Authority: Title 3.2, Chapters 43, 47, 55.1, 56, 57, and 58; and Title 59.1, Chapter 12, Code of Virginia.

A. In lieu of periodic inspections by the Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, any person whose weights and measures devices, as defined in § 3.2-5600, et seq., Code of Virginia, which are used for a commercial purpose may select to provide for the inspection and testing of all such weights and measures to determine the accuracy and correct operation of the equipment or device. The owner shall have all such weights and measures devices tested at least annually by a service agency that is registered pursuant to § 3.2-5703, Code of Virginia. Weights and measures that have been rejected by a service agency shall not be used again commercially until they have been officially reexamined by the rejecting authority or an inspector employed by the Commissioner, and found to be in compliance with Title 3.2, Chapter 56, Code of Virginia. The owner of such weights and measures devices, or third-party agencies on behalf of the owner, shall report to the Commissioner on an annual basis in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner the results of all testing, including (i) the number of inspections completed, (ii) the number of failures in the weights and measures equipment or devices, and (iii) the actions taken to correct any inaccuracies in the equipment or devices.

B. The department shall provide a report by October 15, 2022, to the Governor, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations to examine funding stability and alternatives for the commodity grain grading program. Alternatives shall include general and nongeneral fund resources. In developing the report, the agency shall consider ongoing support for licensed grading positions and fee revenue instability during periods of decreased service demands due to uncertainty in the global marketplace.