Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 80. AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 4. AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES

Part 5. Agricultural Commodity Warehouse Operators

Licenses To Warehouse Operator -- Issuance -- Renewal -- Conditions Precedent

80-4-502. Licenses to warehouse operator -- issuance -- renewal -- conditions precedent. (1) The department is authorized to issue or renew, upon application, a license to any warehouse operator for the conduct of a warehouse or warehouses in accordance with parts 5 and 6 of this chapter, provided the following conditions are met:

(a) Each applicant shall file and maintain satisfactory evidence of an effective policy of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state, insuring all agricultural commodities that are stored in the warehouse, including agricultural commodities owned by the warehouse operator. The insurance must insure the commodities for the full market value at the time of loss of the commodities against loss by fire, internal explosion, lightning, or tornado.

(b) Each warehouse must be found suitable for the proper storage of the particular agricultural commodity stored in the warehouse.

(c) A license fee must be submitted to the department as prescribed by 80-4-503.

(d) A current drawing of the warehouse, showing storage facilities and capacity of the warehouse, must be submitted to the department.

(e) A sufficient and valid bond must be filed and maintained as required by 80-4-504 and 80-4-505.

(f) (i) Except as provided in subsection (1)(f)(ii), the applicant has submitted to the department a current financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant according to generally accepted accounting principles, showing that the applicant has and maintains positive working capital.

(ii) An applicant without positive working capital may provide the department with additional bonding, or an equivalent in the form of a certificate of deposit or irrevocable letter of credit, in the amount of $2,000 for each $1,000 of deficit. The bond or equivalent required in this subsection (1)(f)(ii) is in addition to the bond amount required in 80-4-505.

(g) The applicant must submit a sample warehouse receipt and subsequent revisions to the department for approval and filing.

(h) The applicant must have complied with the terms of this part and the rules prescribed thereunder.

(2) All documents required for renewal of a license must be received by the department prior to the expiration date of the warehouse license. An expired warehouse license may be reinstated by the department upon receipt of all required licensing documents and a penalty fee of $50 if the documents are filed within 30 days from the date of expiration of the warehouse license. All license applications received after the 30-day penalty period must be considered original applications and an initial license fee must be assessed according to 80-4-503.

History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 539, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 157, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 452, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 175, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 169, L. 2015.