BILL REQ. #:  S-6137.1 

Read first time 03/11/08.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to a mobile livestock unit demonstration project; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that: (a) There is a resurgence of interest by consumers to buy locally grown and specialty livestock products and a desire by local livestock producers to develop readily available mechanisms to provide consumers with these locally produced products;
     (b) It has become increasingly difficult particularly for local, small, and specialty livestock producers to sell meat products to consumers in quantities that are convenient to and customarily purchased by consumers;
     (c) There is a lack of local slaughtering facilities in the state that are approved by the United States department of agriculture that will readily take in small numbers of livestock from small producers when these meat products are offered for sale to another;
     (d) Having a mobile livestock unit available would reduce the miles a farmer would have to travel, which reduces cost; and
     (e) There are large potential markets in urban communities for locally grown food products whether provided directly from the producer, through a farmers market, or from a local retailer.
     (2) The purpose of this act is to design and test the feasibility of making a mobile livestock slaughtering unit available to geographic areas in this state on a schedule to fulfill this demand.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) Subject to the appropriation of funds, Washington State University shall conduct a mobile livestock unit demonstration project. In conducting the project, the university shall contract to obtain the use of a mobile livestock unit that can travel from county-to-county in counties that have a demand for its services, that satisfies the requirements for United States department of agriculture food safety inspection service grants of inspection for meat products.
     (2) In developing the demonstration project, Washington State University shall establish a mobile livestock unit advisory board. The advisory board shall consist of:
     (a) Interested producers of various species of livestock such as cattle, goats, hogs, and sheep;
     (b) Interested producers of specialty meat products such as heritage livestock, grass fed, grain fed, and organic;
     (c) Representatives of farmers markets;
     (d) Retailers interested in obtaining local and specialty meat products;
     (e) Interested organizations representing livestock producers;
     (f) The small farms and direct marketing section of the department of agriculture; and
     (g) Other interested persons.
     (3) Washington State University may use its network of cooperative extension offices in each county to advise interested producers of the availability and schedule of the mobile unit. Additionally, the university shall also make information available about existing local slaughtering and meat processing facilities that may provide cutting and wrapping services to livestock producers either in conjunction with the mobile unit or on a separate basis.
     (4) Washington State University, with assistance from the advisory board, shall examine whether there is a demand for an expansion in the number of mobile livestock units available in the state and develop recommendations as to the appropriate entity to provide this service. Further, an inquiry shall be made as to whether rural economic development grants or similar state or federal loan or grant programs are available for this purpose.
     (5) The demonstration project shall be conducted for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. Washington State University, with the input and assistance of the advisory board, shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 2010.     
     (6) This section expires December 31, 2010.