HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 3033
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to animal identification.
Brief Description: Creating an advisory committee to evaluate animal identification programs.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade (originally sponsored by Representatives Pettigrew, Kristiansen, Grant, Kretz, Holmquist, Cox, B. Sullivan, Clements, Campbell, Haigh, Newhouse and Linville).
Brief History:
Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade: 1/30/06, 2/1/06 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/11/06, 91-3.
Passed Senate: 3/6/06, 47-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE & TRADE
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Pettigrew, Vice Chair; Kristiansen, Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Bailey, Blake, Buri, Chase, Clibborn, Dunn, Grant, Haler, Holmquist, Kilmer, Kretz, McCoy, Morrell, Newhouse, Quall, Strow, P. Sullivan and Wallace.
Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105).
Background:
In 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS), intended to be a comprehensive information system to support
ongoing animal disease monitoring, surveillance, and eradication programs. When fully
operational, the system is planned to be in use in all states to identify and track animals as
they come into contact and commingle with animals other than those in their premise of
origin. The system is intended to enable animal health officials to trace a sick animal or
group of animals back to the herd or premise that was the most likely source of infection, and
to trace forward animals that might have been exposed but later moved away from the
infected herd or premise. A stated long-term goal is for the NAIS to be able to identify all
premises and animals that had direct contact with a foreign animal disease or domestic
disease of concern within 48 hours of discovery.
Implementation of the NAIS involves both the federal and state departments of agriculture
and has three phases: premise registration; animal identification; and animal movement
reporting. The state Department of Agriculture (Department) began voluntary premise
registration in January 2005. In the past year, 875 premises have registered. Issuance of
unique individual or group lot animal identification numbers is the second phase. Nationally,
a number of industry/government, species-specific workgroups have formed to consider
which type of identification will work best for their particular animals. Methods under
consideration include radio frequency identification tags, retinal scans, DNA, and others.
The third phase will involve collection of information on animal movement from one premise
to another. The program is currently voluntary at both the state and federal level, but may
become mandatory at the national level in 2009 or 2010.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The Director of the Department (Director) must convene an advisory committee (committee)
whose members represent cattle industry segments that will be involved in state-level
implementation of the national animal identification program. The Director is required to
consult with affected industry organizations in making committee appointments, and is
authorized to appoint additional members as needed. The Director must appoint one
committee member who is from a federally recognized tribe and is in the cattle industry.
The advisory group will:
The Department must provide a final report to the Legislature on the committee's activities and recommendations by December 1, 2006.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available on original bill.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: With uncertainties at the federal level about the timing and requirements for the NAIS, it is important to have our state and industry on board to figure out the state-level implementation. One of the committee goals will be to identify the costs associated with implementation of the animal identification system and figure out what portions the industry and state will each bear. Having the committee look at implementation in other states will help generate ideas for our own planning. There should be tribal representation on the Committee.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Ed Field, Washington Cattle Feeders; Jack Field, Washington Cattlemen's Association; Ted Wishon, Lee Engelhardt, Mark Ellis, Craig Grub, and Pat Boss, Cattle Producers of Washington; Jay Gordon, Washington State Dairy Federation; and Roy Webster.