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SB341 SUB1 Senate Bill 341 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 341

(By Senators Miller, Williams, Laird, Nohe and D. Hall)

____________

[Originating in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development;

reported March 5, 2013.]                              

____________



A BILL to repeal §19-17-5, §19-17-6, §19-17-7, §19-17-8, §19-17-10 and §19-17-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §19-17-1, §19-17-2, §19-17-3 and §19- 17-4 of said code, all relating to requiring livestock be enclosed by a fence;
stating that fences are for grazing and livestock purposes; clarifying the procedures adjoining landowners shall follow to build, maintain and repair partition fences; requiring adjoining landowners to pay for a just proportion of the cost of partition fence; requiring notice; providing an exception for emergency repairs; providing dispute resolution and civil actions; and authorizing the Commissioner of Agriculture to promulgate rules and emergency rules .
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
    That §19-17-5, §19-17-6, §19-17-7, §19-17-8, §19-17-10 and §19-17-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; and that §19-17-1, §19-17-2, §19-17-3 and §19-17-4 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
    ARTICLE 17. FENCES.
§19-17-1. Fencing of livestock required.
               Livestock shall be enclosed by a fence, including gates and grates, that is built to reasonably prevent livestock from escaping the enclosure.
§19-17-2. Partition fences.
               (a) Adjoining landowners of property used for grazing or livestock purposes shall each pay for or perform a just proportion of the construction, repairs and maintenance of the partition fence between the properties.
               (b) The owner of real property who converts land to grazing or other livestock purposes after an adjoining landowner constructs a partition fence shall pay a just proportion of the depreciation of the original cost of constructing the fence, and shall pay for or perform a just proportion of the repairs and maintenance of the partition fence in the future.
§19-17-3. Building, maintaining and repairing partition fences.

               (a) Adjoining landowners are encouraged to communicate and have written agreements with one another concerning the type of fence to be built, the just apportionment of the cost of the fence or repairs, the portion of the partition fence each person shall maintain and any other agreements between the parties.
               (b) A person desiring to build or repair a partition fence shall give written notice to the adjoining landowner of his or her intention to build or repair a partition fence. The notice shall state the description and type of fence to be built or the necessary repairs to be made. Within fourteen days, the adjoining landowner provided with the notice shall provide a written response agreeing to the proposal or responding with objections and counter proposals and requesting a meeting to resolve the dispute. Failure to respond makes the adjoining landowner liable for a just proportion of the cost of the new fence or repair.

               (c) Emergency repairs to partition fences necessitated by storms, accidents or other unforseen circumstances
are exempt from the notice requirements of subsection (b) of this section. However, the adjoining landowner shall be notified of the repairs and costs as soon as possible.
               (d)
If a dispute arises between adjoining landowners regarding building, maintaining or repairing a partition fence, and the parties have met and attempted to resolve the dispute and failed, either party may proceed with a civil action in magistrate or circuit court for relief.
§19-17-4. Rulemaking authority.

          The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to regulate livestock fences, partition fences and disputes. The commissioner may promulgate
emergency rules pursuant to section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
          

          NOTE: This bill
requires livestock be enclosed by a fence. The bill requires adjoining landowners to pay for a just proportion of partition fences. The bill encourages adjoining landowners to have written agreements. The bill requires notice to adjoining landowners before a fence may be constructed or repaired. The bill provides an exception for emergencies. The bill provides that an adjoining landowner may respond. The bill provides when a landowner does not respond he or she is responsible for a portion of the costs. The bill permits civil actions. The bill authorizes promulgation of rules and emergency rules.

          
          The bill repeals §19-17-5, §19-17-6 , §19-17-7 , §19-17-8 , §19- 17-10 and §19-17-11 .


          §19-17-1, §19-17-2, §19-17-3 and §19-17-4 have been completely rewritten; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.
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