Administrative Rules of the State of Montana

BEFORE THE Department of aGRICULTURE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

In the matter of the adoption of New Rules I through IV pertaining to the Montana Hemp Research and Market Development Program

)

NOTICE OF ADOPTION

TO: All Concerned Persons

1. On July 24, 2020, the Department of Agriculture published MAR Notice No. 4-20-269 pertaining to the public hearing on the proposed adoption of the above-stated rules at page 1319 of the 2020 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 14.

2. The department has adopted the following rules as proposed: New Rules II (4.6.602), III (4.6.603), and IV (4.6.604).

3. The department has adopted the following rule as proposed, but with the following changes from the original proposal, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:

NEW RULE I (4.6.601) MONTANA HEMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(1) The committee shall be an eight member committee consisting of six voting members ~~actively~~ involved in the production of hemp, one non-voting processing industry representative, and one non-voting representative from the Montana State University System.

(2) and (3) remain as proposed.

4. The department has thoroughly considered the comments and testimony received. A summary of the comments received and the department's responses are as follows:

COMMENT #1: The department should require that at least one of the growers on the committee be from each district within the state.

RESPONSE #1: The geographic representation will be accounted for by the director when selecting committee members.

COMMENT #2: Committee members should not be required to actively be producing hemp, but rather, have been involved in the production of hemp.

RESPONSE #2: The department has amended NEW RULE I (4.6.601), deleting the word "actively."

/s/ Cort Jensen /s/ Ben Thomas

Cor Jensen Ben Thomas

Rule Reviewer Director

Department of Agriculture

Certified to the Secretary of State October 27, 2020.