LB117 LB117
2023 2023
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 117
Introduced by Brandt, 32.
Read first time January 06, 2023
Committee: Agriculture
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Nebraska Meat and Poultry Inspection
2 Law; to amend section 54-1915.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of
3 Nebraska; to change an applicant eligibility standard under the
4 Independent Processor Assistance Program; and to repeal the original
5 section.
6 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. Section 54-1915.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska,
2 is amended to read:
3 54-1915.02 (1) The Independent Processor Assistance Program is
4 created. The department shall administer the program contingent on funds
5 being made available for such purpose.
6 (2) The purpose of the Independent Processor Assistance Program is
7 to:
8 (a) Address supply chain disruptions caused by a public health
9 emergency;
10 (b) Increase and improve livestock slaughter and meat processing
11 capacity;
12 (c) Expand market access for small livestock producers; and
13 (d) Facilitate workforce development.
14 (3) In administering the Independent Processor Assistance Program,
15 the department may develop policies and procedures for the disbursement
16 of funds authorized by this section that include, at a minimum, the
17 following:
18 (a) Applicant eligibility standards. At a minimum, such standards
19 shall require that eligible applicants:
20 (i) Operate as a federally inspected, state-inspected, or custom-
21 exempt slaughter and processing facility domiciled in Nebraska;
22 (ii) Demonstrate existing sales revenue of less than two million
23 five hundred thousand dollars and employment of fewer than fifty full-
24 time-equivalent twenty-five employees; and
25 (iii) Be registered in good standing with the Secretary of State to
26 do business in Nebraska; and
27 (b) Expense eligibility standards. At a minimum, such standards
28 shall include:
29 (i) Capital improvements to expand capacity, including expansion and
30 modifications to existing buildings or construction of new buildings at
31 existing facilities;
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1 (ii) Upgrades to utilities, including water, electric, heat,
2 refrigeration, freezing, and waste facilities;
3 (iii) Livestock intake and storage equipment;
4 (iv) Processing and manufacturing equipment, including cutting
5 equipment, mixers, grinders, sausage stuffers, smokers, curing equipment,
6 pipes, motors, pumps, and valves;
7 (v) Packaging and handling equipment, including sealing, bagging,
8 boxing, labeling, conveying, and product-moving equipment;
9 (vi) Warehouse equipment, including storage and curing racks;
10 (vii) Waste treatment and management equipment, including tanks,
11 blowers, separators, dryers, digesters, and equipment that uses waste to
12 produce energy, fuel, or industrial products;
13 (viii) Technology that allows increased capacity or business
14 resilience, including software and hardware related to business
15 functions, logistics, inventory management, plant production controls,
16 temperature monitoring controls, and website design that enables e-
17 commerce;
18 (ix) Rental of buildings, facilities, or equipment necessary to
19 expand capacity, including mobile slaughter units and mobile
20 refrigeration units used exclusively for meat or poultry processing;
21 (x) Costs associated with increased inspections or becoming
22 inspected, including overtime inspection services by the Food Safety and
23 Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and
24 hazard analysis and critical control point consultation services; and
25 (xi) Educational and workforce training provided either by the
26 facility or by an institution of higher education.
27 (4) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to
28 carry out the purposes of the Independent Processor Assistance Program.
29 Sec. 2. Original section 54-1915.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of
30 Nebraska, is repealed.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 54-1915.02