ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                           H.B. 547

(a)     There is a Task Force on the Marketing of Grain and Other Agricultural
Products.

(b)     The Task Force consists of the following members:

(1)     two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President
of the Senate;

(2)     two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of
the House;

(3)     the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary's designee;

(4)     the Secretary of Business and Economic Development, or the
Secretary's designee;

(5)     the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary's designee;

(6)     the Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration, or the
Executive Director's designee;

(7)     one member of the Maryland Farm Bureau;

(8)     one member of the Maryland Grain Producers Association;

(9)     one representative of MidAtlantic Farm Credit; and

(10)   the following members appointed by the Governor:

(i) one representative of the ocean shipping industry;
(10) (ii) one representative of the trucking industry;
(11) (iii) one representative of the rail industry;
(12) (iv) one representative of the barge industry; and

(13)   (v) two licensed grain dealers; and

(14)   one representative of MidAtlantic Farm Credit.

(c)      The Governor shall designate the chairman of the Task Force.

(d)     The Department of Agriculture shall provide staff for the Task Force.

(e)     A member of the Task Force:

(1)     may not receive compensation; but

(2)     is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

(f)      The Task Force shall:

(1) evaluate options and develop strategies for the marketing of grain,
particularly soybeans, and other State agricultural products, including an analysis of
the feasibility of:

- 3635 -