HB355 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Agriculture and Industries Department, laboratory testing, authorized to be performed by federal government or other state governments, Secs. 2-2-33, 2-2-35 am'd.

Summary

HB355 lets Alabama's Department of Agriculture and Industries have required tests done by federal or other state laboratories and expands state laboratories and standards for agriculture and related areas.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows the commissioner, with board approval, to delegate laboratory testing to federal or other state labs and to use their results for enforcement. It also makes certificates of analysis from these labs admissible as evidence in court. Additionally, it creates or expands state diagnostic laboratories for swine and poultry, sets up a seed testing division (with possible delegation of tree/shrub seed testing to federal or other approved labs), and adds pesticide residue testing authority; it also updates weights and measures and petroleum product standards and testing methods.

Who It Affects

• State regulatory agencies and the Department of Agriculture and Industries (and its Board) that oversee testing and enforcement, who gain authority to partner with federal/other-state labs and to accept their test results.
• Farmers, producers, and agricultural businesses in Alabama (including swine and poultry producers, seed and feed companies, tree/shrub seed traders, and other users of testing and standards) who will be served by new or expanded diagnostic labs, testing programs, and product standards.

Key Provisions

• Allows the commissioner, with Board approval, to delegate laboratory tests or analyses to laboratories operated by the federal government or other state governments, and to use those test results for enforcing laws or rules.
• Certificate of analysis from the department or an approved external laboratory, when properly verified, is admissible as prima facie evidence in court; the sample quality is presumed to match the analyzed sample.
• Authorizes the establishment and operation of a swine disease diagnostic laboratory funded by appropriations for diagnosing contagious swine diseases, with location designated by the State Board.
• Authorizes the establishment and operation of poultry disease diagnostic laboratories to diagnose and control poultry diseases, located where they best serve farmers and staffed by department personnel.
• Creates a seed division within the department to perform seed testing and related duties; the Board may delegate tree/shrub seed testing to the U.S. Forest Service or other approved labs.
• Expands pesticide residue testing authority to include reliable analyses for detecting drug residues, via the pesticide residue laboratory at Auburn University, in addition to other authorized testing.
• Gives the Board and Department authority to set and regulate standards for weights and measures, petroleum products, and related testing methods, with standards traceable to national standards and subject to public notice and updating.
• The act takes effect immediately upon the Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Agriculture and Industries Department