4990

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

(House Joint Resolution No. 91)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Grain Indemnity Fund

FOR the purpose of requesting the Secretary of Agriculture
to appoint a Committee to study the Grain Indemnity
Fund law for the purpose of suggesting changes and
improvements to the law.

WHEREAS, Chapter 767 of the Acts of 1981 created the
Grain Indemnity Fund, which was effective July 1, 1981; and

WHEREAS, Problems have arisen with the implementation
of the Grain Indemnity Fund; and

WHEREAS, There is no general agreement as to the proper
method of funding for the Grain Indemnity Fund.

WHEREAS, There is a need to clarify how best to carry
out the purposes of the law which was meant to protect
farmers and producers of grains against bankruptcies and
embezzlements in the payment for their grain; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Secretary of Agriculture is requested to appoint a committee
to study the Grain Indemnity Fund law for the purpose of
suggesting ways in which to alter the law to allow it to
function better, including studying how to collect money for
the Fund, whether the money collected for the Fund will be
meaningful, can the Fund protect out-of-State as well as in
State people, and whether stored grain can be protected; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee be composed of members
representing all facets of the grain production and grain
purchasing industries to be appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of Agriculture designate
the chairman of the committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings to the
Secretary of Agriculture and the General Assembly by
December 1, 1982; and be it further

RESOLVED, That staff for the committee be provided by
the State Department of Agriculture; and be it further