Resolve, To Establish the Task Force on Milk Tier Pricing An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0789
Committee Amendment CA_A_H281 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 540, L.D. 789, Bill, 
Lessen the Impact of High Feed and Fuel Costs on Maine Dairy Farmers" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish the Task Force on Milk Tier Pricing' 
"An Act To 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force on Milk Tier 
Pricing, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 11 
members, one of whom is the Executive Director of the Maine Milk Commission. The 
Executive Director of the Maine Milk Commission shall invite the following to 
participate as members of the task force: 
1. The Executive Director of the Maine Dairy Industry Association; 
2. One representative of a large milk processor; 
3. One representative of a small milk processor, giving preference to an organic milk 
processor; 
4. One representative of a Maine milk retailer; 
5. One representative from each of the 4 milk pricing tiers; 
6. One representative from the farm equipment industry; and 
7. One representative from the grain industry; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Compensation. Resolved: That members of the task force are not 
entitled to reimbursement for their expenses; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Convening of commission; chair. Resolved: That all invitations to 
join the task force must be made to designated members no later than 30 days following 
the effective date of this resolve. The Executive Director of the Maine Milk Commission 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A .. to H.P. 540, L.D. 789 
shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force, at which the members shall elect 
a chair from its members; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Staffing. Resolved: That, within existing resources, the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall provide staffing to the task force; and be it 
further 
Sec. 6. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall study the current dairy 
stabilization tier program, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, chapter 611, 
to determine if any modifications are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the 
program; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 4, 2013, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 
The committee is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
126th Legislature based on the recommendations of the task force.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which was a concept draft, with a resolve. It 
proposes to establish the II-member Task Force on Milk Tier Pricing to study the current 
dairy stabilization tier program to determine if any modifications are necessary to ensure 
its effectiveness. 
The amendment requires the task force to report its findings and 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry by December 4,2013. The committee is authorized to report out a bill based on 
the task force's recommendations. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Approved: OS/23/l3 
~ac 
LD789 
LR 1544(02) 
An Act To Lessen the Impact of High Feed and Fuel Costs on Maine Dairy Farmers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' ( H -dg 0 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry associated with convening the task force 
and providing staffing assistance can be accomplished within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1544(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1