Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS

Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade Committee

ESB 6376

Brief Description: Changing livestock inspection fee provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Honeyford, Jacobsen, Shin, Morton and Delvin.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill
  • Modifies certain livestock inspection fees and provisions administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Hearing Date: 2/22/06

Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105).

Background:

The Department of Agriculture's (Department) Livestock Identification program maintains the official recordings of over 6,500 livestock brands. To prevent theft, cattle and horses are inspected for permanent identification such as brands and ownership documents at public livestock markets; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) slaughter plants; licensed, certified feedlots; at change of ownership; and prior to leaving the state. The Department inspects approximately 750,000 cattle and 15,000 horses annually. The program is funded by fees paid by the livestock industry.

Established by the Legislature in 1993, the six-member Livestock Identification Advisory Board provides advice about the livestock identification program to the Director of the Department (Director). The Board's six members are appointed by the Director and include a beef producer; public livestock market representative; a horse owner; a cattle feeder; a dairy farmer; and a meat processor.

Summary of Bill:

The following changes are made to the current statutory livestock inspection fees:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on original bill. Requested for engrossed bill on February 17, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 1, 2006.