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2018 SESSION

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HB 532 Hemp, industrial; research programs.

Introduced by: Nicholas J. Freitas | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Industrial hemp research programs. Authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to undertake research through the establishment of (i) a higher education industrial hemp research program, to be managed by institutions of higher education, and (ii) a Virginia industrial hemp research program. The bill classifies all participants in any research program as either growers or processors and replaces the current licensing requirement, which requires a police background check, with a registration requirement. This bill is identical to SB 247.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Industrial hemp research programs. Authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to undertake research through the establishment of (i) a higher education industrial hemp research program, to be managed by institutions of higher education, and (ii) a Virginia industrial hemp research program. The bill classifies all participants in any research program as either growers or processors and replaces the current licensing requirement, which requires a police background check, with a registration requirement.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Industrial hemp; removal of restrictions; registration of research program participants. Eliminates the licensure requirement for growing industrial hemp and allows any person to sell industrial hemp. The bill directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Commissioner) to establish a registration system for participants in an industrial hemp research program, with each registration valid for two years and costing no more than $45. The bill provides that records and information submitted in support of a registration application shall be considered proprietary and confidential, requiring the Commissioner to provide information about an individual registrant to certain law-enforcement agencies in certain circumstances. Finally, the bill requires that one or more employees of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services be directed to process registration applications and that one or more such employees serve as year-round points of contact to answer questions about the program.