Bill No.: SF0010                  Drafter: MRW

LSO No.:  11LSO-0081              Effective Date:  7/1/2011

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0054

Chapter No.:       100

Prime Sponsor:     Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee

Catch Title:       Protection of livestock animals.

Subject:  Modifies the protection of livestock animal statutes. 

Summary/Major Elements:

● Numerous provisions within the agriculture statutes currently address protection of "animals".  This act generally limits those statutes to livestock animals and provides a definition of livestock animal.

● This act clarifies that those protection do not prohibit the use of acceptable agricultural and livestock management practices, including those practiced in association with animal husbandry and a rodeo event, used by a licensed veterinarian, or in the humane destruction of a livestock animal.

● This act updates terminology used in the animal protection statutes.

● This act increases the penalties available for violation of the animal protection statutes.

● This act requires the approval of a licensed veterinarian or the owner of the animal in order for a peace officer to destroy a disabled or injured animal.  The act also provides that a peace officer will be held harmless and there is no right to future indemnity or payment to the owner when an animal is destroyed under the animal protection statutes.