SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5892

As of February 21, 2003

Title: An act relating to livestock identification.

Brief Description: Identifying livestock.

Sponsors: Senators Swecker and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 2/25/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The Livestock Identification Program maintains the official recordings of approximately 7,000 livestock brands and protects cattle and horse owners by requiring inspection of livestock and related documents at mandatory inspection points to verify ownership. Approximately seven certified feedlots are licensed and their records are audited by the Department of Agriculture to verify cattle ownership. Approximately 12 public livestock markets are licensed and bonded to ensure producers receive timely and proper payments for livestock sold through those facilities. In 2001, approximately 660,000 cattle and 14,000 horses were inspected under the program.

The program is funded entirely by fees paid by the livestock industry. Most fees are set in statute. For a number of years, there have been issues that relate to the level of service and the distribution of fees among different segments of the industry.

The last major update of the Livestock Identification Program statutes and the public livestock market statues was in 1959. The certified feed lot statutes were created in 1971.

Summary of Bill: The certified feed lot program is repealed, including the exemption from inspection when cattle are moved from feed lot to immediate slaughter. Also repealed are the annual certified feed lot license fee and the 12 cent per head handling fee. However, the 60 cent per head inspection fee applies to sales by feed lots.

A $50 special sale application fee is established. The brand recording fees are increased from the current $35 for a two-year period to $120 for a four-year period. The late fee for brand recording renewal is increased from $10 to $25. The title transfer fee is increased from $15 to $25. Certified copy of a brand record is increased from $7.50 to $15.

Statutes for livestock identification and public livestock markets are updated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 20, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2003, except the sections that deal with recording brands on a four-year cycle take effect January 1, 2004.