2006 Utah Code - 4-2-2 — Functions, powers, and duties of department -- Fees for services -- Marketing orders -- Procedure.

     4-2-2.   Functions, powers, and duties of department -- Fees for services -- Marketing orders -- Procedure.
     (1) The department has and shall exercise the following functions, powers, and duties:
     (a) to inquire into and promote the interests and products of agriculture and its allied industries;
     (b) to promote methods for increasing the production and facilitating the distribution of the agricultural products of the state;
     (c) (i) to inquire into the cause of contagious, infectious, and communicable diseases among livestock and the means for their prevention and cure; and
     (ii) to initiate, implement, and administer plans and programs to prevent the spread of diseases among livestock;
     (d) to encourage experiments designed to determine the best means and methods for the control of diseases among domestic and wild animals;
     (e) to issue marketing orders for any designated agricultural product to:
     (i) promote orderly market conditions for any product;
     (ii) give the producer a fair return on the producer's investment at the marketplace; and
     (iii) only promote and not restrict or restrain the marketing of Utah agricultural commodities;
     (f) to administer and enforce all laws assigned to the department by the Legislature;
     (g) to establish standards and grades for agricultural products and fix and collect reasonable fees for services performed by the department in conjunction with the grading of agricultural products;
     (h) to establish operational standards for any establishment which manufactures, processes, produces, distributes, stores, sells, or offers for sale any agricultural product;
     (i) to promulgate, subject to Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, rules necessary for the effective administration of the agricultural laws of the state;
     (j) to make investigations, subpoena witnesses and records, conduct hearings, issue orders, and make recommendations concerning all matters related to agriculture;
     (k) (i) to inspect any nursery, orchard, farm, garden, park, cemetery, greenhouse, or any private or public place which may become infested or infected with harmful insects, plant diseases, noxious or poisonous weeds, or other agricultural pests;
     (ii) to establish and enforce quarantines;
     (iii) to issue and enforce orders and regulations for the control and eradication of pests, wherever they may exist within the state; and
     (iv) to perform other duties relating to plants and plant products considered advisable and not contrary to law;
     (l) to inspect apiaries for diseases inimical to bees and beekeeping;
     (m) to take charge of any agricultural exhibit within the state, if considered necessary by the department, and award premiums at that exhibit;
     (n) to assist the Soil Conservation Commission in the administration of Title 4, Chapter 18, Soil Conservation Commission Act, and administer and disburse any funds which are available for the purpose of assisting soil conservation districts in the state in the conservation of the state's soil and water resources; and
     (o) to perform any additional functions, powers, and duties provided by law.
     (2) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the department may adopt a schedule of fees

assessed for services provided by the department. The fee shall be reasonable and fair, and shall be submitted to and approved by the Legislature as part of the department's annual appropriations request. The department may not charge or collect any fee proposed in this manner without approval by the Legislature.
     (3) (a) No marketing order issued under Subsection (1)(e) is effective until:
     (i) notice of the proposed order is given to the producers and handlers of the affected product;
     (ii) a hearing conducted by the commissioner is held on the proposed order; and
     (iii) at least 50% of the registered producers and handlers of the affected products vote in favor of the proposed order.
     (b) The department may establish boards of control to administer marketing orders and the proceeds derived from any order. It shall be the responsibility of a board of control to:
     (i) ensure that all proceeds are placed in an account in the name of the board of control in a depository institution; and
     (ii) ensure that the account is annually audited by an accountant approved by the commissioner.
     (4) Funds collected by grain grading, as provided by Subsection (1)(g), shall be deposited in the General Fund as nonlapsing dedicated credits for the grain grading program.

Amended by Chapter 139, 2003 General Session