ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 196

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 5, 1996

      The Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 196.

      This bill would authorize the State Board of Agriculture to establish and charge reasonable fees for animal disease diagnostic and testing services and animal health tests deemed necessary by the board.

      The schedule of fees would be adopted by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), and would supersede any other fees being charged by the board prior to the effective date of the schedule.

      The bill also creates the "Agricultural Fee Program Revolving Fund," from which moneys would be appropriated annually based on estimates provided in the department's annual budget request. These moneys would be used to support the activities of the program for which the monies were collected.