1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; modifying fencing requirements for farmed Cervidae;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 4.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 4.Fencing. Farmed Cervidae must be confined in a manner designed to prevent 
1.7 	escape. All perimeter fences for farmed Cervidae must be at least 96 inches in height and 
1.8 	be constructed and maintained in a way that prevents the escape of farmed Cervidae, and
1.9 	entry into the premises by free-roaming Cervidae, and physical contact between farmed 
1.10 	Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae. Perimeter fences must also prevent physical contact 
1.11 	between farmed Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae, but only at facilities where the state 
1.12 	has paid the costs of fence installation to meet this requirement. The Board of Animal Health 
1.13 	or commissioner of natural resources may determine whether the construction and 
1.14 	maintenance of fencing is adequate to prevent physical contact or escape under this 
1.15 	subdivision and may compel corrective action when fencing is determined to be inadequate. 
1.16 	All new fencing installed and all fencing used to repair deficiencies must be high tensile. 
1.17 	All entry areas for farmed Cervidae enclosure areas must have two redundant gates, which 
1.18 	must be maintained to prevent the escape of animals through an open gate. If a fence 
1.19 	deficiency allows entry or exit by farmed or wild Cervidae, the owner must immediately 
1.20 	repair the deficiency. All other deficiencies must be repaired within a reasonable time, as 
1.21 	determined by the Board of Animal Health, not to exceed 14 days. If a fence deficiency is 
1.22 	detected during an inspection, the facility must be reinspected at least once in the subsequent 
1.23 	three months. The farmed Cervidae owner must pay a reinspection fee equal to one-half the 
2.1 	applicable annual inspection fee under subdivision 7a for each reinspection related to a 
2.2 	fence violation. If the facility experiences more than one escape incident in any six-month 
2.3 	period or fails to correct a deficiency found during an inspection, the board may revoke the 
2.4 	facility's registration and order the owner to remove or destroy the animals as directed by 
2.5 	the board. If the board revokes a facility's registration, the commissioner of natural resources 
2.6 	may seize and destroy animals at the facility.