HOUSE BILL NO. 5203

November 06, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Witwer, Hammoud, Ellison, Kennedy, Love, Lasinski, Hood, Clemente, Sowerby, Shannon, Tate, Manoogian, Sabo, Cherry, Pagan, Brixie, Haadsma, Wittenberg, Guerra and Bolden and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

A bill to create the office of the small farms coordinator in the executive branch; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state departments and officials.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Coordinator" means the small farms coordinator.

(b) "Department" means the department of agriculture and rural development.

(c) "Farm" means that term as defined in section 2 of the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.

(d) "Office" means the office of the small farms coordinator created under this act.

(e) "Small farm" means a farm that is organized as a proprietorship, partnership, or family corporation, that is not operated by a hired manager, and that has gross sales less than $250,000.00.

Sec. 3. (1) The office of the small farms coordinator is created in the department.

(2) The governor shall appoint a small farms coordinator with the advice and consent of the senate. The individual appointed as the coordinator must be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the office and the coordinator.

Sec. 5. The coordinator shall establish procedures for the office for budgeting, expending money, and employing personnel according to the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1101 to 18.1594.

Sec. 7. The office shall do all of the following:

(a) Promote diversification of agriculture.

(b) Assist in connecting and communicating small farm concerns with proper state departments or state agencies and follow the inquiry through to completion.

(c) Create and operate an internet website for small farms that does all of the following:

(i) Provides resources to support small farms that build, expand, or modify operations.

(ii) Provides instructions and support on the application for and receipt of relevant permits and licenses.

(iii) Maintains a list that contains up-to-date state and federal laws and regulations that impact small farms.