SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5976

BYSenators Hansen and Barr

Changing provisions relating to livestock liens.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 3, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Hansen, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bailey, Barr, Gaspard.

Senate Staff:Tom McDonald (786-7404)

                  April 17, 1987

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

An agister is one who takes in horses or other animals and cares for them at a specific rate.  Currently the law allows for an agister lien against the animals for the cost of caring for them.  The law sets forth the procedure for foreclosing the lien and the sale of the animals for satisfaction of the debt. 

The agister lien has not been enforced because of constitutional problems with the foreclosure provisions, including the lack of an opportunity for a hearing to contest the foreclosures.

SUMMARY:

An agister lien on horses, mules, cattle and sheep shall expire 60 days after it attaches unless the lien is enforced within that period.

An agister lien will attach to those animals which are removed from their owners by an enforcement officer pursuant to the animal abuse statute.  This lien will be in favor of the person or entity who is entrusted with the care of these animals.

A person having an agister lien may enforce it through a court of competent jurisdiction.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Marlyta Deck, Washington Cattlemen's Association

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

This amendment clarifies that an agister lien attaches on the date the cost of caring for the animal becomes due and is unpaid.

Veterinarians are included in the list of persons who have an agister lien for the cost of caring for animals entrusted to them.