S-1134               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5116

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Senators Barr, Hansen, Anderson and Bailey)

Read first time 2/9/89.

AN ACT Relating to animals at large; and amending RCW 16.24.010, 16.24.020, 16.24.030, 16.24.050, and 16.24.060.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 25, Laws of 1911 as amended by section 1, chapter 40, Laws of 1937 and RCW 16.24.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          The ((board of county commissioners)) county legislative authority of any county of this state shall have the power to designate by an order made and published, as provided in RCW 16.24.030, certain territory as stock restricted area within such county in which it shall be unlawful to permit livestock of any kind to run at large((:  PROVIDED, That)).  No territory so designated shall be less than two square miles in area((:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That)).   RCW 16.24.010 through 16.24.065 shall not affect counties having adopted township organization.  All territory not so designated shall be range area, in which it shall be lawful to permit ((livestock)) cattle, horses, mules, or donkeys to run at large:  PROVIDED, That the county legislative authority may designate areas where it shall be unlawful to permit any livestock other than cattle to run at large.

        Sec. 2.  Section 2, chapter 25, Laws of 1911 as last amended by section 2, chapter 40, Laws of 1937 and RCW 16.24.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          Within sixty days after the taking effect of RCW 16.24.010 through 16.24.065, the county ((commissioners)) legislative authority of each of the several counties of the state may make an order fixing a time and place when a hearing will be had, notice of which shall be published at least once each week for two successive weeks in some newspaper having a general circulation within the county.  It shall be the duty of the ((board of county commissioners)) county legislative authority at the time fixed for such hearing, or at the time to which such hearing may be adjourned, to hear all persons interested in the establishment of range areas or stock restricted areas as defined in RCW 16.24.010 through 16.24.065.

        Sec. 3.  Section 3, chapter 25, Laws of 1911 as last amended by section 3, chapter 40, Laws of 1937 and RCW 16.24.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          Within thirty days after the conclusion of any such hearing the county ((commissioners)) legislative authority shall make an order describing the stock restricted areas within the county where livestock may not run at large, which order shall be entered upon the records of the county and published in a newspaper having general circulation in such county at least once each week for four successive weeks.

        Sec. 4.  Section 1, chapter 93, Laws of 1923 as amended by section 4, chapter 40, Laws of 1937 and RCW 16.24.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          When the county ((commissioners)) legislative authority of any county deem it advisable to change the boundary or boundaries of any stock restricted area, a hearing shall be held in the same manner as provided in RCW 16.24.020.  If the county ((commissioners)) legislative authority decides to change the boundary or boundaries of any stock restricted area or areas, ((they)) it shall within thirty days after the conclusion of such hearing make an order describing said change or changes.  Such order shall be entered upon the records of the county and published in a newspaper having general circulation in such county once each week for four successive weeks.

        Sec. 5.  Section 5, chapter 40, Laws of 1937 and RCW 16.24.060 are each amended to read as follows:

          At the point where a public road enters a range area, and at such other points thereon within such area as the county ((commissioners)) legislative authority shall designate, there shall be erected a road sign bearing the words:  "RANGE AREA.  WATCH OUT FOR LIVESTOCK."