Bill Text: IA SF556 | 2023-2024 | 90th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A bill for an act providing for financing of certain agricultural commodity programs, by reducing and eliminating fees imposed on licensed grain dealers and warehouse operators, replacing those moneys with moneys collected from a percentage of state assessments imposed on the sale of corn, increasing moneys deposited into the grain depositors and sellers indemnity fund, increasing indemnification amounts, and making appropriations.(Formerly SSB 1205.)

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Subcommittee: Driscoll, Jochum, and Schultz. S.J. 61. [SF556 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2023-SF556-Introduced.html
Senate File 556 - Introduced SENATE FILE 556 BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1205) A BILL FOR An Act providing for financing of certain agricultural 1 commodity programs, by reducing and eliminating fees imposed 2 on licensed grain dealers and warehouse operators, replacing 3 those moneys with moneys collected from a percentage of 4 state assessments imposed on the sale of corn, increasing 5 moneys deposited into the grain depositors and sellers 6 indemnity fund, increasing indemnification amounts, and 7 making appropriations. 8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 9 TLSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns
S.F. 556 Section 1. Section 185C.1, subsection 9, Code 2023, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 9. “Market development” means to engage improve the economic 3 conditions of corn production, storage, and marketing, by 4 engaging in research and educational programs directed toward 5 better and more efficient production, storage, and utilization 6 of corn; to provide providing methods and means , including but 7 not limited to , public relations and other promotion techniques 8 for the maintenance of present markets; to provide ensuring 9 the security of corn to be stored and marketed in commercial 10 channels; providing for the development of new or larger 11 domestic and foreign markets; and to provide providing for the 12 prevention, modification, or elimination of trade barriers 13 which obstruct the free flow of corn. 14 Sec. 2. Section 185C.11, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended 15 by adding the following new paragraphs: 16 NEW PARAGRAPH . j. Administer the corn checkoff account as 17 provided in section 185C.26. 18 NEW PARAGRAPH . k. Accept gifts, rents, royalties, interest, 19 license fees, or federal or state grants. Any moneys accepted 20 by the board shall be deposited in an account of a qualified 21 financial institution. 22 Sec. 3. Section 185C.21, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended 23 to read as follows: 24 1. The board shall determine and set the state assessment 25 rate. State assessments collected pursuant to the promotional 26 order shall be paid into the corn promotion marketing fund 27 established in section 185C.26 . Except as provided in 28 subsection 2 , a state assessment shall not exceed one-quarter 29 of one cent per bushel upon corn marketed in this state. 30 Sec. 4. Section 185C.24, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2023, are 31 amended to read as follows: 32 1. The board shall be suspended and board operations and 33 terms of members shall cease upon either any of the following 34 events: 35 -1- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 1/ 16
S.F. 556 a. The state assessment is terminated pursuant to section 1 185C.25 . 2 b. The state assessment is suspended pursuant to section 3 185C.25A . 4 2. However, notwithstanding subsection 1 , the board 5 shall continue to operate until proceeds remaining in moneys 6 transferred from the corn promotion marketing fund to the corn 7 checkoff account are disbursed. Disbursement shall be made 8 as provided for payment the transfer of moneys under section 9 185C.26 . 10 Sec. 5. Section 185C.26, Code 2023, is amended to read as 11 follows: 12 185C.26 Deposit of moneys —— corn promotion marketing fund 13 —— transfers . 14 1. A Moneys from the state assessment collected by the Iowa 15 corn promotion board from a the sale of corn shall be deposited 16 in the office of the treasurer of state in a special fund known 17 as the corn promotion marketing fund established in the office 18 of the treasurer of state . The fund may include any gifts, 19 rents, royalties, interest, license fees, or a federal or state 20 grant received by the board. Moneys collected, deposited 21 in the corn marketing fund , and transferred to the board as 22 provided in this chapter shall be subject to audit by the 23 auditor of state. The auditor of state may seek reimbursement 24 for the cost of the audit from moneys deposited in the corn 25 marketing fund as provided in this chapter . The department of 26 administrative services shall transfer moneys from the fund 27 2. a. Except as provided in paragraph “b” , the department 28 of administrative services shall transfer moneys deposited 29 in the corn marketing fund to the board for deposit into in 30 an account known as the corn checkoff account which shall be 31 established by the board in a qualified financial institution. 32 The department of administrative services shall transfer the 33 moneys to the corn checkoff account as provided in a resolution 34 adopted by the board. However, the department is only required 35 -2- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 2/ 16
S.F. 556 to transfer moneys once during each day and only during hours 1 when the offices of the state are open. From moneys collected, 2 transferred to the corn checkoff account, the board shall first 3 pay all the direct and indirect costs incurred by the secretary 4 and the costs of referendums, elections, and other expenses 5 incurred in the administration of this chapter , before the 6 transferred moneys may be expended to carry for other uses as 7 provided in section 185C.28, including for carrying out the 8 purposes of this chapter as provided in section 185C.11 . 9 b. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), 10 twenty-five percent of moneys deposited in the corn marketing 11 fund shall be transferred to the grain depositors and sellers 12 indemnity fund created in section 203D.3 for use as provided 13 in section 185C.28. 14 (2) If the department of agriculture and land stewardship 15 delivers a state assessment transfer suspension notice to the 16 department of administrative services as provided in section 17 203D.3B, moneys that would otherwise be transferred to the 18 grain depositors and sellers indemnity fund as described in 19 subparagraph (1) shall instead be transferred to the corn 20 checkoff account for use by the board in the same manner 21 provided in paragraph “a” . 22 (3) If the department of agriculture and land stewardship 23 delivers a state assessment transfer reinstatement notice 24 to the department of administrative services as provided in 25 section 203D.3B, moneys that would otherwise be transferred to 26 the corn checkoff account under subparagraph (2) shall again be 27 transferred to the grain depositors and sellers indemnity fund 28 in the same manner described in subparagraph (1). 29 c. The department of administrative services is only 30 required to transfer moneys under this subsection to the corn 31 checkoff account and the grain depositors and sellers indemnity 32 fund once during each day and only during hours when the 33 offices of the state are open. 34 Sec. 6. Section 185C.28, Code 2023, is amended to read as 35 -3- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 3/ 16
S.F. 556 follows: 1 185C.28 Use of moneys —— appropriation appropriations . 2 1. Moneys deposited in the corn promotion fund and 3 transferred to Except as provided in subsection 2, moneys 4 transferred or accepted by the board , as provided in section 5 185C.26 , including federal moneys to the extent permitted 6 by federal law, are appropriated and shall be used for 7 the administration of this chapter and for the payment of 8 claims based upon obligations incurred in the performance of 9 activities and functions provided in this chapter . 10 2. Moneys transferred from the corn marketing fund to the 11 grain depositors and sellers indemnity fund as provided in 12 section 185C.26 are appropriated for use by the department of 13 agriculture and land stewardship and the Iowa grain indemnity 14 fund board as provided in chapter 203D. 15 Sec. 7. Section 185C.29, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended 16 to read as follows: 17 1. After the direct and indirect costs incurred by the 18 secretary and the costs of elections, referendums, necessary 19 board expenses, and administrative costs have been paid, at 20 least seventy-five percent of the remaining moneys from a state 21 assessment deposited in the corn promotion marketing fund and 22 transferred to the corn checkoff account established in section 23 185C.26 shall be used to carry out the purposes of the board as 24 provided in section 185C.11 . 25 Sec. 8. Section 185C.30, Code 2023, is amended to read as 26 follows: 27 185C.30 Bond. 28 Every person occupying a position of trust with the board 29 and acting under any provisions a provision of this chapter 30 shall give post a bond in such amount as may be required by the 31 board , the . The premium for which the bond shall be paid out of 32 moneys in the corn promotion fund checkoff account established 33 in section 185C.26 . 34 Sec. 9. Section 185C.33, Code 2023, is amended to read as 35 -4- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 4/ 16
S.F. 556 follows: 1 185C.33 Report. 2 The board shall each year prepare and submit a report 3 summarizing the activities of the board under this chapter to 4 the auditor of state and the secretary of agriculture. The 5 report shall show all income, expenses, and other relevant 6 information concerning fees moneys collected by the board, 7 deposited by the board into the corn marketing fund established 8 in section 185C.26 or another account, transferred to the 9 board, and expended by the board under the provisions of this 10 chapter . 11 Sec. 10. Section 185C.34, Code 2023, is amended to read as 12 follows: 13 185C.34 Not a state agency —— public funds . 14 1. The Except as provided in subsection 2, the Iowa corn 15 promotion board is not a state agency. 16 2. The board is deemed to be a public body for purposes of 17 chapter 12C. 18 3. Moneys deposited in the corn marketing fund and 19 transferred to the corn checkoff account as established in 20 section 185C.26 or the grain depositors and sellers indemnity 21 fund as provided in that section shall be deemed to be public 22 funds under chapter 12C. 23 Sec. 11. Section 203.1, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 24 following new subsection: 25 NEW SUBSECTION . 7A. “Fund” means the grain depositors and 26 sellers indemnity fund created in section 203D.3. 27 Sec. 12. Section 203.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as 28 follows: 29 203.4 Participation in indemnity fund required. 30 A grain dealer licensed or required to be licensed pursuant 31 to section 203.3 shall participate in and comply with the grain 32 depositors and sellers indemnity fund as provided in chapter 33 203D . 34 Sec. 13. Section 203.5, Code 2023, is amended to read as 35 -5- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 5/ 16
S.F. 556 follows: 1 203.5 License. 2 1. a. Upon the filing of an application on a form 3 prescribed by the department and compliance with the terms and 4 conditions of this chapter including rules of the department, 5 the department shall issue the applicant a grain dealer’s 6 license. The license expires at the end of the third calendar 7 month following the close of the grain dealer’s fiscal year. 8 A grain dealer’s license may be renewed annually by filing a 9 renewal application on a form prescribed by the department. An 10 application for renewal must be received by the department on 11 or before the end of the third calendar month following the 12 close of the grain dealer’s fiscal year. 13 b. The department shall not issue approve an application for 14 the issuance or renewal of a grain dealer’s license unless the 15 applicant pays all of the following fees: to the department an 16 issuance fee or renewal fee imposed under section 203.6. 17 (1) For the issuance of a license, all of the following: 18 (a) A license fee imposed under section 203.6 . 19 (b) A participation fee imposed under section 203D.3A , 20 and any delinquent participation fee imposed under a previous 21 license as provided in that section. 22 (2) For the renewal of a license, all of the following: 23 (a) A renewal fee imposed under section 203.6 . 24 (b) A participation fee imposed under section 203D.3A , and 25 any delinquent participation fee as provided in that section. 26 (c) A per-bushel fee as provided in section 203D.3A , and 27 any delinquent per-bushel fee and penalty as provided in that 28 section. 29 2. The department shall notify a licensed grain dealer 30 of any delinquency in the payment of a participation fee or 31 per-bushel fee as provided in section 203D.3A . The department 32 shall suspend the grain dealer’s license thirty days after 33 delivering the notice unless the licensed grain dealer pays the 34 delinquent fee. 35 -6- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 6/ 16
S.F. 556 3. The department may suspend or revoke the license of a 1 grain dealer who discounts the purchase price paid for grain 2 nominally for the participation fee or per-bushel fee as 3 provided in section 203D.3A while that fee is not in effect. 4 4. 2. A grain dealer license which that has expired may be 5 reinstated by the department upon receipt of a proper renewal 6 application, the a renewal fee , and a reinstatement fee as 7 provided in imposed under section 203.6 , and any delinquent 8 participation fee or per-bushel fee and penalty as provided 9 in section 203D.3A . The applicant must file the renewal 10 application and pay the fees and penalty to the department 11 renewal fee and reinstatement fee within thirty days from the 12 date of expiration of the grain dealer license. 13 5. 3. The department may cancel a license upon request 14 of the licensee unless a complaint or information is filed 15 against the licensee alleging a violation of a provision of 16 this chapter . 17 6. 4. a. The department shall refund a fee imposed 18 under section 203.6 that has been paid by an applicant to the 19 department under this section if the department does not issue 20 or renew a grain dealer’s license. 21 b. The department shall prorate a fee imposed under section 22 203.6 that has been paid by an applicant to the department 23 under this section for the issuance or renewal of a license for 24 less than a full year. 25 7. 5. The department may deny a license to an applicant 26 if the applicant has had a license issued under this chapter 27 or chapter 203C revoked within the past three years, the 28 applicant has been convicted of a felony involving a violation 29 of this chapter or chapter 203C , or the applicant is owned or 30 controlled by a person who has had a license so revoked or who 31 has been so convicted. 32 8. 6. The department may deny a license to an applicant if 33 any of the following apply: 34 a. The applicant has caused liability to the Iowa grain 35 -7- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 7/ 16
S.F. 556 depositors and sellers indemnity fund in regard to a license 1 issued under this chapter or chapter 203C , and the liability 2 has not been discharged, settled, or satisfied. 3 b. The applicant is owned or controlled by a person who has 4 caused liability to the fund through operations under a license 5 issued under this chapter or chapter 203C and the liability has 6 not been discharged, settled, or satisfied. 7 Sec. 14. Section 203.6, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2023, 8 is amended to read as follows: 9 The department shall charge impose the following license 10 fees for deposit in the general fund: 11 Sec. 15. Section 203C.1, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 12 following new subsection: 13 NEW SUBSECTION . 9A. “Fund” means the grain depositors and 14 sellers indemnity fund created in section 203D.3. 15 Sec. 16. Section 203C.12, Code 2023, is amended to read as 16 follows: 17 203C.12 Participation in fund required. 18 A person licensed to operate a warehouse under this chapter 19 shall participate in and comply with the grain depositors and 20 sellers indemnity fund as provided in chapter 203D . 21 Sec. 17. Section 203C.33, subsection 1, unnumbered 22 paragraph 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows: 23 The department shall charge impose the following license 24 fees for deposit in the general fund: 25 Sec. 18. Section 203C.37, subsections 1, 2, and 3, Code 26 2023, are amended to read as follows: 27 1. a. Upon the filing of an application pursuant to section 28 203C.7 and compliance with the terms and conditions of this 29 chapter including rules of the department, the department 30 shall issue the applicant a warehouse operator’s license. 31 The license expires at the end of the third calendar month 32 following the close of the warehouse operator’s fiscal year. 33 A warehouse operator’s license may be renewed annually by the 34 filing of a renewal application on a form prescribed by the 35 -8- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 8/ 16
S.F. 556 department pursuant to section 203C.7 . An application for A 1 renewal application must be received by the department on or 2 before the end of the third calendar month following the close 3 of the warehouse operator’s fiscal year. 4 b. The department shall not approve an application for the 5 issuance or renewal of a warehouse operator’s license unless 6 the applicant pays all of the following fees: to the department 7 an issuance fee or renewal fee imposed under section 203C.33. 8 (1) For the issuance of a license, all of the following: 9 (a) A license fee imposed under section 203C.33 . 10 (b) A participation fee imposed under section 203D.3A , 11 and any delinquent participation fee imposed under a previous 12 license as provided in that section. 13 (2) For the renewal of a license, all of the following: 14 (a) A renewal fee imposed under section 203C.33 . 15 (b) A participation fee imposed under section 203D.3A , and 16 any delinquent participation fee as provided in that section. 17 2. The failure of a warehouse operator to file a renewal 18 application and to pay a renewal fee as provided for in imposed 19 under section 203C.33 and any delinquent participation fee as 20 provided in section 203D.3A , on or before the end of the third 21 calendar month following the close of the licensee’s fiscal 22 year shall cause a license to expire. 23 3. A warehouse license that has expired may be reinstated by 24 the department upon receipt of a proper renewal application, 25 the renewal fee , and the reinstatement fee as provided for in 26 imposed under section 203C.33 , and any delinquent participation 27 fee as provided in section 203D.3A . The applicant must file 28 the renewal application and pay the fees renewal fee and 29 reinstatement fee to the department within thirty days from the 30 date that the warehouse license expires. 31 Sec. 19. Section 203D.1, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 32 following new subsection: 33 NEW SUBSECTION . 15A. “State assessment” means the state 34 assessment on corn imposed, suspended, or reinstated as 35 -9- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 9/ 16
S.F. 556 provided in sections 185C.26 and 203D.3B. 1 Sec. 20. Section 203D.2, Code 2023, is amended to read as 2 follows: 3 203D.2 Persons participating in fund —— compliance . 4 1. All licensed grain dealers , including persons applying 5 to be issued or renewed grain dealer licenses as provided 6 in chapter 203, and licensed warehouse operators , including 7 persons applying to be issued or renewed warehouse operator 8 licenses as provided in chapter 203C, shall participate in the 9 fund. 10 2. a. Participation in the fund by a licensed grain dealer 11 includes complying with this chapter and chapter 203. 12 b. Participation in the fund by a licensed warehouse 13 operator includes complying with this chapter and chapter 203C. 14 3. This section does not require participation in the fund 15 to include payment of a fee for deposit into the fund. 16 Sec. 21. Section 203D.3, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended 17 to read as follows: 18 2. The fund consists of all of the following: 19 a. Participation fees paid to the department by licensed 20 grain dealers and persons applying to be issued a grain 21 dealer’s license as provided in section 203D.3A . The state 22 assessment collected pursuant to chapter 185C and transferred 23 to the fund pursuant to section 185C.26 and this chapter, 24 including section 203D.3B. 25 b. Participation fees paid to the department by licensed 26 warehouse operators and persons applying to be issued a 27 warehouse operator’s license as provided in section 203D.3A . 28 c. Per-bushel fees paid to the department by licensed grain 29 dealers as provided in section 203D.3A . 30 d. Delinquency penalties. 31 e. b. Amounts collected by the state pursuant to legal 32 action on behalf of the fund. 33 f. c. Interest, earnings on investments, property, or 34 securities acquired through the use of moneys in the fund. 35 -10- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 10/ 16
S.F. 556 Sec. 22. NEW SECTION . 203D.3B Grain depositors and sellers 1 indemnity fund —— administration of state assessment on corn. 2 1. The board shall annually review the debits of and credits 3 to the grain depositors and sellers indemnity fund. 4 2. The state assessment shall be imposed effective July 1, 5 2023. 6 3. Beginning May 1, 2024, and not later than May 1 of 7 each year thereafter, the board shall determine whether to 8 suspend or reinstate the state assessment. The suspension or 9 reinstatement of the state assessment is effective beginning 10 on the following July 1. 11 4. a. Notwithstanding subsection 3, if on the last day of 12 the fund’s fiscal year as provided in section 203D.3, moneys 13 in the fund exceed twenty million dollars, less any encumbered 14 balances or pending or unsettled claims, the state assessment 15 shall be suspended effective on the first day of the following 16 fiscal year. 17 b. Notwithstanding subsection 3, if at any time moneys in 18 the fund do not exceed ten million dollars, less any encumbered 19 balances or pending or unsettled claims, the state assessment 20 shall be reinstated effective on the first day of the following 21 fiscal year. 22 5. a. If the state assessment is suspended as provided 23 in this section, the department of agriculture and land 24 stewardship shall immediately deliver a state assessment 25 transfer suspension notice to the department of administrative 26 services as provided in section 185C.26. 27 b. If the state assessment is reinstated as provided in this 28 section, the department of agriculture and land stewardship 29 shall immediately deliver a state assessment transfer 30 reinstatement notice to the department of administrative 31 services as provided in section 185C.26. 32 Sec. 23. Section 203D.4, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2023, are 33 amended to read as follows: 34 2. a. The duties of the board include the review and 35 -11- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 11/ 16
S.F. 556 determination of claims, and the review and approval of 1 administrative costs of the fund. To carry out these 2 duties, the board has the power to adopt rules regarding its 3 organization and procedures for determining claims. Further, 4 the board shall approve rules proposed by the department 5 for the administration of the per-bushel fee prior to their 6 adoption by the department. 7 b. The board may provide comment and advice to the 8 department in regard to the department’s administration of 9 chapters 203 and 203C where the department’s policies and rules 10 may affect the exposure of the fund to liability. However, the 11 board shall not become actively involved in a determination by 12 the department as to whether disciplinary action is to be taken 13 against a particular licensee. The board is not a forum for 14 review or appeal in regard to any particular action taken by 15 the department against a licensee. 16 3. a. The department through the grain warehouse bureau 17 shall perform the administrative functions necessary for the 18 operation of the board and the fund. Administrative costs 19 approved by the board shall be paid from the fund. The rules 20 of the department shall contain the rules of the board adopted 21 for its organization and its procedures. The department shall 22 adopt rules for the administration of the per-bushel fee upon 23 the board’s approval of the rules proposed by the department. 24 b. The secretary of agriculture, as president of the board 25 as well as head of the department of agriculture and land 26 stewardship, shall administer the department so as to minimize 27 the risk of loss to the fund while protecting interests of 28 depositors and sellers of grain. Policies and rules for the 29 administration of chapters 203 and 203C which, as determined 30 by the secretary of agriculture, may affect the exposure of 31 the fund, shall be presented to the board for comment prior to 32 their adoption by the department. 33 c. The department shall make reports to the board in regard 34 to licensee investigations which may result in disciplinary 35 -12- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 12/ 16
S.F. 556 action against a licensee and exposure of the fund. The 1 reports may be discussed by the board in closed session 2 pursuant to section 21.5 , and are confidential. In making 3 the report, the department shall make available to the board 4 records of licensees which are otherwise confidential under 5 section 22.7 , 203.16 , or 203C.24 . However, a determination 6 to take disciplinary action against a particular licensee 7 shall be made exclusively by the department. A report to the 8 board is not a prerequisite to disciplinary action against a 9 licensee. Review of any action against a licensee, whether or 10 not relating to the fund, shall be made exclusively through the 11 department. 12 Sec. 24. Section 203D.6, subsection 8, Code 2023, is amended 13 to read as follows: 14 8. Payment of claims. 15 a. Upon a determination that the claim is eligible for 16 payment, the board shall provide for payment of ninety percent 17 of the loss, as determined under subsection 5 , but not more 18 than three six hundred thousand dollars per claimant. 19 b. If at any time the board determines that there are 20 insufficient funds moneys in the fund to make payment of 21 all claims, the board may order that payment be deferred 22 on specified claims. The department, upon the board’s 23 instruction, shall hold those claims for payment until the 24 board determines that the fund again contains there are 25 sufficient assets moneys in the fund to pay deferred claims . 26 Sec. 25. REPEAL. Sections 203D.3A and 203D.5, Code 2023, 27 are repealed. 28 EXPLANATION 29 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 30 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 31 BACKGROUND —— GRAIN DEPOSITORS AND SELLERS INDEMNITY FUND. 32 This bill amends provisions regulating grain dealers purchasing 33 grain (Code chapter 203), and grain warehouse operators storing 34 grain under bailment (Code chapter 203C). A grain dealer 35 -13- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 13/ 16
S.F. 556 or warehouse operator must do business in this state under 1 a license issued by the department of agriculture and land 2 stewardship (DALS). The licensed grain dealer and licensed 3 warehouse operator (licensees) pay license fees for deposit in 4 the general fund (Code sections 203.6 and 203C.33). A person 5 selling grain to a licensed grain dealer (seller) or depositing 6 grain with a licensed warehouse operator (depositor) may be 7 reimbursed for a loss incurred by the failure of the licensee 8 to honor a contractual obligation regarding the transaction 9 (Code section 203D.6). Upon a determination that the claim 10 is eligible for payment, the Iowa grain indemnity fund board 11 (indemnity board) provides for payment of 90 percent of the 12 loss, but not more than $300,000. The indemnity board may 13 defer a claim if there are insufficient assets in the fund to 14 fully cover a loss. The indemnity fund is paid from several 15 sources, including a participation fee paid by those grain 16 dealers and warehouse operators (persons applying for or 17 renewing a license) and a per-bushel fee paid only by those 18 grain dealers (Code sections 203D.3A and 203D.5). For grain 19 dealers, the amount of the participation fee is based on 20 purchased grain during the grain dealer’s last fiscal year, and 21 for warehouse operators, the amount of the participation fee 22 is based on warehouse storage capacity. The maximum amount of 23 the participation fee is .014 of 1 cent per bushel of either 24 purchased or stored grain with a minimum required amount of 25 $50. The per-bushel fee is also based on purchased grain with 26 a maximum of $0.25 per bushel. The moneys available in the 27 indemnity fund are calculated by subtracting from the balance 28 any unencumbered obligations or pending claims (Code section 29 203D.6). The indemnity fund is managed on a state fiscal year 30 basis (July 1 to June 30). By May 1 of each year, the indemnity 31 board may impose, reinstate, adjust, or waive the fees. 32 However, if on the last date of the fund’s fiscal year, the 33 moneys in the indemnity fund exceed a ceiling of $8 million, 34 the two fees are waived. If at any time moneys in the indemnity 35 -14- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 14/ 16
S.F. 556 fund are at a floor of $3 million or less, the indemnity fees 1 are reinstated (Code section 203D.5). 2 BACKGROUND —— CORN CHECKOFFS. An excise tax or “assessment” 3 is imposed on the first purchaser of a number of commodities 4 as a pass-through (commonly referred to as a “checkoff”). 5 The purpose of the assessment is to finance activities which 6 involve improving market development which includes aspects 7 related to the commodity’s production and market share, such 8 as research and education. Depending upon the commodity, the 9 assessment is implemented and administered under either a state 10 or federal statute or both. An assessment takes effect, is 11 continued, or is terminated on the basis of a majority vote 12 of producers voting in a referendum conducted by the United 13 States department of agriculture in the case of a federal 14 assessment or DALS in the case of a state assessment. The 15 checkoff moneys imposed due to the state or federal assessment 16 are collected and expended pursuant to a promotional order 17 under the direction of a governing body of elected producers 18 (referred to as a board, committee, or council). For corn, 19 the state has implemented and administers a state assessment 20 (Code chapter 185C) under the direction of the Iowa corn 21 promotion board (Code sections 185C.8, 185C.11, and 185C.13). 22 The maximum amount of the state assessment for corn is 3 cents 23 per bushel (Code section 185C.21) subject to a right of refund 24 (Code section 185C.27). For each commodity subject to a state 25 assessment, including corn, the collected checkoff moneys are 26 deposited into a separate state-controlled fund established 27 in the state treasury (state fund) and transferred by the 28 department of administrative services (DAS) to an account in a 29 qualified financial institution eligible to hold public funds 30 (Code chapter 12C) and established by the governing body of the 31 commodity organization; in this case the Iowa corn promotion 32 board. 33 BILL’S PROVISIONS. The bill eliminates the indemnity fees 34 paid to DALS by licensees used to support the indemnity fund 35 -15- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 15/ 16
S.F. 556 (Code sections 203D.3A and 203D.5). The bill replaces that 1 funding source with checkoff moneys collected from state 2 assessments imposed on corn. The bill provides that market 3 development for corn expressly includes the production, 4 storage, and marketing of corn in commercial channels (amended 5 Code section 185C.1). The name of the state-controlled fund 6 is changed from the corn promotion fund to the corn marketing 7 fund (amended Code section 185C.26). The account under the 8 control of the Iowa corn promotion board is named “the corn 9 checkoff account”. Under the bill, 25 percent of moneys in the 10 fund are transferred to the indemnity fund and appropriated 11 for use by DALS and the indemnity board to support claims for 12 losses by depositors and sellers (amended Code sections 185C.26 13 and 185C.28). Moneys deposited into the corn marketing fund 14 and transferred to the corn checkoff account or the indemnity 15 fund are public funds (amended Code section 185C.34). The 16 bill increases the limits of the indemnity fund to a ceiling 17 of $20 million, and a floor of $10 million. On May 1, the 18 indemnity board must determine to suspend or reinstate the 19 state assessment. However, if on the last day of the indemnity 20 fund’s fiscal year, moneys in the fund reach the $20 million 21 ceiling, the state assessment is suspended, and if at any time 22 those moneys reach the $10 million floor, the state assessment 23 is reinstated (new Code section 203D.3B). In either case, DALS 24 must notify DAS of the suspension or reinstatement. Finally, 25 the indemnity fund’s payout limit for a claim is increased to 26 $600,000 (Code section 203D.6). 27 -16- LSB 2529SV (3) 90 da/ns 16/ 16
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