2008 Legislation
Print Friendly

HOUSE BILL NO. 486<br /> – Warehouses, public, license

HOUSE BILL NO. 486

View Bill Status

View Bill Text

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Bill Status



H0486...............................................by AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS
PUBLIC LICENSES - Amends existing law to provide license requirements for
public warehouses; to revise conditions relating to the issuance or renewal
of public warehouse licenses; and to require certain licenses for
warehousemen who purchase agricultural commodities by credit-sale
contracts.

02/07    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/08    Rpt prt - to Agric Aff
02/15    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/18    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/20    3rd rdg - PASSED - 64-0-6
      AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barrett, Bayer, Bell, Bilbao, Block, Bock,
      Boe, Bolz, Bowers, Bradford, Chadderdon, Chavez, Chew, Clark,
      Collins, Crane, Durst, Eskridge, Hagedorn, Hart, Harwood,
      Henbest(Burgoyne), Henderson, Jaquet, Killen, King, Kren, Labrador,
      Lake, LeFavour, Loertscher, Luker, Marriott, Mathews, McGeachin,
      Mortimer, Moyle, Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Pence, Raybould,
      Ringo, Ruchti, Rusche, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(02), Shepherd(08),
      Shirley, Shively, Smith(24), Smith(30)(Stanek), Snodgrass, Stevenson,
      Thayn, Thomas, Trail, Vander Woude, Wills, Wood(27), Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Bedke, Black, Brackett, Patrick, Roberts,
      Wood(35)
    Floor Sponsor - Trail
    Title apvd - to Senate
02/21    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Agric Aff

Bill Text




                                                                       
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-ninth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2008

                                                                       

                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 486

                             BY AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO PUBLIC WAREHOUSES; AMENDING SECTION 69-202, IDAHO CODE, TO  REVISE
  3        DEFINITIONS  AND TO DEFINE A TERM; AMENDING SECTION 69-203, IDAHO CODE, TO
  4        PROVIDE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC WAREHOUSES AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL
  5        CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 69-206,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO  REVISE  CONDITIONS
  6        RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL OF PUBLIC WAREHOUSE LICENSES; AMENDING
  7        SECTION  69-249,  IDAHO CODE, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN LICENSES FOR WAREHOUSEMEN
  8        WHO PURCHASE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES BY CREDIT-SALE CONTRACTS; AND AMEND-
  9        ING SECTIONS 69-208, 69-262 AND 69-506, IDAHO  CODE,  TO  PROVIDE  CORRECT
 10        CODE CITATIONS.

 11    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 12        SECTION  1.  That  Section  69-202, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 13    amended to read as follows:

 14        69-202.  DEFINITIONS. As used in this chapter:
 15        (1)  "Agricultural commodity"  or  "commodity"  means  any  feeds,  grain,
 16    wheat,  barley, oats, corn, rye, oilseeds, dry edible beans, peas, lentils and
 17    other leguminous seeds and feeds (not including minerals or seed crops) or any
 18    other commodity as determined by the director.
 19        (2)  "Commodity dealer" or "dealer" means any person  who  solicits,  con-
 20    tracts  for, or obtains from an Idaho producer or producers, title, possession
 21    or control of any agricultural commodity through his place of business located
 22    in the state of Idaho or through his place of  business  located  outside  the
 23    state of Idaho for the purposes of sale or resale or who buys, during a calen-
 24    dar year, at least ten twenty-five thousand dollars ($1025,000) worth of agri-
 25    cultural  commodities  from an Idaho producer or producers of the commodities.
 26    Commodity dealer or dealer shall not mean any person  who  purchases  agricul-
 27    tural commodities for his own use as seed or feed within his own operation.
 28        (3)  "Contract"  means a written agreement between two (2) or more parties
 29    for the sale of an agricultural commodity stipulating the terms and conditions
 30    of performance of the parties and includes, but is not limited to, those  con-
 31    tracts  commonly  referred to as credit sales, deferred payment, delayed, pro-
 32    duction, bailment or price later contracts.
 33        (4)  "Credit-sale contract" means a contract for the sale of  an  agricul-
 34    tural  commodity pursuant to which the sale price is to be paid at a date sub-
 35    sequent to the delivery  of  the  agricultural  commodity  to  the  buyer  and
 36    includes,  but  is  not  limited  to,  those contracts commonly referred to as
 37    deferred payment contracts, deferred pricing contracts and  price  later  con-
 38    tracts.
 39        (5)  "Deliver"  or  "delivery" means the physical transfer of agricultural
 40    commodity from one (1) party to another.
 41        (56)  "Department" means the Idaho state department of agriculture.
 42        (67)  "Depositor" means any person who deposits an agricultural  commodity
 43    in an Idaho state licensed warehouse for storage, handling, processing, recon-

                                       2

  1    ditioning  or  shipment,  or  who is the owner or legal holder of a negotiable
  2    warehouse receipt, outstanding scale weight  ticket,  nonnegotiable  warehouse
  3    receipt  or  other  evidence of such deposit, or any person whose agricultural
  4    commodity has been sold to or is under control of a warehouseman  for selling,
  5    processing, reconditioning or handling whether or not such  agricultural  com-
  6    modity is within the warehouse.
  7        (78)  "Director" means the director of the Idaho state department of agri-
  8    culture.
  9        (89)  "Failure"  means  the  date  that  one  (1) or more of the following
 10    events occurred, as determined by the director:
 11        (a)  An inability to financially satisfy claimants in accordance with this
 12        chapter and the time limits provided for in it;
 13        (b)  A public declaration of insolvency;
 14        (c)  A revocation of license and the leaving of an  outstanding  indebted-
 15        ness to a depositor or producer;
 16        (d)  A  failure  to  redeliver  any  commodity  to  a  depositor or to pay
 17        depositors or producers for commodities purchased by a licensee or to  pay
 18        a producer for commodity delivered under the provisions of the contract in
 19        the ordinary course of business;
 20        (e)  A  failure  to make application for license renewal within sixty (60)
 21        days after the annual license renewal date; or
 22        (f)  A denial of the application for a license renewal.
 23        (910) "Historical depositor" means any person who, in the normal course of
 24    business operation has consistently made deposits in  the  same  warehouse  of
 25    commodities produced on the same land. In addition, anyone purchasing or leas-
 26    ing  that  particular  land  directly from the original depositor or receiving
 27    that particular land by devise, descent, bequest or  gift  directly  from  the
 28    historical  depositor  shall  also  be considered an historical depositor with
 29    regard to the commodities produced on that land.
 30        (101) "Person" means any individual, firm, association, corporation, part-
 31    nership or limited liability company.
 32        (112) "Producer" means the owner, tenant or operator of land in this state
 33    who has an interest in the proceeds from the sale of agricultural  commodities
 34    produced  on  that  land.  Producer does not include growers who deposit their
 35    commodity in a facility in which they have a financial or management interest,
 36    except members of a cooperative marketing association qualified under  chapter
 37    26, title 22, Idaho Code.
 38        (123) "Public warehouse" or "warehouse" or "warehouseman" means any eleva-
 39    tor,  mill,  warehouse,  subterminal  commodity warehouse, public warehouse or
 40    other structure or facility in which agricultural commodities are received for
 41    storage, shipment, processing, reconditioning or handling.
 42        (134) "Receipt" means a warehouse receipt.
 43        (145) "Revocation" means the permanent removal of a warehouse license fol-
 44    lowing a hearing on violations of this  chapter  by  the  hearing  officer  or
 45    director.
 46        (156) "Scale  weight  ticket"  means  a load slip or other evidence, other
 47    than a receipt, given to a depositor by a warehouseman licensed under the pro-
 48    visions of this chapter, upon initial delivery of the commodity to  the  ware-
 49    house.
 50        (167) "Seed  crops"  means any seed crop regulated by chapter 4, title 22,
 51    Idaho Code.
 52        (178) "Subterminal warehouse" means any warehouse at which an intermediate
 53    function is  performed  in  which  agricultural  commodities  are  customarily
 54    received  from  dealers  rather  than  producers and where the commodities are
 55    accumulated prior to shipment.

                                       3

  1        (189) "Suspension" means the temporary removal of a warehouse  license  by
  2    the department pending a hearing for violations of this chapter. Correction of
  3    the violations prior to a hearing may result in the reinstatement of a license
  4    without a hearing.
  5        (1920) "Termination"  means  the  expiration of a warehouse license due to
  6    failure to meet minimum licensing requirements, failure to renew  a  warehouse
  7    license  or  as  requested  by the licensee, unless a complaint has been filed
  8    against the licensee alleging a violation of any provision of this chapter.
  9        (201) "Transfer" means, unless otherwise defined by the parties  in  writ-
 10    ing,  the  event  when a producer or his agent delivers a commodity to a ware-
 11    houseman, who then weighs the commodity, and gives the producer or his agent a
 12    scale weight ticket or other written evidence of transfer.
 13        (212) "Warehouse receipt" means every receipt, whether negotiable or  non-
 14    negotiable, issued by a warehouseman, except scale weight tickets.
 15        (223) "Warehouseman"  means  a  person  operating  or controlling a public
 16    warehouse.

 17        SECTION 2.  That Section 69-203, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 18    amended to read as follows:

 19        69-203.  LICENSE  NECESSARY TO OPERATE PUBLIC WAREHOUSE. (1) Before a per-
 20    son can lawfully operate a public warehouse in this state, he must  procure  a
 21    license  under  this chapter; provided however, that the foregoing requirement
 22    as to licenses is not applicable to  any  warehouse  or  warehouseman  who  is
 23    licensed  under  an  act  of congress approved August 11, 1916 (39 Statutes at
 24    Large 44 486) and acts amendatory thereof, commonly called the "United  States
 25    Warehouse Act," and who is licensed under chapter 5, title 69, Idaho Code.
 26        (2)  The type of license required shall be determined as follows:
 27        (a)  A  class  1  license is required if the warehouseman acts as a public
 28        warehouse and purchases agricultural commodities by  credit-sale  contract
 29        or  if  the  value  of the agricultural commodities purchased by the ware-
 30        houseman from producers during  the  previous  twelve  (12)  month  period
 31        exceeds  five  hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or if the value of the
 32        agricultural commodities expected to be purchased by the warehouseman from
 33        the producers during the succeeding twelve (12) month period  will  exceed
 34        five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). Any other warehouseman may elect
 35        to be licensed as a class 1 public warehouse.
 36        (b)  A  class  2  license is required if the warehouseman acts as a public
 37        warehouse and if the value of the agricultural  commodities  purchased  by
 38        the  warehouseman  from  producers  during  the previous twelve (12) month
 39        period exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)  and  is  less  than
 40        five  hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or if the value of the agricul-
 41        tural commodities expected to be purchased by the  warehouseman  from  the
 42        producers during the succeeding twelve (12) month period will be more than
 43        twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) but less than five hundred thousand
 44        dollars  ($500,000).  A  class  2  licensee whose purchases from producers
 45        exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in value during any twelve
 46        (12) month period shall immediately apply for a  class  1  license.  If  a
 47        class  1 license is denied, the warehouseman shall immediately cease doing
 48        business as a public warehouse.

 49        SECTION 3.  That Section 69-206, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 50    amended to read as follows:

 51        69-206.  LICENSES TO WAREHOUSEMEN -- ISSUE -- RENEWAL -- CONDITIONS PRECE-

                                       4

  1    DENT.  The department is authorized, upon application to it, to issue or renew
  2    to any warehouseman a license for the conduct of a warehouse or warehouses  in
  3    accordance  with this chapter and such rules as may be made hereunder, provid-
  4    ing the following conditions are met:
  5        (1)  Each person, as a condition precedent to  operating  a  warehouse  in
  6    this state, shall file and maintain satisfactory evidence with the director of
  7    the  existence of an effective policy of insurance issued by an insurance com-
  8    pany authorized to do business in this state, insuring all  agricultural  com-
  9    modities that may be stored or accepted for storage on the premises, including
 10    commodities  owned  by  the warehouseman, for which such license is sought for
 11    the full market value of such agricultural commodities against loss  by  fire,
 12    internal explosion, lightning or tornado;
 13        (2)  That  each  warehouse be found suitable for the proper storage of the
 14    particular agricultural commodity  or  commodities  for  which  a  license  is
 15    requested;
 16        (3)  A license fee is submitted to the department as prescribed by section
 17    69-211, Idaho Code;
 18        (4)  A current drawing of the warehouse which shows storage facilities and
 19    the  capacity calculations of the warehouse which indicates commodity and seed
 20    crop storage areas, shall be approved by the department;
 21        (5)  A sufficient and valid bond is filed and maintained  as  required  by
 22    section 69-208, Idaho Code;
 23        (6)  The  applicant  shall submit to the department an audited or reviewed
 24    financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant  or
 25    licensed  public  accountant  showing  that the licensee has and does maintain
 26    current assets equal to or greater than current liabilities,  a  statement  of
 27    current  assets  and current liabilities, and a statement of net worth, all of
 28    which shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting prin-
 29    ciples;
 30        (7)  For a warehouseman license an applicant shall have and maintain a net
 31    worth of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or maintain a bond  in  the
 32    amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000)
 33    or  fraction  thereof  of  net  worth financial requirement; however, a person
 34    shall not be licensed as a warehouseman if the person has a net worth of  less
 35    than  twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). A bond submitted for purposes of
 36    this subsection shall be in addition to any bond otherwise required under  the
 37    provisions  of this chapter; In order to receive and retain a public warehouse
 38    license the following additional conditions must be satisfied:
 39        (a)  For a class 1 license a public warehouse shall have  and  maintain  a
 40        net  worth  of  at least two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Provided
 41        however, for those public warehouses licensed prior to July 1, 2007,  that
 42        were at the time of licensing required to maintain a net worth of at least
 43        fifty  thousand  dollars  ($50,000), that are continually licensed through
 44        December 2010, their net worth requirement shall increase by  fifty  thou-
 45        sand  dollars  ($50,000)  per  license year until the two hundred thousand
 46        dollar ($200,000) net worth minimum is reached which  shall  be  no  later
 47        than  December 31, 2010. In the event a public warehouse licensed prior to
 48        July 1, 2007, shall at any time prior to December 31, 2010,  cease  to  be
 49        licensed,  and  shall  thereafter  again apply for a class 1 license, they
 50        shall be required to have and maintain a net worth of at least two hundred
 51        thousand dollars ($200,000). A class 1 public  warehouse  shall  have  and
 52        maintain,  at  all  times, grain assets plus liquidity equal to or greater
 53        than grain liabilities. Guidelines relating to grain assets, liquidity and
 54        grain liabilities shall be promulgated by rule.
 55        (b)  For a class 2 license a public warehouse shall have  and  maintain  a

                                       5

  1        net  worth of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or maintain a bond
  2        in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each one thousand  dol-
  3        lars ($1,000) or fraction thereof of net worth deficiency; however, a per-
  4        son  shall not be licensed as a class 2 public warehouse if the person has
  5        a net worth of less than twenty-five thousand dollars  ($25,000).  A  bond
  6        submitted for purposes of this subsection shall be in addition to any bond
  7        otherwise required under the provisions of this chapter.
  8        (8)  The  applicant  has complied with and abided by all the terms of this
  9    chapter and the rules prescribed hereunder;
 10        (9)  That all materials  required  for  renewal  of  a  license  shall  be
 11    received  by  the  department  prior  to  the expiration date of the warehouse
 12    license. A warehouse license which  has  expired  may  be  reinstated  by  the
 13    department  upon  receipt of all necessary licensing materials required by the
 14    provisions of this chapter and a reinstatement fee in the amount of five  hun-
 15    dred  dollars ($500), providing that this material is filed within thirty (30)
 16    days from the date of expiration of the warehouse license. At the end  of  the
 17    thirty  (30) day reinstatement period, a warehouse license shall be terminated
 18    by the department. All license applications completed and received  after  the
 19    thirty (30) day reinstatement period shall be considered original applications
 20    and  after  the five hundred dollar ($500) reinstatement fee has been remitted
 21    to the department, license fees shall be assessed as original  fees  according
 22    to section 69-211, Idaho Code.

 23        SECTION  4.  That  Section  69-249, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 24    amended to read as follows:

 25        69-249.  CREDIT-SALE CONTRACTS. (1) A warehouseman who purchases  agricul-
 26    tural  commodities  by  credit-sale  contracts  shall have in effect a current
 27    class 1 public warehouse license and maintain books, records and  other  docu-
 28    ments  as  required  by the department to establish compliance with the provi-
 29    sions of this section.
 30        (2)  In addition to other information as may be  required,  a  credit-sale
 31    contract shall contain or provide, but not be limited to:
 32        (a)  The seller's name and address;
 33        (b)  The conditions of delivery;
 34        (c)  The amount, kind and class of agricultural commodities delivered;
 35        (d)  The price per unit or basis of value;
 36        (e)  The date payment is to be made; and
 37        (f)  Any enhancements to the value of the contract, which may include, but
 38        are  not  limited  to, transportation, premiums of any nature, or producer
 39        provided services, must be listed separately and apart from the price  per
 40        unit of the commodity.
 41        (3)  Title to all agricultural commodities sold by credit-sale contract is
 42    in  the purchaser as of the time the contract is executed, unless the contract
 43    provides otherwise. The contract must be signed by both parties  and  executed
 44    in  duplicate.  One (1) copy shall be retained by the warehouseman and one (1)
 45    copy shall be delivered to the seller. Upon revocation  or  termination  of  a
 46    warehouseman's  license,  the payment date for all credit-sale contracts shall
 47    be advanced to a date not later than thirty (30) days following the  effective
 48    date  of the revocation or termination and the purchase price for all agricul-
 49    tural commodities without a price shall be determined as of the effective date
 50    of revocation or termination in accordance with all other  provisions  of  the
 51    contract.  In  the  event claims are submitted to the commodity indemnity fund
 52    following a declared failure, the value determination  of  contracts  will  be
 53    controlled by the provisions of section 69-262, Idaho Code, and the rules pro-

                                       6

  1    mulgated  pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. However, if the business
  2    of the warehouseman is sold to another licensed warehouseman, credit-sale con-
  3    tracts may be assigned to the purchaser of the business.

  4        SECTION 5.  That Section 69-208, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
  5    amended to read as follows:

  6        69-208.  BOND  OF  APPLICANT  FOR LICENSE -- ADDITIONAL BOND -- ADDITIONAL
  7    OBLIGATIONS -- CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT OR IRREVOCABLE LETTER OF CREDIT IN  LIEU
  8    OF  BOND -- SINGLE BOND. Each warehouseman applying for a license to conduct a
  9    warehouse in accordance with this chapter shall, as a condition to the  grant-
 10    ing  thereof,  execute and file with the department a good and sufficient bond
 11    other than personal security. The bond shall be  in  favor  of  the  commodity
 12    indemnity  fund  to  secure  the  faithful performance of his obligations as a
 13    warehouseman under all the laws of the state, including obligations arising by
 14    operation of the commodity indemnity fund program, and  the  rules  prescribed
 15    hereunder,  and  of  such  additional  obligations as a warehouseman as may be
 16    assumed by him under contracts with the respective depositors of  agricultural
 17    commodities  in  such  warehouse.  Said bond shall be in such form and amount,
 18    shall have such surety or sureties, and shall contain such  terms  and  condi-
 19    tions  as the department may prescribe to carry out the purposes of this chap-
 20    ter. Whenever the department shall determine that a bond approved by it is, or
 21    for any cause has become, insufficient, it shall require an additional bond or
 22    bonds to be given by the warehouseman concerned, conforming with the  require-
 23    ments of this section, and unless the same be given within the time fixed by a
 24    written demand therefor the license of such warehouseman shall be suspended or
 25    revoked.
 26        The bond shall be approved by the department and shall be conditioned upon
 27    the  faithful performance by the warehouseman of the duty to keep in the ware-
 28    house for the depositor the agricultural commodity delivered  and  to  deliver
 29    the  agricultural  commodity to or for such depositors. The bond shall also be
 30    conditioned upon the faithful performance by the  warehouseman  of  any  addi-
 31    tional obligations involving marketing transactions with a depositor.
 32        The  warehouseman  may give a single bond meeting the requirements as pro-
 33    vided in this chapter and all warehouses operated by the warehouseman shall be
 34    as one (1) warehouse for the purpose of compliance with the provisions of this
 35    section. At the discretion of the director, any person required  to  submit  a
 36    bond  to  the  department  in  accordance  with  this chapter, may give to the
 37    department a certificate of deposit or an irrevocable letter of credit payable
 38    to the commodity indemnity fund in lieu of the bond required herein. The prin-
 39    cipal amount of the certificate of deposit or  irrevocable  letter  of  credit
 40    shall be the same as that required for a surety bond pursuant to this chapter.
 41    Accrued  interest upon the certificate of deposit shall be payable to the pur-
 42    chaser of the certificate. The irrevocable letter of credit or certificate  of
 43    deposit  shall  remain  on file with the department until it is released, can-
 44    celed or discharged by the director or until the director is  notified  ninety
 45    (90)  days  in  advance,  by  registered  or  certified  mail,  return receipt
 46    requested, that the irrevocable letter of credit or certificate of deposit  is
 47    renewed, canceled or amended. Failure to notify the director may result in the
 48    suspension  or  revocation of the bonded  warehouse license. The provisions of
 49    this chapter that apply to a bond required pursuant to this chapter  apply  to
 50    each  certificate  of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit given in lieu of
 51    such bond.
 52        Under provisions of this chapter, an irrevocable letter of credit or  cer-
 53    tificate  of deposit shall not be acceptable unless it is issued by a national

                                       7

  1    bank or federal thrift institution in Idaho or by a  state-chartered  bank  or
  2    thrift  institution authorized to conduct business in Idaho and insured by the
  3    federal deposit insurance corporation.
  4        Any changes in the capacity of a warehouse  or  installation  of  any  new
  5    warehouses  involving  a  change in the bond liability under the provisions of
  6    this chapter shall be reported  to  the  department  prior  to  the  operation
  7    thereof.
  8        If  a  warehouseman  is  licensed  pursuant to chapter 51, title 22, Idaho
  9    Code, that same warehouseman may obtain a single bond, certificate of  deposit
 10    or  irrevocable letter of credit as surety for both chapter 2, title 69, Idaho
 11    Code, and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code. If a single bond,  certificate  of
 12    deposit  or  irrevocable letter of credit is written covering chapter 2, title
 13    69, Idaho Code, and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code, the bond, certificate of
 14    deposit or irrevocable letter of credit shall be made out in favor of the com-
 15    modity indemnity fund and the seed indemnity fund. In the event a warehouseman
 16    fails as defined in section 69-202(89), Idaho Code, and a single bond, certif-
 17    icate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit is written in  favor  of  the
 18    commodity  indemnity  fund  and seed indemnity fund, the proceeds of the bond,
 19    certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit will be allocated based
 20    on the dollar amount of the verified claims approved pursuant  to  chapter  2,
 21    title 69, Idaho Code, and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code.

 22        SECTION  6.  That  Section  69-262, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 23    amended to read as follows:

 24        69-262.  PROOF OF CLAIMS -- PROCEDURE -- HEARING --  INSPECTION  OF  WARE-
 25    HOUSE.  In  the  event  a  warehouse  or  dealer  fails, as defined in section
 26    69-202(89), Idaho Code, the department shall process the claims  of  producers
 27    who have paid or owe assessments as required by this chapter. Claims against a
 28    failed warehouse or dealer shall include written evidence disclosing a storage
 29    obligation or a sale or delivery of commodities.
 30        (1)  The department shall give notice and provide a reasonable time of not
 31    less  than  thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days to producers to
 32    file their written verified claims, including any written evidence,  with  the
 33    department.
 34        (2)  The  department  shall  investigate  each claim and shall notify each
 35    claimant, the warehouseman or  dealer,  and  the  advisory  committee  of  the
 36    department's  determination  as  to the validity and amount of each claimant's
 37    claim. A claimant or warehouseman or dealer  may  request  a  hearing  on  the
 38    department's determination within twenty (20) days of receipt of written noti-
 39    fication and a hearing shall be held by the department pursuant to chapter 52,
 40    title  67,  Idaho Code. Upon determining the amount and validity of the claim,
 41    the director shall pay to the claimant an amount equal to ninety percent (90%)
 42    of the approved claim from the commodity indemnity fund. Prior to any  payment
 43    from  the  fund to a claimant, the claimant shall be required to subrogate and
 44    assign his right to recover from any other source. The department may then pay
 45    up to ninety percent (90%) of the approved claim to the claimant. The  depart-
 46    ment  shall have a priority claim for that amount. The claimant shall be enti-
 47    tled to seek recovery of the remaining ten percent (10%) which was not  origi-
 48    nally assigned to the department. For the purpose of determining the amount of
 49    the producer's claim, the value of a producer's commodity  shall be the lesser
 50    of: (a) the value of the commodity on the date the director declared the ware-
 51    house or dealer to have failed or to have failed to comply with the provisions
 52    of  this  chapter  or  rules promulgated thereunder; (b) the contract price as
 53    listed on a valid contract; or (c) the value of the commodity  represented  on

                                       8

  1    the  contract  on  the date the contract was signed. The value shall be deter-
  2    mined by a survey of the available market price reports or markets of  similar
  3    facilities within the same geographic location as the failed facility.
  4        (3)  The  department  may  inspect  and  audit  a  failed warehouseman  or
  5    dealer. In the event of  a  shortage,  the  department  shall  determine  each
  6    producer's pro rata share of available commodities and the deficiency shall be
  7    considered as a claim of the producer. Each type of commodity shall be treated
  8    separately for the purpose of determining shortages.
  9        (4)  The director shall not approve or pay any claim made on the commodity
 10    indemnity  fund  if  the  claim is based on losses resulting from the deposit,
 11    sale or storage of commodities in an unlicensed warehouse or dealer.
 12        (5)  The fund shall not be liable for claims filed against a warehouse  or
 13    dealer in good standing who has voluntarily relinquished their license if such
 14    claims are not filed with the department within six (6) months of the closing.

 15        SECTION  7.  That  Section  69-506, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 16    amended to read as follows:

 17        69-506.  BONDING REQUIREMENTS -- CANCELLATION  --  IRREVOCABLE  LETTER  OF
 18    CREDIT  OR  CERTIFICATE  OF  DEPOSIT IN LIEU OF BOND -- SINGLE BOND. Except as
 19    provided in chapter 2, title 69, Idaho Code, an applicant  for  a  license  to
 20    operate  as  a  commodity  dealer shall, before a license will be issued, file
 21    with the department a bond in favor of the commodity  indemnity  fund  with  a
 22    corporate surety approved by the department with the condition that the appli-
 23    cant  will pay the purchase price of any agricultural commodity to the seller.
 24    The aggregate annual liability of the surety shall in no event exceed the  sum
 25    of the bond.
 26        At the discretion of the director, any person required to submit a bond to
 27    the  department  in accordance with this chapter, may give to the department a
 28    certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit payable to the  commod-
 29    ity  indemnity  fund in lieu of the bond required herein. The principal amount
 30    of the certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of  credit  shall  be  the
 31    same  as  that  required  for  a surety bond pursuant to this chapter. Accrued
 32    interest upon the certificate of deposit shall be payable to the purchaser  of
 33    the  certificate.  The  certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit
 34    shall remain on file with the department until it  is  released,  canceled  or
 35    discharged  by  the  director.  The provisions of this chapter that apply to a
 36    bond required pursuant to this chapter apply to each certificate of deposit or
 37    irrevocable letter of credit given in lieu of such bond.  The  certificate  of
 38    deposit  or irrevocable letter of credit shall remain on file with the depart-
 39    ment until it is released, canceled, or discharged by the director,  or  until
 40    the  director is notified ninety (90) days in advance, by registered or certi-
 41    fied mail, return receipt requested, that the certificate of deposit or irrev-
 42    ocable letter of credit is renewed, canceled or amended. Failure to notify the
 43    director may result in the suspension or revocation of the commodity  dealer's
 44    license. Under the provisions of this chapter, an irrevocable letter of credit
 45    or  certificate  of  deposit  shall  not  be accepted unless it is issued by a
 46    national bank or federal thrift institution in Idaho or by  a  state-chartered
 47    bank or thrift institution authorized to conduct business in Idaho and insured
 48    by  the federal deposit insurance corporation. A certificate of deposit  shall
 49    be submitted with an audited  or  reviewed  financial  statement  prepared  in
 50    accordance  with the rules of the department by an independent Idaho certified
 51    public accountant or Idaho licensed public accountant.
 52        The amount of bond to be furnished for  each  commodity  dealer  shall  be
 53    fixed at whichever of the following amounts is greater:

                                       9

  1        (1)  The  combined total indebtedness paid and owed to producers for agri-
  2    cultural commodity and seed crop for the previous license year; or
  3        (2)  The indebtedness owed and estimated to be owed to producers for agri-
  4    cultural commodity and seed crop for the current license year.
  5        Subsequent to determining whichever of the preceding amounts  is  greater,
  6    and based on that amount, the amount of bond shall be calculated as follows:

  7    Gross Dollars:                     Amount of Bond:
  8    $0 - $450,000                      $20,000 bond or 6% of the gross
  9                                       dollars, whichever is less
 10    $450,001 - $1,000,000              $40,000 bond
 11    $1,000,001 - $8,000,000            $100,000 bond
 12    Over $8,000,000                    $500,000 bond

 13        In  any  case,  the amount of the bond shall not be more than five hundred
 14    thousand dollars ($500,000). A surety shall notify the  commodity  dealer  and
 15    the  department  by certified mail at least ninety (90) days prior to the can-
 16    cellation of a bond issued under the provisions of this chapter. The liability
 17    of the surety shall cover purchases made by the commodity  dealer  during  the
 18    time  the  bond is in force. A commodity dealer's bond filed with this depart-
 19    ment shall be continuous until canceled by the surety upon ninety  (90)  days'
 20    notice. The director reserves the right to waive the ninety (90) day cancella-
 21    tion period.
 22        If  a commodity dealer is licensed pursuant to chapter 51, title 22, Idaho
 23    Code, that same commodity dealer may obtain  a  single  bond,  certificate  of
 24    deposit or irrevocable letter of credit as a surety under chapter 5, title 69,
 25    Idaho  Code,  and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code. If a single bond, certifi-
 26    cate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit is written covering chapter 5,
 27    title 69, Idaho Code, and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code, the bond, certifi-
 28    cate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit shall be made out in favor  of
 29    the  commodity indemnity fund and the seed indemnity fund. In the event a com-
 30    modity dealer fails as defined in section 69-202(89), Idaho Code, and a single
 31    bond, certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of  credit  is  written  in
 32    favor of the commodity indemnity fund and seed indemnity fund, the proceeds of
 33    the bond, certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit will be allo-
 34    cated  based  on the dollar amount of the verified claims approved pursuant to
 35    chapter 2, title 69, Idaho Code, and chapter 51, title 22, Idaho Code.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                   STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                        RS 17754C1

This legislation amends Section 69-202 (2) increasing the 
minimum financial requirement to the definition of Commodity 
Dealer; Section 69-202 (4) adding a definition for “credit 
sales contract”; Section 69-203 (2) adds two classes of 
warehouse licenses;  Section 69-206 (7) (a) adds financial 
responsibility requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licensed 
warehouses; Section 69-249 adds a requirement that a warehouse 
must be licensed as a Class 1 warehouse if it writes credit 
sale contracts.



                       FISCAL NOTE

No impact to the General Fund.







CONTACT

Name:   Tom Trail, Chairman
Phone:	(208) 332-1137

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                         H 486