A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to release and protect the release of tobacco production and marketing information.
Latest action (4 Aug 1999): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 1481 would amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to release tobacco production and marketing information—data submitted by growers and others—to state trusts or similar organizations responsible for distributing funds from national or state tobacco settlement trusts. The release would be permitted only when the Secretary determines it serves the interest of tobacco producers, and affected individuals would generally be given at least 15 days' notice and a chance to opt out before their information is shared. The bill also allows USDA to provide related assistance to help producers access trust funds and requires recipients of the information to keep records and use them only for authorized purposes, with penalties—fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both—for violations. Certain records, such as cigarette manufacturers' production data, quota-related purchase intentions, and aggregated buyer purchase data, are excluded from release.
The bill primarily affects tobacco farmers, tobacco marketing entities, and organizations administering settlement or trust funds, by making it easier for those groups to identify and pay eligible producers using government-held data while adding privacy safeguards.
Introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell with several cosponsors on August 4, 1999, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. According to the Congressional Research Service, it received no further independent action, as its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation that was enacted.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to release tobacco production and marketing information to State trusts or similar organizations engaged in the distribution of national trust funds to tobacco producers and other related persons, to the extent that such release is: (1) in the interest of tobacco producers; and (2) to a State trust or other organization engaged in the distribution of funds to tobacco producers or other parties with an interest in tobacco production or farms under a national or State trust or settlement. Directs the Secretary, prior to release of such information, to allow at least 15 days for persons whose release consent would otherwise be required to elect to be exempt from such release. Requires a person obtaining released information to maintain records and not to use such information for other than permitted purposes. Provides penalties for knowing violations of the provisions of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) cigarette manufacturer production records; (2) tobacco quota purchase intention records; and (3) buyer aggregate purchase records.
Common questions
- What does S. 1481 do?
- S. 1481 would amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to release tobacco production and marketing information—data submitted by growers and others—to state trusts or similar organizations responsible for distributing funds from national or state tobacco settlement trusts. The release would be permitted only when the Secretary determines it serves the interest of tobacco producers, and affected individuals would generally be given at least 15 days' notice and a chance to opt out before their information is shared. The bill also allows USDA to provide related assistance to help producers access trust funds and requires recipients of the information to keep records and use them only for authorized purposes, with penalties—fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both—for violations. Certain records, such as cigarette manufacturers' production data, quota-related purchase intentions, and aggregated buyer purchase data, are excluded from release. The bill primarily affects tobacco farmers, tobacco marketing entities, and organizations administering settlement or trust funds, by making it easier for those groups to identify and pay eligible producers using government-held data while adding privacy safeguards. Introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell with several cosponsors on August 4, 1999, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. According to the Congressional Research Service, it received no further independent action, as its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation that was enacted.
- Has S. 1481 become law?
- Not yet. As of 4 Aug 1999, S. 1481 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 1481?
- S. 1481 was sponsored by Sen. Mitch McConnell [R-KY] (Republican-KY), with 6 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1481?
- Introduced (4 Aug 1999).
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