The Commissioner of Agriculture may designate as an agent of the commissioner: (1) Any deputy commissioner or any employee of the department to exercise all or part of the authority, powers and duties of said commissioner in the absence of the commissioner, (2) any deputy commissioner or any employee, assistant or agent employed by the Department of Agriculture to exercise such authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture as the commissioner delegates for the administration or enforcement of any applicable statute, regulation, permit or order, (3) any deputy commissioner, employee, assistant or agent employed by the Department of Agriculture who is deemed qualified by the commissioner to act as a hearing officer in administrative hearings, (4) two or more qualified persons, one of whom shall be designated as the presiding officer to conduct administrative hearings, and (5) any qualified person to serve as a hearing officer for contested cases who may be compensated for such service. Any such hearing officer appointed by the commissioner shall render a proposed final decision or the final decision as directed by the commissioner except that the commissioner or deputy commissioner shall consider and make the final decision when modification or reconsideration of a contested case is requested by a party pursuant to section 4-181a.
(P.A. 95-141, S. 3; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e), (f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 119.)
History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner and Department of Agriculture with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding provisions authorizing commissioner to designate employee of department as agent of commissioner, added Subdiv. (3) authorizing commissioner to designate deputy commissioner, employee, assistant or agent employed by department as hearing officer, added Subdiv. (4) authorizing commissioner to designate 2 or more qualified persons, 1 of whom to be designated as presiding officer, added Subdiv. (5) authorizing commissioner to designate any qualified person as hearing officer for contested cases, added provision re timing for rendering of proposed final decision or final decision, and made technical changes.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 22 - Agriculture. Domestic Animals
Chapter 422 - Department of Agriculture
Section 22-1. - Department of Agriculture.
Section 22-1a and 22-1b. - Commissioner, department and council, general terminology change.
Section 22-1c. - Terminology change.
Section 22-2. - Board of Agriculture.
Section 22-3. - Duties of commissioner. Preservation of Connecticut agricultural lands. Definitions.
Section 22-4. - Appointment of commissioner.
Section 22-4a. - Delegation of commissioner's authority.
Section 22-4d. - Cease and desist orders.
Section 22-5. - Deputy commissioner.
Section 22-6. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 22-6a. - Receipt of federal funds and gifts by commissioner.
Section 22-6b. - Refunds of sums paid Department of Agriculture.
Section 22-6f. - Participation in farmers' market coupon programs. Regulations.
Section 22-6g. - Connecticut Farmers' Market/Women, Infants and Children Program: Definitions.
Section 22-6q. - Connecticut Farmers' Market/Senior Nutrition Program.
Section 22-6s. - Operation of food establishment by a farmer at a certified farmers' market.
Section 22-6t. - Voucher value.
Section 22-7. - Administrative civil penalties.
Section 22-7q. - Filing of bond in administrative appeal.
Section 22-8. - Duties of commissioner re avian ecology.
Section 22-9. - Supervision of institutional farms.
Section 22-10. - Reports of moneys expended.
Section 22-11. - Promotion of agricultural interests.
Section 22-11a. - “Integrated pest management” defined.
Section 22-11c. - Aquaculture development: Definitions.
Section 22-11d. - Aquaculture development: Lead agency.
Section 22-11e. - Interagency Aquaculture Coordinating Committee.
Section 22-11g. - Releases from aquaculture systems.
Section 22-11i. - Licensing of aquaculture producers. Regulations.
Section 22-11k. - Ninety-day aquaculture permit application final determinations.
Section 22-12. - Appropriations for promotion of agricultural interests.
Section 22-12a. - Use of term “Connecticut State Fair”.
Section 22-12b. (Formerly Sec. 26-41). - Licensing of fur breeders. Disease control.
Section 22-13. - Employment of minors in agriculture.
Section 22-14. - Birth certificate or agricultural work permit required.
Section 22-15. - Administration. Regulations. Inspection.
Section 22-16. - Employer of more than fifteen affected.
Section 22-17a. - Sanitary regulations concerning agricultural workers.
Section 22-18 to 22-26. - Farmers' loans, generally.
Section 22-26a. - Equine Advisory Council. Members.
Section 22-26b. - Agreement with landowner enrolled in federal Dairy Termination Program.
Section 22-26c. - Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council.
Section 22-26e. - Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation.
Section 22-26f. - State Veterinarian.
Section 22-26i. - Maintenance, repair and improvement account.
Section 22-26j. - Farm viability matching grant program. Eligibility. Purposes.
Section 22-26k. - Farm transition grant program. Matching grants.