Here's is an email that I received from my Kentucky contact concerning the
 raw milk bill.  

Well, it's about over for this legislative session. 
There was so much opposition developing to the 
introduction to the bill that we were cautioned to
 not submit it now.  The reason given was that if 
the bill was defeated, and then resubmitted next
 legislative session, if there were no changes to
 the bill it would not be given much consideration 
and would likely be voted down again without a hearing.

What was suggested, and what we agreed to do, was to 
have a resolution introduced to the House (HCR 209).  
I've pasted the text of the resolution at the end of this
email.  It's not the outcome that I, and others, had 
hoped for, but I think it is progress.

For those of you who raise dairy goats but have no 
interest in selling milk, consider that if we manage to
get legal status for milk sales, you will have a larger 
market for your dairy goats.

We need everyone to contact their state legislator and as
him to support this resolution.  If you don't know who 
your legislator is, drop me an email and tell me what 
county you live in and I'll get you his name, phone number,
and if possible his email address.

Thanks

Ray Kruse
Little Brush Creek Farm


***********************   HCR 209
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION creating a task force of the
Legislative  Research Commission to study the issue of
 unpasteurized milk and milk product regulation.

WHEREAS, there is consumer demand for safe, unpasteurized 
milk and milk products in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the production of unpasteurized milk and milk 
products can be economically profitable for the 
agricultural sector of Commonwealth and particularly to 
small family-owned farms; and

WHEREAS, the statutes and administrative regulations of
the Commonwealth do not adequately address the needs of
Kentucky's unpasteurized milk and milk products consumers
and producers; and

WHEREAS, other states have developed ways to foster the 
unpasteurized milk and milk products industry while 
maintaining effective public health standards;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the
General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the 
Senate concurring therein:

Section 1.   The Legislative Research Commission shall 
establish a Task Force on Unpasteurized Milk and Milk 
Product Regulation to examine the statutes and 
administrative regulations governing unpasteurized milk 
and milk products. This task force of the Legislative 
Research Commission shall consider ways in which the 
production and sale of unpasteurized milk  and milk
products can be permitted that will offer the maximum 
benefit for Kentucky's farmers while maintaining 
appropriate public health  standards. The task force 
shall also consider ways in which the production of  
artisan and home cheeses can be facilitated. The task 
force may  consider other strategies to foster and 
promote Kentucky's unpasteurized milk and milk products
industry.

Section 2.   The task force shall be composed of 11 
members. The  Legislative Research Commission shall 
appoint one member of the Senate and one member of the 
House of  Representatives from among the legislative 
members as  co-chairs. The membership of the task force
shall include:

(1)	The chair of the Senate Agriculture and Natural 
Resources Committee, or designee;

(2)	The chair of the House of Representatives 
Agriculture and Small Business Committee, or designee;

(3)	The chair of the Senate Health and Welfare 
Committee, or designee;

(4)	The chair of the House of Representatives Health
and Welfare Committee, or designee;

(5)	The dean of the University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture, or designee;

(6)	The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture,
or designee;

(7)	The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family 
Services, or designee;

(8)	One member of the Kentucky Goat Producers 
Association appointed by the Legislative Research 
Commission;

(9)	One member of the Community Farm Alliance, 
appointed by the  Legislative Research Commission;

(10)	One member of the Kentucky Dairy Development 
Council, appointed by the Legislative Research Commission; 
and

(11)	One member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau, appointed
by the Legislative Research Commission.

Final membership of the task force is subject to the 
consideration and approval of the Legislative Research
Commission.

Section 3.   The task force shall meet at least three 
times during the 2006 legislative interim. The task force
shall report its findings, which shall include options
for possible legislation to allow the production 
and sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products, to the
Legislative Research Commission for referral to the 
appropriate committee or committees no later than 
January 1, 2007.

Section 4.   Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary 
notwithstanding, the Legislative Research Commission shall 
have the authority to alternatively assign the issues 
identified herein to an interim joint committee or 
subcommittee thereof, and to designate a study 
completion date.