(a) There is established, within available appropriations, the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board which shall be within the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only.

(b) The board shall consist of nine members: (1) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a Connecticut licensed dairy producer and a member of a dairy cooperative; (2) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a Connecticut licensed milk producer and a member of a dairy cooperative; (3) one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be an independent Connecticut licensed milk producer; (4) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a Connecticut licensed milk producer and a member of a dairy cooperative; (5) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a Connecticut licensed milk producer and a member of a dairy cooperative; (6) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a member of a state-wide health and nutrition organization promoting consumer interests; (7) the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's designee; and (8) the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to agriculture, who shall be ex-officio members without the right to vote. The board shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members. Any person absent from (A) three consecutive meetings of the commission, or (B) fifty per cent of such meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the board, effective immediately. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by the appointing authority. Members of the board serve without compensation but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The board shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson or a majority of the board.

(c) The board shall: (1) Develop, coordinate and implement promotional, research and other programs designed to promote Connecticut dairy farms and milk consumption; and (2) prepare and submit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to agriculture an annual report concerning its activities.

(d) The board may use such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of this section. Any money collected by the board pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be deemed state funds and shall be deposited pursuant to section 4-33, in a qualified public depository in Connecticut. Such funds shall be expended by the board for expenses incurred in administering the budget recommended by the board.

(e) The board may, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, employ any necessary staff within such available funds or appropriations.

(f) On and after October 1, 2011, the board shall undertake those duties anticipated and required by 7 USC 4504. In performing such duties, the board shall: Assess a fee of ten cents per hundredweight upon milk delivered by Connecticut milk producers, or a fee that is commensurate with the credit allowed for producer contributions to state qualified programs under 7 USC 4504. Such fee shall be collected as follows: (1) Any dealer who purchases milk directly from producers shall withhold from each Connecticut milk producer a fee of ten cents per hundredweight on all milk produced and shall forward such fee to the board not later than the last day of the month following the month in which such milk was produced, and (2) all producer dealers shall pay to the board a fee of ten cents per hundredweight on all milk produced by the producer dealer not later than the last day of the month following the month in which such milk was produced.

(P.A. 08-164, S. 3; P.A. 10-103, S. 2; P.A. 11-249, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 08-164 effective June 12, 2008; P.A. 10-103 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re board to be within Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only and amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision requiring that any money collected by board shall not be deemed state funds, shall be deposited in a qualified public depository and shall be expended by board for expenses incurred in administering recommended budget, effective June 2, 2010; P.A. 11-249 added Subsec. (f) requiring board, on and after October 1, 2011, to undertake duties anticipated and required by 7 USC 4504, and to assess and collect any required fee as part of the performance of such duties.

See Sec. 4-38f for definition of “administrative purposes only”.