FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1347

                          C 80 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the department of agriculture to control diseases in alpacas and llamas.

By Representatives Forner, Rayburn, Dyer, Thomas, Wood, Morton and Silver.

House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Background:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - DISEASE CONTROL

State law grants the director of the Department of Agriculture general responsibility for the prevention of the spread of diseases affecting animals within, in transit through, and imported into the state.  The disease control authorities of the director are exercised through the state veterinarian who is appointed by the director.

AGRICULTURAL ENABLING ACTS

The Agricultural Enabling Act of 1955 and the Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961 provide mechanisms for persons in various segments of the agricultural industry to establish commodity boards and commissions and marketing orders regulating the sale of their products.  The range of agricultural products for which such boards and orders may be established is very broad.

Summary:

DISEASE CONTROL

The authority of the director of the Department of Agriculture to prevent, control, and suppress diseases in llamas and alpacas is the same as the director's authority regarding any other domestic animal.  The authority of the Department of Wildlife does not extend to preventing, controlling, or suppressing diseases in these animals nor to controlling their movement or sale.

COMMODITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Llamas and alpacas are expressly designated as being animals for which marketing orders and a commodity board or commission may be established under the state's Agricultural Enabling acts. 

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 45 1

Effective:  July 25, 1993