The bill proposes the repeal of the Arkansas Catfish Processor Fair Practices Act of 1987, which will eliminate all associated provisions and regulations, including those that defined the act's purpose, outlined responsibilities for catfish processors, and established penalties for unfair practices. By removing this regulatory framework, the bill aims to change the operational standards within the catfish industry in Arkansas, potentially affecting how transactions are conducted and disputes are resolved between processors and producers.

Additionally, the bill includes amendments to existing laws regarding the receivership of Class A registrants under the Arkansas Catfish Processor Fair Practices Act. Key changes involve the deletion of sections related to the notification process for weigh ticket holders, publication requirements for appointing a receiver, and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture's duties in receivership proceedings. The bill also clarifies that the Secretary may designate an employee to represent them in court and states that actions taken under receivership will not be subject to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act. Furthermore, it repeals a provision on civil penalties collected from catfish processors and amends the definition of the Livestock and Poultry Special Revenue Fund to include new revenue sources while removing references to certain previous sections.

Statutes affected:
SB 407: 19-6-301(34), 19-6-480(a)
Act 577: 19-6-301(34), 19-6-480(a)