| R 361 |
| 2017 -- S 0247 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/30/2017 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RAW MILK REGULATIONS |
| Introduced By: Senators Kettle, P Fogarty, Sosnowski, Morgan, and Archambault |
| Date Introduced: February 15, 2017 |
| WHEREAS, Milk is recognized to be one of the most perfect foods afforded by nature. It |
| is unique in that its consumption in adequate quantities is essential to the nutritional well-being of |
| the individual; and |
| WHEREAS, If milk's production and distribution are not properly safeguarded, it may be |
| instrumental in the transmission of diseases that are infectious to people; and |
| WHEREAS, For the protection of the health and welfare of our citizens, it is the policy of |
| the State of Rhode Island that the environmental conditions surrounding the production, handling, |
| transportation, distribution, and sale of milk and milk products shall be to protect the public |
| health and to provide consumers with products that are identified in such a way as to promote |
| honesty and fair dealing in the best interests of the consumers; and |
| WHEREAS, There is growing demand from organic food consumers for raw or |
| unpasteurized milk as a result of claims that it is more nutritious and healthful than pasteurized |
| milk; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island dairy farmers and consumers could benefit by meeting this |
| demand, if raw milk production, marketing, sales, and production can be regulated in such a |
| method as to preserve public health; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health regulates the availability and use of |
| raw milk in the state; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to be known as the "Commission to |
| Study Raw Milk Regulations" be and the same is hereby created consisting of nine (9) members: |
| one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, who shall serve as the chairperson of the |
| commission, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a |
| representative of the Department of Health, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of |
| whom shall be a representative of the Department of Environmental Management's Division of |
| Agriculture, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative |
| of the Rhode Island Farm Bureau, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two (2) of |
| whom shall be dairy farmers, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall |
| be a licensed medical doctor with expertise in food borne infectious diseases, to be appointed by |
| the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative of organic food consumers, to |
| be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be a representative of the |
| organic food sellers, to be appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to review all raw milk regulations and make |
| recommendations to update and strengthen the governance of the availability and consumption of |
| raw milk in Rhode Island. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Chairperson of the commission. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The commission shall assemble no less than three (3) times, or more often at the call of |
| the Chairperson, upon written notice of each meeting stating the place, day, and time of the |
| meeting along with the purpose and/or agenda of the meeting. |
| A quorum of the Commission shall consist of a majority of its membership and the |
| membership shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| President of the Senate no later than January 2, 2018, and said commission shall expire on March |
| 2, 2018. |
| ======== |
| LC001077/SUB A |
| ======== |