Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto and pass a bill that amends laws related to declaring an emergency by extending legislative oversight over the governor's authority to declare an emergency related to the agricultural industry.

Highlights:

• Specifies the Department of Agriculture will be headed by the following individuals and/or organizations (Sec. 3-6):

• Commissioner of Agriculture;

• Agricultural Development Board; and

• Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation.

• Specifies the classified service to which KRS 18A.005 to 18A.200 applies will comprise all positions in the state service now existing or hereafter established, except for (but is not limited to) employees of the Department of Agriculture who are employed to support the Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (Sec. 4.ae).

• Establishes the following corporate bodies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth will be attached to the Office of the Secretary for administrative purposes and staff services (Sec. 5):

• State Property and Buildings Commission;

• Kentucky Turnpike Authority;

• State Investment Commission;

• Kentucky Housing Corporation;

• Kentucky River Authority; and

• Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

• Establishes the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation which will be attached to the Department of Agriculture (Sec. 7-1).

• Establishes the Agricultural Development Board as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth to perform essential governmental and public functions by administering funds to provide economic assistance to the agriculture community of the Commonwealth (Sec. 8-1).

• Authorizes the board to receive applications from institutions of public postsecondary education for financial and technical assistance in conducting alternative crop development research. The board will assist the applicants in obtaining any necessary federal permits that may be required to conduct alternative crop research (Sec. 9-2).

• Establishes the Hemp Advisory Board for the purpose of providing advice and expertise as may be needed by the department with respect to plans, policies, and procedures applicable to the administration of its respective hemp program (Sec. 11-1).

• Requires the affairs of the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy to be concluded, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to organize itself to manage the administrative affairs of the Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (Sec. 13).

• Specifies in order to ensure that Kentucky's farmers receive the assistance they so desperately need, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law (Sec. 17).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto and pass a bill that amends laws related to declaring an emergency by extending legislative oversight over the governor's authority to declare an emergency related to the agricultural industry.

Highlights:

• Specifies the Department of Agriculture will be headed by the following individuals and/or organizations (Sec. 3-6):

• Commissioner of Agriculture;

• Agricultural Development Board; and

• Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation.

• Specifies the classified service to which KRS 18A.005 to 18A.200 applies will comprise all positions in the state service now existing or hereafter established, except for (but is not limited to) employees of the Department of Agriculture who are employed to support the Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (Sec. 4.ae).

• Establishes the following corporate bodies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth will be attached to the Office of the Secretary for administrative purposes and staff services (Sec. 5):

• State Property and Buildings Commission;

• Kentucky Turnpike Authority;

• State Investment Commission;

• Kentucky Housing Corporation;

• Kentucky River Authority; and

• Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

• Establishes the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation which will be attached to the Department of Agriculture (Sec. 7-1).

• Establishes the Agricultural Development Board as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth to perform essential governmental and public functions by administering funds to provide economic assistance to the agriculture community of the Commonwealth (Sec. 8-1).

• Authorizes the board to receive applications from institutions of public postsecondary education for financial and technical assistance in conducting alternative crop development research. The board will assist the applicants in obtaining any necessary federal permits that may be required to conduct alternative crop research (Sec. 9-2).

• Establishes the Hemp Advisory Board for the purpose of providing advice and expertise as may be needed by the department with respect to plans, policies, and procedures applicable to the administration of its respective hemp program (Sec. 11-1).

• Requires the affairs of the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy to be concluded, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to organize itself to manage the administrative affairs of the Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (Sec. 13).

• Specifies in order to ensure that Kentucky's farmers receive the assistance they so desperately need, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law (Sec. 17).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear