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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