09 LC 25 5419

House Bill 232

By: Representative Levitas of the 82nd

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodities promotion, so as to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to create, register, license, promote, and protect a trademark for use in connection with the general promotion of all agricultural commodities grown in this state; to define certain terms; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodities promotion, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:

"ARTICLE 1A

2-8-5.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) 'Agricultural commodities' means any and all agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, and vegetable products produced in this state or any class, variety, or utilization thereof, either in their natural state or as processed by a producer for the purpose of marketing such product or by a processor, and shall include any one, any combination thereof, or all of the agricultural products, livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, timber and timber products, fish and seafood, and the products of the farms and forests of this state.

(2) 'Processor' has the meaning provided by Code Section 2-8-11.

(3) 'Producer' has the meaning provided by Code Section 2-8-11.

(b) The Commissioner shall be authorized to take all actions necessary and appropriate to create, register, license, promote, and protect a trademark for use in connection with the general promotion of agricultural commodities as being Georgia grown."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.