HR1416: HR1416 Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; create

26 LC 44 3465 House Resolution 1416 By: Representatives Dickey of the 134th, Meeks of the 178th, O’Steen of the 169th, Ford of the 170th, Corbett of the 174th, and others A RESOLUTION Creating the Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; and for1 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 and its continued success; 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; and 7 WHEREAS, despite consumers facing rising food prices, the farmer's share of every dollar8 spent by consumers continues to get smaller; and 9 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 and 13 H. R. 1416 - 1 - 26 LC 44 3465 WHEREAS, the insurmountable economic challenges facing family f arms have caused a14 rapid increase in suicides and mental illnesses within the farm community; and 15 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 Generational Sustainability of Family Farms.27 (2) Members and officers.28 (A) The committee shall be composed of nine members. 29 (B) The President of the Senate shall appoint three members of the Senate as members30 of the committee.31 (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members of the32 House of Representatives as members of the committee. 33 (D) The committee shall include additional members as follows:34 (i) The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs,35 who shall serve as cochairperson of the committee;36 H. R. 1416 - 2 - 26 LC 44 3465 (ii) The chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs37 Committee, who shall serve as cochairperson of the committee; and38 (iii) The Commissioner of Agriculture.39 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,40 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or41 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.42 (4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. T h e43 committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem44 necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform45 its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.46 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.47 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided48 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.49 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,50 or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,51 but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as52 members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in53 their capacities as state officials or employees.54 (C) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received55 by any member of the committee for more than five days unless a dditional days are56 authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come57 from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Represen tatives; except that58 funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative59 members, and state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise60 available to their respective agencies.61 H. R. 1416 - 3 - 26 LC 44 3465 (6) Report.62 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that63 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the64 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to65 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.66 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for67 proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, s u b j e c t t o68 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.69 (C) No report shall be filed without approval prior to the date of abolishment specified70 in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved71 shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed with the Secretary of72 the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.73 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons m ay file with the74 Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Represent atives copies of the75 minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.76 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2027.77 H. R. 1416 - 4 -