HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 1538
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to animal health inspections.
Brief Description: Regarding animal health inspections.
Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Buys, Blake, Chandler, Taylor, Orcutt, Hinkle, Haler, Johnson and Warnick).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: 2/8/11, 2/15/11 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/26/11, 97-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/7/11, 43-4.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/13/11, 95-1.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Stanford, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Wilcox, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Dunshee, Hinkle, Kretz, Lytton, Orcutt, Pettigrew, Rolfes and Van De Wege.
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
The Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is authorized to adopt rules that prevent the introduction of spreading of infectious diseases into the state. This includes the authority to adopt rules regarding the inspection and testing of all animals in the state or being imported into the state. The WSDA may charge a time and mileage fee for livestock inspections and investigations of $85 per hour, plus mileage. The WSDA has the authority to raise this fee by rule.
It is unlawful for a person to bring livestock into Washington without first obtaining a certificate of veterinary inspection verifying that the animals meet Washington's health requirements. This requirement does not apply to animals that will be delivered to a feed lot, slaughter plant, or livestock market within 12 hours of importation.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The WSDA is authorized to adopt rules that require the certificate of veterinarian inspection, health papers, permits, or other transportation documents to provide a physical address and a timeline as to when the animals will be transported directly to that address. Unless exempted by the WSDA, it is unlawful to transfer an animal to a location other than the address designated on the transportation documents.
The ability of the WSDA to charge a mileage and hourly fee for violation inspections is changed to allow the WSDA to collect up to $85 per hour. In addition, the WSDA may adopt, by rule, a fee of no more than 40 cents per head of cattle, on all cattle slaughtered in Washington or transported out of Washington. The fee must be deposited into the newly created animal disease traceability account, which is housed within the Agricultural Local Fund, and be used to carry out animal disease traceability activities for cattle and to compensate data and fee collection costs. Failure to pay the fee is a class 1 civil infraction.
The fee must be paid by all cattle sellers in Washington, the owners of cattle slaughter in the state, and, unless exempted by the WSDA in rule, from the owners of cattle exported alive from Washington. If a livestock inspection occurs, the fee must be collected in the same manner as livestock inspection fees. For livestock that is not inspected, the fee must be paid by the fifteenth day of the month following transportation out of state. The fee for slaughtered cattle must be collected by the meat processor.
The Animal Disease Traceability Advisory Committee (Committee) is created to serve in an advisory capacity to the WSDA. The Committee must meet at least twice a year and work with the WSDA to develop a plan to implement the electronic transfer of livestock traceability data and to consult on other livestock traceability issues. The Director of the WSDA must appoint an initial eight members to the Committee representing various aspects of the livestock industry to three-year terms. The membership of the Committee may be expanded by a unanimous vote of the Committee members.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The bill addresses issues of livestock being diverted to a feed lot before being delivered to the specified location. There have been instances of cattle never arriving at their required destination.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Jack Field, Washington Cattlemen's Association; and Leonard Eldridge, Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.