Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/28/1999 03:26 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 110 - SALE/LABELING OF MEAT/MILK PRODUCTS Number 2026 CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced the committee's next order of business is HB 110, "An Act relating to the sale, offer to sell, and labeling of fluid milk, meat, and meat products." Number 2031 REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS, sponsor of HB 110, noted it is his intention to move the legislation. He drew the committee's attention to the proposed Version K committee substitute (CS). The difference between Version K and most previous CS [Version I] is the addition of the language, "and may also state "No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated and non-rBST treated cows."", after "or "farmer certified rBST-free,"", in Section 2 of the legislation on page 2, lines 2 and 3. Number 2095 REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO made a motion to adopt the proposed Version K CS for HB 110, labeled 1-LS0408\K, Bannister, 4/27/99. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Number 2109 PETE FELLMAN, Researcher for Representative John Harris, Alaska State Legislature, came forward as the bill sponsor's representative. In response to the chairman's request for an explanation of the difference, Mr. Fellman agreed it is as was stated by Representative Harris. The disclaimer requested by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was added to the legislation; this is also the same wording in the "Interim Federal Guidelines [Food and Drug Administration (FDA)]" regarding the labeling of milk for bST and rGBH. In response to the chairman's question regarding the location of the change, Mr. Fellman directed the committee's attention again to page 3, lines 2 and 3. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG noted the language is "may also state" and therefore is not mandatory. The chairman asked Mr. Fellman if that is correct. MR. FELLMAN indicated he thinks it is. Mr. Fellman indicated he asked the bill drafter to take the language word-for-word out of the FDA guidelines. He noted the use of "may" in a previous sentence and commented it might be a matter of grammar. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG indicated "may" is not used as a matter of grammar in legislation; it is a dictum or discretion. Number 2180 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI indicated she feels this satisfies the concern she had raised at the previous hearing [April 26, 1999]. If a dairy farmer wishes to sell his/her milk to the [military] bases or the school lunch program, he/she can use this entire labeling to meet the FDA requirements. However, if a farmer chooses not to sell his/her milk to one of these outlets, he/she would be allowed to omit the language, ""No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBSt treated and non-rBST treated cows."". MR. FELLMAN commented that is probably a benefit he did not recognize when the "may" was included. REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI noted she read the added language and thought that solved the problem; she looked at "may" as a good thing. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG informed the committee there was one witness online who wished to testify. Number 2244 ART GRISWOLD, Sleepy Hollow Farm, testified via teleconference from Delta Junction. He commented he raises some milk animals, mainly goats, and some beef cattle. Mr. Griswold indicated he has been following the legislation's progress; he thought it was a pretty good bill to start with. However, Mr. Griswold expressed that he is very unhappy with the current version because all the power has been removed from the legislation, the requirements for hormone reporting on beef have been reduced completely, and more (indisc.) is just being added to the existing dairy operation in the future for the creamery. He questioned what the legislation is going to accomplish really; they have taken all the meat out of the bill and destroyed it up to now. Mr. Griswold noted he would like to see the legislation to its original form: including the term limit for dating [of milk], including the coverage of beef animals, and including the milk as far as the hormone additive. He stated, "And that's all I've got to say gentlemen, I think your big money got to you someplace." CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG responded he appreciated Mr. Griswold's testimony but not his last comments. The chairman asked if there were any questions for Mr. Griswold. REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS noted, as the bill sponsor, that he would just like to say he doesn't think big money got to them; he thinks a matter of trying to get this through as legislation which accomplishes something causes one to work with other people. Representative Harris hoped the department would come forward as well; he indicated they have been trying to work with the department to allow some form of milk labeling which supports various special interests and other people's concerns regarding knowledge of what is in some of the food they eat. This is why the legislation is in its present form. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG noted he appreciated Representative Harris' comments and hopes Mr. Griswold takes them to heart. The chairman stated this a land of reality and that is why it is called politics. Given the limited resources of this state and what they can do, they can't ideally accomplish everything they may want to do, and therefore they try to take small steps to reach the desired goal. He invited Ms. Adair forward. Number 2342 JANICE ADAIR, Director, Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, came forward. Ms. Adair commented the department does not have any objections to the Version K CS; she would like to thank Representative Harris' office for working with the department to address its concerns. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG closed the public hearing on HB 110 after confirming there were no further witnesses. Number 2374 REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO made a motion to move CSHB 110 [Version K] out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note. Representative Halcro amended his motion to included the two attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 110(L&C) moved out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. Number 2393 CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG called an at-ease at 4:11 p.m. The committee came back to order at 4:14 p.m. [MANUAL TAPE CHANGE DURING AT-EASE] TAPE 99-48, SIDE B
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