HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.131

(By Delegate Talbott)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study captive cervid farming as an agricultural enterprise and the impact of transferring regulatory authority of captive cervids from the Division of Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture to assess the potential environmental, wildlife and fiscal impact to the state.

    WHEREAS, Legislation passed the Senate that would regulate captive cervid farming as an agricultural enterprise in the state and transfer regulatory authority of captive cervids from the Division of Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture; and

    WHEREAS, Captive cervid farming could be an economic benefit to the state, could preserve family farming opportunities, could encourage agricultural uses of the natural topography of the state’s rural lands and could provide job creation and job retention in rural areas; and

    WHEREAS, Several issues regarding the establishment of captive cervid farms as an agriculture enterprise have not been fully examined by the Legislature, including the environmental impact, the regulation of the sale of white-tailed deer meat, the impact to our state’s white-tailed deer population and the fiscal impact or benefit to the state; and

    WHEREAS, The potential economic benefit of allowing and regulating captive cervid farming must be carefully weighed with safety, wildlife and potential environmental impacts of captive cervid farming; and therefore be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on establishing captive cervid farming as an agricultural enterprise and the impact of transferring regulatory authority of captive cervids from the Division of Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture to assess the potential environmental, wildlife and fiscal impact to the state; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012 on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.