FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6605

                           C 99 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating lien rights for owners of sires providing semen for artificial insemination.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment (originally sponsored by Senators Morton and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Background:  Current law provides that owners of sires having a fee-for-breeding service may have a lien upon the female or get of the sire for such service provided that the owner file the necessary documentation with the county auditor.  The documentation consists of a sworn affidavit stating the name, age, description and pedigree of the sire, as well as the terms and conditions upon which the sire is advertised for breeding service.  The auditor then issues a certificate to the sire owners whereupon such owner obtains and has a lien upon the female served for one year from the date of service, or upon the get of the sire for one year from the date of birth.

Summary:  The duration of the lien obtained by owners of sires who provide breeding services is increased to 18 months from the date of service or from the date of birth of the offspring as the case may be.  Additionally, when the owner of a sire provides, for insemination of a female, reproductively viable semen delivered by artificial insemination procedures, the owner obtains a lien upon the female to which semen was delivered or upon the resultant offspring of that female without satisfying the requirement of a sworn affidavit recorded with the county auditor and without the need for issuance of a certificate from the auditor.  The lien upon the female survives for 18 months from the date of the insemination procedure.  The lien upon the resultant offspring survives for one year from the date of birth.

A class of lien holder is added to those able to acquire a lien for the service of providing semen for artificial insemination.  The owner of semen who does not own the sire of that semen, yet provides the semen for artificial insemination, acquires a lien on the female inseminated or the offspring thereof.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     96 0

Effective:  July 1, 1998