SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1347

    AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, MARCH 23, 1993

Brief Description:  Authorizing the department of agriculture to control diseases in alpacas and llamas.

SPONSORS: Representatives Forner, Rayburn, Dyer, Thomas, Wood, Morton and Silver

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators M. Rasmussen, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Barr, Newhouse, and Snyder.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Hearing Dates:  March 23, 1993

BACKGROUND:

State law grants the director of the Department of Agriculture general responsibility for the prevention of the spread and suppression of diseases affecting animals within, in transit through, and imported into the state.  Among the authorities of the director are those to impose quarantines and adopt and enforce rules to prevent the introduction or spread of diseases in domestic animals.  The disease control authorities of the director are exercised through the state veterinarian.

The Agricultural Enabling Act of 1955 and the Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961 provide mechanisms for persons in various segments of the agricultural industry to establish commodity boards and commissions and marketing orders regulating the sale of their products.  The range of agricultural products for which such boards and orders may be established is very broad.  It includes any animal.

SUMMARY:

The authority of the director of the Department of Agriculture to prevent, control, and suppress diseases in llamas and alpacas is the same as the director's authority regarding any other domestic animal.  The authority of the Department of Wildlife does not extend to preventing, controlling, or suppressing diseases in these animals nor to controlling their movement or sale.

Llamas and alpacas are expressly designated as being animals for which marketing orders and a commodity board or commission may be established under the state's Agricultural Enabling Acts. 

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Llama and alpaca have been domesticated for several hundred years.  They are recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as domestic animals.  The state should provide the same recognition.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Allan Jorgensen, Triple J Farms (pro); Richard Hemstad, Llama Owners of WA State (pro)