S-1705.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5513

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, McAuliffe, Bauer, Morton, Snyder, Fairley, Swecker, Drew, Wood, Haugen and Roach)

Read first time 02/27/95.

Clarifying the law regarding animals sold at public sale.

     AN ACT Relating to lost and unclaimed horses; amending RCW 16.24.130 and 16.24.150; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 16.24.130 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 7 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

     The brand inspector shall cause to be published once in a newspaper published in the county where the animal was found, a notice of the impounding.

     The notice shall state:

     (1) A description of the animal, including brand, tattoo or other identifying characteristics;

     (2) When and where found;

     (3) Where impounded; and

     (4) That if unclaimed, the animal will be sold at a public livestock market sale or other public sale, and the date of such sale:  PROVIDED, That if no newspaper shall be published in such county, copies of the notice shall be posted at four commonly frequented places therein.

     If the animal is marked with a brand or tattoo which is registered with the director of agriculture, the brand inspector, on or before the date of publication or posting, shall send a copy of the notice to the owner of record by registered mail.

     Sec. 2.  RCW 16.24.150 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 7 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

     If no person shall claim the animal within ten days after the date of publication or posting of the notice, it shall be sold at the next succeeding public livestock market sale to be held at the sales yard where impounded, provided that in the director's discretion the department of agriculture may otherwise cause the animal to be sold at public sale.

The legislature intends this to be a clarification of existing law; therefore, this section shall have retroactive effect as of December 1, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall expire on July 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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