CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
establishment of a livestock committee in each county to handle complaints of inhumane livestock treatment. The committee will be appointed by the county commission from recognized farmers within the county.
When, during the course of an investigation, the county humane officer( CHO) finds livestock in dire condition, he / she will contact a licensed veterinarian for further examination. Upon the veterinarian’ s opinion that the animal( s) are at imminent risk, the CHO will immediately notify the county commission of the situation. Further action by the CHO will occur only at the direction of the county commission and the county livestock committee.
29. TIMBER THEFT AND SUBSEQUENT COSTS
West Virginia Farm Bureau believes that expenses incurred from timber theft or trespass should include but not be limited to fence repair or replacement cost; total survey costs; attorney fees and court costs and replacement cost of timber( 3x value of timber in question).
30. AQUACULTURE IN WEST VIRGINIA
Currently in West Virginia, aquaculture is a small industry with gross sales of approximately one million dollars per year. West Virginia could experience growth to a potential of ten million dollars in gross sales. Current impediments to growth are an inadequate and confusing flow of information from lawmakers, governmental agencies and other organizations.
The poor flow of information impedes the start-up and expansion of aquaculture operations. Inadequate and incomplete information related to natural resources rights( i. e. water) and the understanding of the aquaculture industry by financial institutions for operating loans further deters growth. These issues could be addressed with the development of an Aquaculture Development Act and improved interagency communication and cooperation.
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports aquaculture as agriculture. We support the development of legislation that provides authority for regulation and administration of aquaculture by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. We further support the development of rules and the creation by the WVDA of the position of Aquaculture Coordinator, whose responsibility it will be to chair a statewide task force to develop an Aquaculture Development Act.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
STATE 31. SEX OFFENDER PRESENCE ON WEST
VIRGINIA SCHOOL PROPERTIES
Any person who has been convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor 18 years of age or younger, shall be prohibited from entering a public or private elementary or secondary school or daycare facility; or being present on any school bus; or any property, public or private, during hours when such property is being used by a public or private elementary or secondary school or daycare facility for a school- or daycare-related activity.
This shall not apply if such person is a lawfully registered voter who is coming upon such property solely for the purpose of casting a vote in an election.
32. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERSHIP
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends the West Virginia State Board of Education be an elected nonpartisan body with its members elected on a six-year rotation, with three members elected every two years to serve a six-year term. Each Congressional district should have three representatives on the board.
33. QUALIFICATIONS FOR WEST VIRGINIA COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
The existence of a strong Department of Agriculture is essential for growth and promotion of existing agri-business and development of new
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