Massachusetts HD 4085: An Act to support infrastructure needs for livestock farmers

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4085 FILED ON: 2/22/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3926

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to support infrastructure needs for livestock farmers.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Natalie M. Blais 1st Franklin 2/22/2021
Hannah Kane 11th Worcester 2/24/2021
Smitty Pignatelli 4th Berkshire 2/25/2021
Brian W. Murray 10th Worcester 2/25/2021
Paul A. Schmid, III 8th Bristol 2/25/2021
James J. O'Day 14th Worcester 2/25/2021
Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire 2/25/2021
David Allen Robertson 19th Middlesex 2/25/2021
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 17th Worcester 2/26/2021
Kimberly N. Ferguson 1st Worcester 2/26/2021
Marcos A. Devers 16th Essex 3/30/2021
Kip A. Diggs 2nd Barnstable 4/1/2021
Mathew J. Muratore 1st Plymouth 4/2/2021
Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester 10/4/2021

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4085 FILED ON: 2/22/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3926
By Ms. Blais of Sunderland, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Natalie M. Blais and others
relative to the inspection of slaughter and meat inspection program. Public Health.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act to support infrastructure needs for livestock farmers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 The Department of Public Health shall enter into a cooperative agreement, or the
2 equivalent, with the United States Department of Agriculture to take on duties relative to the
3 inspection of slaughter and meat inspection programs, provided that the state inspection and
4 enforcement program meets or exceeds the requirements of the United States Department of
5 Agriculture. The program shall allow for livestock and poultry slaughter and meat processing of
6 animals raised in Massachusetts by Massachusetts farmers.
7 A commission shall be established to develop regulations for the state inspection and
8 enforcement program. The commission shall consist of the director of the animal health division
9 at the department of agricultural resources or their designee; the director of the food protection
10 program at the department of public health or their designee; a designee of UMass Extension;
11 two Massachusetts livestock growers; a designee of of a membership-based organization
12 representing farmers; and a designee of an existing meat processing facility located in
13 Massachusetts.

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14 Inspection services and regulatory oversight shall be administered by the the food
15 protection program of the department of public health in coordination with the animal health
16 division of the department of agricultural resources.