SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5956

As of February 24, 2003

Title: An act relating to livestock identification.

Brief Description: Identifying livestock.

Sponsors: Senator Swecker.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 2/25/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The Livestock Identification Program maintains the official recordings of approximately 7,000 livestock brands and protects cattle and horse owners by requiring inspection of livestock and related documents at mandatory inspection points to verify ownership. Approximately seven certified feed lots are licensed and their records are audited by the Department of Agriculture to verify cattle ownership. Approximately 12 public livestock markets are licensed and bonded to ensure producers receive timely and proper payments for livestock sold through those facilities. In 2001, approximately 660,000 cattle and 14,000 horses were inspected under the program.

The program is funded entirely by fees paid by the livestock industry. Most fees are set in statute. For a number of years, there have been issues that relate to the level of service and the distribution of fees among different segments of the industry.

The last major update of the Livestock Identification Program statutes and the public livestock market statutes was in 1959. The certified feed lot statutes were created in 1971.

Summary of Bill: The brand recording fee is changed from the current $35 for a two-year period to $120 for a four-year period. The inspection fee is increased from 60 cents to 90 cents per head. The horse inspection fee is increased from $2.40 to $3.50 per head, except that the fee is reduced to $2 per animal for groups of 30 or more horses belonging to the same owner. The fee for an individual identification certificate increases from $7.50 to $20 for annual certificates and from $15 to $60 for lifetime certificates. The annual license fees for certified feed lots is increased and the per head handling fee is eliminated. The annual license fees for public livestock markets are increased. The fee for horse registering agencies is increased from $100 to $250. Other miscellaneous fees are increased.

The handling fee of 12 cents per head for certified feed lots is eliminated. The certified feed lot license fee is increased. Established is a $50 application fee for special sales.

Statutes for livestock identification, public livestock markets, and certified feed lots are updated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 24, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2003, except the sections that deal with recording brands on a four-year cycle take effect January 1, 2004.