Your Name Goes Here

Your Address Goes Here, Your City, Your State And Zip

Via U.S.P.S. First Class Mail (if applicable)

Insert Date of Committee Hearing

Insert Committee in which Proposed Legislation will be heard

House Committee on Agriculture

This is an example (half raw milk/ half NAIS)  I will be doing my own Memorandum of Support this afternoon and post it by the weekend

Insert State and Year of Proposed Legislation

State of Montana, _____Legislature, ______ Regular Session

INSERT-STATEMENT OF FACTS

Example-STATEMENT OF FACTS

1.LET THE RECORD SHOW that Your name (hereinafter Respondent), hereby respectfully appears before the Committee.

2.LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent is domiciled in this state, of legal age, without legal disability, appears in his personal capacity, in Good Faith, and has no known conflict of interest with said proposed legislation.

3.LET THE RECORD SHOW that  What is your interest in raw milk?

Example:Respondent enjoys animal husbandry, farming and related activities. WHEREAS, Respondent has a vested interested in the enactment of this proposed legislation.

4.LET THE RECORD SHOW   State facts you know to be true

 Add supporting documents or statements known to be true

Example-that the state currently performs under one or more contract(s), a.k.a. Cooperative Agreement(s), entered into and under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, activities that include but are not limited to the implementation of the National Animal Identification System, or certain aspects thereof, in this state.

 LET THE RECORD SHOW  that State more facts, itemized, one by one

  Example-the state, pursuant to said contract(s), has already received certain funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that this proposed legislation seeks to discontinue. WHEREAS, the state has a conflict of interest in light of the receipt of said funding or the promise thereof.

 5.LET THE RECORD SHOW that the state, pursuant to said contract(s), has contracted with and offered compensation to one or more person(s) or organization(s) for the purpose of participating in and/or to carry out some of said activities that this proposed legislation seeks to discontinue. WHEREAS, any such person or organization has a conflict of interest in light of said contracts, or the promise thereof.

MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT for  HB 574 PROPOSED LEGISLATION

INSERT ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL CITATIONS

7.LET THE RECORD SHOW that Example-Respondent holds that it is the right of Montana residents to buy raw milk, and consume raw milk.  WHEREAS, Respondent supports enactment of said proposed legislation

Address each section briefly and either agree with the language and intent or make a suggestion.Address each section separately because you may agree with one section and not another section.

8  LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent agrees with and fully supports the legislature’s findings of fact, conclusions of fact, and legislative intent.

9.  LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent agrees with and supports the legislature’s definitions expressed by clauses throughout the entire bill.

If you make a suggestion or new language give your reasoning

Example-Reasoning: Because the legal definition of verification implies supported by oath or affirmation, Respondent holds that the term validation would be a better way to express the bill’s legislative intent.

If you think a new section needs to be added insert the language and give your reasoning.

14.Example-In re: New Section, Sec. 6: LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent proposes to add the following provisions:

15.New Clause (5): Any person [domiciled in this state] registered in the National Animal Identification System by the director shall have the right to remain registered with or withdraw from said system consistent with other provisions of this section.
Reasoning: Unless this bill provides for a persons direct interaction with the National Animal Identification System, some persons would be permanently locked into the National Animal Identification System.

  6.New Clause (6): Any person [domiciled in this state] wishing to register in the National Animal Identification System shall have the right to do so consistent with other provisions of this section.

Reasoning: Unless this bill provides for a persons direct interaction with the National Animal Identification System, some persons would be permanently shut out of the National Animal Identification System.

17.In re: New Section, Sec. 7: LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent fully supports the legislative intent and specific provisions of clauses (1) through (4).

18.In re: New Section, Sec. 7: LET THE RECORD SHOW that Respondent supports the legislatures intent and provisions expressed by clauses (1) through (3). Respondent proposes to expand clause (4) as follows (emphasis added):

19.Expanded Clause (4): Failure or refusal to participate in a premises registration or animal identification program, or the providing of services to persons who are not participants in a premises registration or animal identification program, shall not be a crime, nor an element of any crime, nor a civil infraction, nor evidence of any negligence or gross negligence on the part of any livestock owner or provider of goods or services.

Reasoning:With this expansion, the director would be prevented from levying civil penalties against non-participating persons.

 INSERT WHAT DO YOU WANT THE COMMITTEE TO DO WITH THIS BILL?

Example-REQUEST FOR COMMITTEE ACTION

22.Respondent respectfully requests that the Committee reconcile the above suggestions with the bills original provisions, and promptly forward the reconciled bill to the legislature for enactment into law.

 INSERT THAT YOU HAVE STATED THE FACTS AND HAVE GIVEN THE TRUTH.

Example-DECLARATION

Respondent hereby declares that the forgoing is true and correct according to personal knowledge and belief.

DateYour Name(s)

Dated: _______________Your Name Goes Here, Respondent