READ FIRST TIME 2/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to animal identification programs; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The director of the department of agriculture shall convene a livestock identification advisory committee.
     (2)(a) In organizing and making appointments to the livestock identification advisory committee, the director shall consult with the broad range of stakeholders who may be impacted by implementation of a mandatory or voluntary national or state animal identification system, or components thereof.
     (b) The director shall appoint to the advisory committee one or more members from each of the following livestock-related stakeholder groups: (i) The commercial livestock industry, including cattle feeders and producers of beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, and swine; (ii) noncommercial livestock owners, including those who raise animals as a hobby or as a source of supplemental income, barter, food for the family, or recreation; (iii) educational and recreational organizations such as horse-riding associations, community fairs, and youth groups; (iv) concerned citizens who have a stake in the issue; and (v) additional members as the director deems necessary. The director shall invite one member from an Indian tribe to join the advisory committee.
     (c) The advisory committee shall be convened by the director of the department of agriculture by July 1, 2007, chaired by the director or the director's designee, and staffed by the department.
     (3) In conjunction with the department, the advisory committee shall:
     (a) Review the recommendations made by the cattle identification advisory committee for implementation of a voluntary national animal identification system in Washington state; and
     (b) Assess the impacts of such a system, whether federal or state only, on the commercial livestock industry, noncommercial livestock owners, livestock-related educational and recreational organizations, concerned citizens, and Indian tribes, in terms of costs, domestic commerce, international marketing and sales, animal health, privacy rights, and other potential impacts identified by the committee.
     (4) The livestock identification advisory committee shall make recommendations to the department on whether and how to implement a voluntary animal identification system in Washington state.
     (5) The department of agriculture, in conjunction with the livestock identification advisory committee, shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2008.
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2008.