SF 1370

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; providing for joint and 
  1.3             several liability for permit violations of owners of 
  1.4             animals in feedlots; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.5             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [116.0714] [LIABILITY OF ANIMAL OWNERS.] 
  1.8      (a) If the operator or owner of an animal feedlot is liable 
  1.9   with respect to a violation of any state statute or rule 
  1.10  applicable to animal feedlots, or is liable for a violation 
  1.11  under any condition of a permit to operate an animal feedlot, 
  1.12  each owner of an animal kept at the feedlot during the period of 
  1.13  violation shall be jointly and severally liable for any penalty 
  1.14  imposed under law and for any environmental damages which may 
  1.15  result from the violation.  Environmental damages include 
  1.16  damages arising from contamination or pollution of air, water, 
  1.17  real or personal property, livestock, wild animals, birds, fish, 
  1.18  or aquatic life or injury to human beings.  Ownership interest 
  1.19  includes any partial, fractional, or complete ownership of an 
  1.20  interest in livestock, but does not include any lien or security 
  1.21  interest attaching to the livestock. 
  1.22     (b) No provision of a contract or other agreement between 
  1.23  an animal owner and an operator or owner of an animal feedlot 
  1.24  shall transfer responsibility or liability under this section 
  1.25  from the animal owner to the operator or owner of the feedlot.