reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 17.52 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.52 — Purpose.

17.52 PURPOSE. It is hereby declared to be in the interest of the public welfare that Minnesota farmers who produce agricultural commodities for domestic and foreign markets shall be permitted to act separately, or jointly in cooperation with handlers, dealers and processors of such products, with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the University of Minnesota, and any other interested agencies, to promote and stimulate the use, sale and consumption of such commodities and to improve methods of production, processing and marketing thereof; it is further declared that provision for the establishment of Minnesota agricultural commodity research and promotion councils is deemed an appropriate means to accomplish such objectives. Sections 17.51 to 17.69 shall not be construed to abrogate or limit in any way the rights, powers, duties and functions of the commissioner of agriculture or any other agency of the state, but shall be supplementary thereto, and in aid and cooperation therewith. History:  1969 c 1021 s 2; 1976 c 149 s 8,62 subd 2
MN Stat § 17.56 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.56 — Council To Formulate And Submit Promotional Order.

17.56 COUNCIL TO FORMULATE AND SUBMIT PROMOTIONAL ORDER. Subdivision 1. Formulation. Within 15 days after certification by the commissioner of its election the first council for producers of a particular commodity shall meet and formulate a promotional order establishing a program for development, promotion, advertising, research, distribution and the expansion of the sale, use and consumption of the commodity it represents and establishing a checkoff fee to be paid by producers to finance the proposed activities. Subd. 2. Hearings. The commissioner, after consultation with the council, shall hold public hearings on the proposed promotional order in areas and at times affording reasonable opportunities for producers to attend. After such hearings and after consultation with the council, the commissioner shall determine whether or not the promotional order shall be amended, modified or supplemented. If changes or additions of substance are made, commissioner shall hold public hearings on the amended or supplemented promotional order. Subd. 3. Referendum. Following the hearings, the commissioner shall conduct a referendum on the proposed final promotional order. At least ten days' notice of the time and places of such referendum shall be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation in each county affected. Notice shall also be given to other media in each county affected. A complete copy of the promotional order shall be given to each county extension office in any county involved in the referendum to afford all producers of the commodity access to complete information about the promotional order and the referendum. Subd. 4. Adoption. The promotional order shall become effective if approved by a majority of those voting. Subd. 5. Failed referendum. If a referendum is conducted and a proposed promotional order is not approved, the commissioner shall not conduct another referendum on any promotional order for the same commodity until one year has elapsed, except for the Minnesota Canola Council, for which six months must have elapsed. History:  1969 c 1021 s 6; 1973 c 242 s 2; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 582 s 3; 1996 c 290 s 1; 1997 c 187 art 3 s 5
MN Stat § 17.57 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.57 — Additional Powers And Duties Of Council.

17.57 ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL. Subdivision 1. Adoption of rules. Each council shall at its regular meetings adopt rules consistent with sections 17.51 to 17.69 for the administration of the promotional order. Subd. 2. Budget. Each council shall prepare and submit to the commissioner on a date the commissioner determines an estimated budget for the operation of the promotional order. Subd. 3. Report. Each council shall prepare an annual report on the programs pursuant to its promotional order for the previous operating year. The report shall be mailed to each county extension office in any county involved in the promotional order. Subd. 4. Collection of checkoff fees and data. The promotion order shall provide a procedure for the collection of the checkoff fee by each council to finance promotional orders and for the collection of information and data which are necessary for the proper administration of orders. Subd. 5. Donations. Each council is authorized to accept donations of funds, property, services or other assistance from public or private sources for the purpose of furthering the objectives of sections 17.51 to 17.69. Subd. 6. Right to sue and be sued. Each council shall have the right to investigate and prosecute in the name of the state of Minnesota any action or suit to enforce the collection or insure payment of the checkoff fees authorized by the provisions of sections 17.51 to 17.69, to sue and be sued in the name of the council to hire attorneys as necessary and to do all other things necessary to the administration and implementation of sections 17.51 to 17.69. Subd. 7. Financial statement. Each council shall make available an annual financial statement of the council to any producer upon request. History:  1969 c 1021 s 7; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 582 s 4; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 187 art 3 s 6
MN Stat § 17.58 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.58 — Powers And Duties Of Commissioner.

17.58 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER. Subdivision 1. Contracts. A council, with the approval of the commissioner, may contract and cooperate with any person, firm, corporation or association, or with any local, state, federal or international agency or institution, for market development, education, publicity, promotion, research, transportation and advertising within the purposes of sections 17.51 to 17.69. Subd. 2. Personnel. The council, with the approval of the commissioner, shall appoint, employ, provide necessary bond, discharge, fix compensation for and prescribe the duties of the first chief administrative officer of any council established after July 1, 1982. The council, after consultation with the commissioner, shall appoint, employ, provide necessary bond, discharge, fix compensation for and provide duties of subsequent chief administrative officers. A council may employ other personnel as it deems necessary. Subd. 3. General powers. In administering sections 17.51 to 17.69, the commissioner shall have such other powers as may be conferred by law not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 17.51 to 17.69. The commissioner is authorized to cooperate with any appropriate agency of any state for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 17.51 to 17.69, and in securing uniformity of administration and enforcement. Subd. 4. Rules. The organization, conduct of elections, referenda, and meetings of a council and the administration of a promotional order for any commodity shall be governed by rules promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to chapter 14. Subd. 5. Audits. Each year the commissioner shall conduct a fiscal audit, and at least every three years the commissioner shall conduct a compliance audit of each council. A compliance audit is an audit to determine that a council has complied with the terms of sections 17.51 to 17.69, with all other applicable federal or state laws, and with the terms of any promotional orders established. History:  1969 c 1021 s 8; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 582 s 5; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 17.60 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.60 — Compensation And Expenses.

17.60 COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES. Each member of a council, except the commissioner, shall be entitled to a reasonable per diem, not exceeding the same rate of compensation per day as is authorized for payment to members of advisory councils and committees pursuant to section 15.059, subdivision 3, while engaged in the performance of duties, and actual expenses incurred while attending council meetings or executive committee meetings. Payments to council members for other official business of the council require approval by the council. History:  1969 c 1021 s 10; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 582 s 9; 1986 c 444
MN Stat § 17.61 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.61 — Legal Counsel.

17.61 LEGAL COUNSEL. The council may appoint an attorney who shall act for the council and the commissioner when required. The council shall fix the compensation and terms of employment of such attorney. The provisions of chapter 8 shall not apply to this attorney. History:  1969 c 1021 s 11; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2
MN Stat § 17.62 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.62 — Council Records.

17.62 COUNCIL RECORDS. All of the records of a council, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be open to the public and shall be available for inspection by any person for any lawful purpose, provided, however, that the council shall be empowered to make reasonable rules concerning the inspection of the records, the time or place of inspection, or the manner in which the information shall be made available. Financial information pertaining to individual participating producers shall not be open to the public. History:  1969 c 1021 s 12; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 582 s 10
MN Stat § 17.63 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.63 — Refund Of Fees.

17.63 REFUND OF FEES. (a) Any producer, except a producer of potatoes in area number one, as listed in section 17.54, subdivision 9, a producer of wheat or barley, a producer of canola, or a producer of cultivated wild rice, may, by the use of forms to be provided by the commissioner and upon presentation of such proof as the commissioner requires, have the checkoff fee paid pursuant to sections 17.51 to 17.69 fully or partially refunded, provided the checkoff fee was remitted on a timely basis. The request for refund must be received in the office of the commissioner within the time specified in the promotion order following the payment of the checkoff fee. In no event shall these requests for refund be accepted more often than 12 times per year. Refund shall be made by the commissioner and council within 30 days of the request for refund provided that the checkoff fee sought to be refunded has been received. Rules governing the refund of checkoff fees for all commodities shall be formulated by the commissioner, shall be fully outlined in the promotion order, and shall be available for the information of all producers concerned with the referendum. (b) The commissioner must allow partial refund requests from corn producers who have checked off and must allow for assignment of payment to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association if the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council requests such action by the commissioner. (c) The Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council shall not elect to impose membership on any individual producer not requesting a partial refund or assignment of payment to the association. (d) For any wheat, barley, or cultivated wild rice for which the checkoff fee must be paid pursuant to sections 17.51 to 17.69 and for which a checkoff fee or fee that serves a comparable purpose in a jurisdiction outside Minnesota had been previously paid for the same wheat, barley, or cultivated wild rice, the producer of the wheat, barley, or cultivated wild rice is exempt from payment of the checkoff fee. The commissioner, in consultation with the Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Barley Research and Promotion Council, and Cultivated Wild Rice Research and Promotion Council, shall determine jurisdictions outside of Minnesota which collect a checkoff fee or fee that serves a comparable purpose. In order to qualify for the exemption, the producer must demonstrate to the first purchaser that a checkoff fee or fee has been paid to such a jurisdiction. History:  1969 c 1021 s 13; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 582 s 11; 1986 c 444; 1990 c 477 s 1; 1991 c 191 s 1; 1992 c 513 art 2 s 14; 1994 c 452 s 4; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 30; 2014 c 181 s 4
MN Stat § 17.64 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.64 — Termination Of Order.

17.64 TERMINATION OF ORDER. Subdivision 1. By council. The council after consultation with the commissioner and by a majority vote shall suspend or terminate a promotional order whenever it finds, after a public hearing, that an order is contrary to or does not effectuate the purposes or provisions of sections 17.51 to 17.69, provided that the suspension or termination shall not become effective until the expiration of the current marketing year. Subd. 2. By referendum. Upon petition of the same number of producers as required to initiate the promotional order, the commissioner shall within 60 days conduct a referendum to determine whether or not the promotional order shall be continued. The commissioner shall terminate the order at the end of the current marketing year if a majority of the producers voting in the referendum vote in favor of termination. The petition of producers shall include a statement certifying that the signatures are those of qualified producers of the commodity involved. The commissioner shall not conduct a referendum for termination of a promotional order if a referendum for termination of the same promotional order has been conducted within the preceding year. History:  1969 c 1021 s 14; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 582 s 12; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 187 art 3 s 7
MN Stat § 17.66 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.66 — Permitted Activities.

17.66 PERMITTED ACTIVITIES. No activity, including meetings, undertaken in pursuance of the provisions of sections 17.51 to 17.69 and intended to benefit the producers, handlers and processors of such agricultural commodity shall be deemed or considered illegal or in restraint of trade. History:   1969 c 1021 s 16
MN Stat § 17.67 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.67 — Penalty For Violations.

17.67 PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS. Any person who violates any provision of sections 17.51 to 17.69 or any rule of the commissioner promulgated pursuant to sections 17.51 to 17.69 is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any first handler who fails to make collections or to file a return or to pay any assessment within the time required by sections 17.51 to 17.69, or who files a falsified return, shall be liable to the council for the amount due, plus a penalty of six percent of the amount due, plus one percent of the amount for each month of delay. If satisfied that the delay was excusable, the council may return all or any part of the penalty. Penalties shall be paid to the council and disposed of as provided with respect to other money collected under sections 17.51 to 17.69. History:  1969 c 1021 s 17; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2; 1982 c 582 s 13
MN Stat § 17.69 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.69 — Nonliability Of State.

17.69 NONLIABILITY OF STATE. No liability shall be imposed upon the state of Minnesota for any acts or omissions of the commissioner or any council established pursuant to sections 17.51 to 17.69. History:  1969 c 1021 s 19; 1976 c 149 s 62 subd 2
MN Stat § 17.691 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.691 — Citation.

17.691 CITATION. Sections 17.691 to 17.701 shall be known and may be cited as the "Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973." History:   1973 c 736 s 1
MN Stat § 17.692 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.692 — Declaration Of Policy.

17.692 DECLARATION OF POLICY. Agricultural products are produced in Minnesota by many individual farmers, ranchers, and handlers scattered throughout the state. The efficient production and marketing of agricultural products by farmers, ranchers, and handlers is of vital concern to their welfare and to the general economy of Minnesota. The marketing and bargaining position of individual farmers, ranchers, and handlers will be adversely affected unless they are free to join together voluntarily in cooperative organizations as authorized by law. Interference with this right is contrary to the public interest, adversely affects the free and orderly flow of goods in interstate and foreign commerce, and affects the welfare of the people of Minnesota. It is, therefore, declared to be the policy of this state and the purpose of this chapter to establish standards of fair practices required of handlers and producers in their dealings in agricultural products and to encourage settlement of disputes between handlers and producers of agricultural products. History:  1973 c 736 s 2; 1998 c 373 s 2
MN Stat § 17.693 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.693 — Definitions.

17.693 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 17.691 to 17.702, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them. Subd. 2. Association; association of producers. "Association" or "association of producers" means an association of producers of agricultural commodities engaged in marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing an agricultural commodity into agricultural products on behalf of its members who are producers of the agricultural commodity, which has been accredited by the commissioner. Subd. 3.  [Repealed, 1996 c 310 s 1] Subd. 4. Producer. "Producer" means any person, who in any one calendar year within the previous two calendar years, produces or causes to be produced any agricultural commodity in quantity beyond the person's own family use, and who is able to transfer, during the calendar year, to a handler or an association a merchantable title to the agricultural commodity or provide management, labor, machinery, facilities, or any other production input, with the assumption of risk, for the production of the agricultural commodity under a written contract. Subd. 5. Agricultural commodity. "Agricultural commodity" includes all agricultural goods produced under contract for marketing as defined by the commissioner of agriculture. It does not include any commodity sold by a producer to another producer for the other's own exclusive use and not for resale. The kinds, types and subtypes of products to be classed together as an agricultural commodity for the purposes of sections 17.691 to 17.701 shall be determined by the commissioner on the basis of common usage and practice. Subd. 6. Handler. "Handler" means a person, other than an association, engaged in the business or practice of acquiring agricultural commodities from producers or associations for processing or sale; grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural commodities received from producers or associations; contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements with or on behalf of producers or associations with respect to the production of any agricultural commodity; or acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act specified above. It does not include a producer who sells at a retail establishment which the producer owns and operates or who sells at a produce market, agricultural commodities produced by the producer and agricultural commodities produced by another producer subject to value limitation established by the commissioner. Subd. 7.  [Repealed, 1996 c 310 s 1] Subd. 8. Marketing year. "Marketing year" shall mean, generally, any time between the second day of February of the previous calendar year and the first day of February of the subsequent year, unless the commissioner shall determine an alternative time period for a specific agricultural commodity to be designated as its marketing year. History:  1973 c 736 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1998 c 373 s 3-5; 2001 c 161 s 57
MN Stat § 17.695 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 17 - 43 — Agriculture|Chapter 17 — Department Of Agriculture|Section 17.695 — Marketing And Bargaining Committee.

17.695 MARKETING AND BARGAINING COMMITTEE. Subdivision 1. Establishment. After accreditation of the association, the association shall establish and authorize a marketing and bargaining committee to negotiate, as the association's exclusive agent, with handlers for the sale and marketing of the agricultural commodity for which the association was accredited. Subd. 2. Membership. This committee shall be comprised of members of the association elected by the association in a secret ballot election, except that the association may contract with legal counsel who shall, at the discretion of the association, be eligible for membership on the committee. Subd. 3. Eligibility. The production of the agricultural commodity shall comprise a significant portion of the total producing operation of each committee member. Subd. 4. Ineligible members. Members who have any quantity contracted with a producer owned and controlled processing cooperative are not eligible to serve on a marketing and bargaining committee for such a commodity. History:   1973 c 736 s 5