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Introduced Version House Bill 4201 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 4201


(By Delegates Eldridge, Butcher, Stowers,

Louisos, Border, Lawrence, Williams,

Varner, Evans and Kominar)

[Introduced January 27, 2010; referred to the

Committee on Agriculture then the Judiciary.]



A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §19-1C-1, §19-1C-2, §19-1C-3, §19-1C-4, §19-1C-5 and §19-1C-6, all relating to creating the Livestock Care Standards Board for the purpose of establishing standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in West Virginia; defining terms; specifying conditions of membership and the qualifications, terms and compensation of members; requiring annual meetings of the board; and allowing for additional meetings.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §19-1C-1, §19-1C-2, §19-1C-3, §19-1C-4, §19-1C-5 and §19-1C-6, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1C. CARE OF LIVESTOCK.

§19-1C-1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article:

(1) "Board" refers to the Livestock Care Standards Board created in section two of this article.

(2) "Livestock" has the same definition as subsection (d), section two, article ten-b of this chapter.

§19-1C-2. Creation of Livestock Care Standards Board.

(a) This provision creates the Livestock Care Standards Board for the purpose of establishing standards governing the care and well-being of livestock in this state. In executing its purpose, the board shall endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food and protect West Virginia farms and families.

(b) The board shall establish standards by legislative rule, pursuant to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, governing the care and well-being of livestock in this state. In establishing those standards, the board shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in this state, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers. The Department of Agriculture shall administer and enforce those standards established by the board that are approved by the Legislature.

§19-1C-3. Board members.

(a) The board consists of the following thirteen members:

(1) The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, who is
the chairperson of the board, and the Director of the Animal Health Division, both of whom are members ex officio;
(2) One member who is a veterinarian licensed in this state;

(3) The dean of the agriculture department of a college or university located in this state;

(4) One member representing a county humane society that is organized under state law;

(5) One member who is knowledgeable about food safety in this state;

(6) Two members of the public representing West Virginia consumers;

(7) Two members representing statewide organizations that represent farmers; and

(8) Three members representing family farms, at least two of which are family farmers.

(b) Except for those serving in ex officio capacity, members shall be appointed by the Governor. All members must be residents of this state. No more than seven members of the board may be of the same political party or be from the same congressional district at any given time.

§19-1C-4. Terms of board members.

(a) Members of the board shall be appointed for initial terms as follows:

(1) Members appointed pursuant to subdivisions two, three,
four and five of subsection (a), section three of this article shall be appointed for terms of one, two, three and five years, respectively;
(2) For members appointed pursuant to subdivisions six and seven of subsection (a) section three of this article, one member appointed pursuant to each subdivision shall be appointed for a two year term, and one member from each section shall be appointed for a four year term; and

(3) The three members appointed pursuant to subdivision eight, subsection (a) of section three of this article shall have initial terms of one, three and five years, respectively.

(b) Members serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. Successors of appointed members of the board are appointed for overlapping terms of five years. Appointed board members may be reappointed for additional terms. Vacancies are filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

§19-1C-5. Compensation of board members.

The ex officio members of the board may not receive compensation for serving as board members. The appointed members of the board shall receive the same compensation as, and each member of the board shall be paid the expense reimbursement as, is paid to members of the Legislature for their interim duties as recommended by the citizens legislative compensation commission and
authorized by law for each day or portion of a day engaged in the discharge of official duties.
§19-1C-6. Meetings of the board.

The board shall meet at least annually, and the chairperson shall call additional meetings of the board upon the written request of three members.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Livestock Care Standards Board to prescribe standards for livestock care and well being that endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect West Virginia farms and families.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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