1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; providing a moratorium on possessing white-tailed deer; 
1.3 	creating a buyout program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.4 	2018, section 35.155, subdivisions 10, 11.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 35.155, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 10.Mandatory registration. (a) A person may not possess live Cervidae in 
1.8 	Minnesota unless the person is registered with the Board of Animal Health and meets all 
1.9 	the requirements for farmed Cervidae under this section. Cervidae possessed in violation 
1.10 	of this subdivision may be seized and destroyed by the commissioner of natural resources.
1.11 	(b) Beginning on the effective date of this act, the board shall not allow new registrations 
1.12 	under this section for possessing white-tailed deer.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 35.155, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 11.Mandatory surveillance for chronic wasting disease. (a) An inventory for 
1.15 	each farmed Cervidae herd must be verified by an accredited veterinarian and filed with 
1.16 	the Board of Animal Health every 12 months.
1.17 	(b) Movement of farmed Cervidae from any premises to another location must be reported 
1.18 	to the Board of Animal Health within 14 days of the movement on forms approved by the 
1.19 	Board of Animal Health. Beginning on the effective date of this act, a person must not move 
1.20 	farmed white-tailed deer from any premises to another location.
1.21 	(c) All animals from farmed Cervidae herds that are over 16 months of age that die or 
1.22 	are slaughtered must be tested for chronic wasting disease.

2.1 	Sec. 3. VOLUNTARY WHITE-TAILED DEER HERD BUYOUT; 
2.2 	APPROPRIATION.
 2.3 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Animal 
2.4 	Health to offer a herd buyout payment to the owner of each herd of white-tailed deer 
2.5 	registered under Minnesota Statutes, section 35.155. The board must pay no more than 
2.6 	$....... per animal, with each animal disposed of as determined by the board. By October 1, 
2.7 	2019, an owner must accept or decline the buyout offered by the board under this section. 
2.8 	A participating owner must sign a contract with the board certifying that the owner will not 
2.9 	have or allow any wild or farmed white-tailed deer to be located on the owner's premises 
2.10 	and must record a corresponding deed restriction with the county recorder or registrar of 
2.11 	titles. A participating owner who violates the buyout contract must repay all money received 
2.12 	under this section and is subject to appropriate penalties under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
2.13 	35.

2.14 	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.15 	This act is effective the day following final enactment.