SR800: SR800 Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; create

26 LC 44 3445 Senate Resolution 800 By: Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Echols of the 49th, Sims of the 12th, Anderson of the 24th and others ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the agricultural industry is the leading driver of thi s state's economy and the3 family farm is central to the identity of Georgia; and4 WHEREAS, the agricultural industry contributes $100.4 billion to this state's economy and5 contributes 370,400 jobs to the workforce, yet the United States' agricultural trade deficit is6 projected to exceed $40 billion this year; and7 WHEREAS, despite consumers facing rising food prices, the farmer's share of every dollar8 spent by consumers continues to get smaller; and9 WHEREAS, farm families have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years10 including natural disasters, global trade wars, disease outbreaks, corporate consolidation, and11 a declining workforce, leading to record high input costs and record low commodity prices;12 and13 S. R. 800 - 1 - 26 LC 44 3445 WHEREAS, the insurmountable economic challenges facing family f arms have caused a14 rapid increase in suicides and mental illnesses within the farm community; and15 WHEREAS, the aforementioned challenges are causing American con sumers to be more16 reliant on imported food and fiber, leading to the outsourcing of food production to trading17 partners overseas; and 18 WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate the challenges family fa rms are facing and to19 explore policies and investments the General Assembly can pursu e to support existing20 markets, develop new and innovative domestic markets, decrease the cost of inputs,21 adequately prepare the next generation of farmers, and address systemic challenges22 contributing to the declining farm economy.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF24 GEORGIA:25 (1) Creation of joint study committee. There is created the Joint Study Committee on26 the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms.27 (2) Members and officers.28 (A) The committee shall be composed of 11 members. 29 (B) The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of the Senate as members30 of the committee and shall designate one of such members as cochairperson.31 (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the32 House of Representatives as members of the committee and shall designate one of such33 members as cochairperson.34 (D) The committee shall include the Commissioner of Agricultur e as an additional35 member.36 S. R. 800 - 2 - 26 LC 44 3445 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,37 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or38 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.39 (4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. T h e40 committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem41 necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform42 its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.43 (5) Allowances and funding.44 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided45 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.46 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,47 or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,48 but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as49 members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in50 their capacities as state officials or employees.51 (C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member52 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds53 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds54 appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives.55 (6) Report.56 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that57 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the58 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to59 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.60 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for61 proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, s u b j e c t t o62 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.63 S. R. 800 - 3 - 26 LC 44 3445 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of64 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 65 A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed66 with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.67 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons m ay file with the68 Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Represent atives copies of the69 minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.70 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.71 S. R. 800 - 4 -