommendations of the 
commissioners' study report.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources to convene a 
working group to study the 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT "A" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"A" to H. P . 
L.D. 1219 
893, 
potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology. 
It authorizes 
the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and 
Forestry to report out legislation to the Second Regular Session 
of the 12lst Legislature regarding its findings. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SPONSORED BY: ~~~ 
(Senator KNEELAND) 
COUNTY: 
Aroostook 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Legislative Study 
Approved: OS/21103 ;t;vae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1219 
Resolve, To Study the Current and Future Benefits of Agricultural 
Biotechnology 
LR0544(04) 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment '!A" to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sen. Kneeland 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current Costs - Legislative Study 
This amendment allows Legislators on the working group to be compensated. The projected costs to fund per diem 
and expenses for the legislators of the working group are $2,100 in fiscal year 2003-04. The Legislature has budgetpA 
$30,000 in fiscal year 2003-04 for legislative studies. Whether the amount is sufficient to fund all studies in fiscal 
year 2003-04 will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. 
LR0544(4) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1