Brief Description: Changing livestock inspection fee provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Honeyford, Jacobsen, Shin, Morton and Delvin.

Hearing Date: 2/22/06

Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105).

Background:

The Department of Agriculture's (Department) Livestock Identification program maintains the official recordings of over 6,500 livestock brands. To prevent theft, cattle and horses are inspected for permanent identification such as brands and ownership documents at public livestock markets; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) slaughter plants; licensed, certified feedlots; at change of ownership; and prior to leaving the state. The Department inspects approximately 750,000 cattle and 15,000 horses annually. The program is funded by fees paid by the livestock industry.

Established by the Legislature in 1993, the six-member Livestock Identification Advisory Board provides advice about the livestock identification program to the Director of the Department (Director). The Board's six members are appointed by the Director and include a beef producer; public livestock market representative; a horse owner; a cattle feeder; a dairy farmer; and a meat processor.

Summary of Bill:

The following changes are made to the current statutory livestock inspection fees:

• The fee for inspecting cattle is increased from 85 cents to $1.60/head, or the time and mileage fee, whichever is greater.
• The fee for inspecting cattle with an owner's brand or other identification specified by the Director of the Department in rule is increased from 85 cents to $1.10/head, or the time and mileage fee, whichever is greater. The fee does not apply to inspections of cattle when documenting a change of ownership with a self-inspection certificate.
• The fee for handling cattle through a licensed feed lot is increased from 17 cents to 25 cents/head.
• The fee for inspecting cattle at a processing plant with a USDA meat inspection program and 500/head or less daily capacity is $4/head. The minimum fee of $5 for issuance of an inspection certificate does not apply to livestock inspected at a cattle processing plant.
• The "time fee" is increased from $15 to $17/hour.
• Inspection fees are eliminated under certain conditions for a calf leaving the state under an official temporary grazing permit.
• The maximum number of head of cattle whose change of ownership may be documented through self-inspection certificates is increased from 15 to 25.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on original bill. Requested for engrossed bill on February 17, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 1, 2006.