SF 1484

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/10/2023 08:32am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; modifying requirements to farm white-tailed deer; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 35.155, subdivision 6; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 35.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 35.155, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Identification.

(a) Farmed Cervidae must be identified by means approved by
the Board of Animal Health. The identification must include a distinct number that has not
been used during the previous three years and must be visible to the naked eye during
daylight under normal conditions at a distance of 50 yards. White-tailed deer must be
identified deleted text begin before October 31 of the year in which the animal is born, at the time of weaning,
or before movement from the premises, whichever occurs first deleted text end new text begin according to section 35.1555 new text end .
Elk and other cervids must be identified by December 31 of the year in which the animal
is born or before movement from the premises, whichever occurs first. As coordinated by
the board, the commissioner of natural resources may destroy any animal that is not identified
as required under this subdivision.

(b) The Board of Animal Health shall register farmed Cervidae. The owner must submit
the registration request on forms provided by the board. The forms must include sales
receipts or other documentation of the origin of the Cervidae. The board must provide copies
of the registration information to the commissioner of natural resources upon request. The
owner must keep written records of the acquisition and disposition of registered farmed
Cervidae.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [35.1555] FARMED WHITE-TAILED DEER.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Applicability. new text end

new text begin This section applies to farmed white-tailed deer and
supersedes the farmed Cervidae requirements in section 35.155, subdivisions 4, 6, 11, and
12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Fencing. new text end

new text begin Farmed white-tailed deer must be confined in a manner designed to
prevent escape. All perimeter fences for farmed white-tailed deer must be at least 96 inches
in height and be constructed and maintained in a way that prevents the escape of farmed
white-tailed deer or entry into the premises by free-roaming Cervidae. All new fencing
installed and all fencing used to repair deficiencies must be high tensile. All entry areas for
farmed white-tailed deer enclosure areas must have two redundant gates, which must be
maintained to prevent the escape of animals through an open gate. If a fence deficiency
allows entry or exit by farmed white-tailed deer or wild Cervidae, the owner must
immediately repair the deficiency. All other deficiencies must be repaired within a reasonable
time, as determined by the Board of Animal Health, not to exceed 30 days. If a fence
deficiency is detected during an inspection, the facility must be reinspected at least once in
the subsequent three months. The owner of the farmed white-tailed deer must pay a
reinspection fee equal to one-half the applicable annual inspection fee under section 35.155,
subdivision 7a, for each reinspection related to a fence violation. If the facility experiences
more than one escape incident in any six-month period or fails to correct a deficiency found
during an inspection, the board may revoke the facility's registration and order the owner
to remove or destroy the animals as directed by the board. If the board revokes a facility's
registration, the commissioner of natural resources may seize and destroy animals at the
facility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Identification. new text end

new text begin (a) Farmed white-tailed deer must be identified by means
approved by the board. The identification must include a distinct number that has not been
used during the previous three years and must be visible to the naked eye during daylight
under normal conditions at a distance of 50 yards. White-tailed deer must be identified
within 14 days of birth or before movement from the premises, whichever is sooner. As
coordinated by the board, the commissioner of natural resources may destroy any animal
that is not identified as required under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) The board must register farmed white-tailed deer. The owner must submit the
registration request on forms provided by the board. The forms must include sales receipts
or other documentation of the origin of the white-tailed deer. The board must provide copies
of the registration information to the commissioner of natural resources upon request. The
owner must keep written records of the acquisition and disposition of registered farmed
white-tailed deer.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Mandatory surveillance for chronic wasting disease; depopulation. new text end

new text begin (a) An
inventory for each farmed white-tailed deer herd must be verified by an accredited
veterinarian and filed with the board every 12 months.
new text end

new text begin (b) Movement of farmed white-tailed deer from any premises to another location must
be reported to the board within seven days of the movement on forms approved by the
board.
new text end

new text begin (c) All animals from farmed white-tailed deer herds that are over six months of age that
die or are slaughtered must be tested for chronic wasting disease.
new text end

new text begin (d) The owner of a premises where chronic wasting disease is detected must:
new text end

new text begin (1) depopulate the premises of white-tailed deer after the federal indemnification process
has been completed or, if an indemnification application is not submitted, within 45 days;
new text end

new text begin (2) maintain the fencing required under subdivision 2 on the premises for 15 years after
the date of detection; and
new text end

new text begin (3) post the fencing on the premises with biohazard signs as directed by the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Importation. new text end

new text begin (a) A person must not import live white-tailed deer or white-tailed
deer semen into the state from a herd that is:
new text end

new text begin (1) infected with or has been exposed to chronic wasting disease; or
new text end

new text begin (2) from a state or province where chronic wasting disease has been detected in a captive
herd or in the wild in the previous five years.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person may import live white-tailed deer or white-tailed deer semen into the state
only from a herd that:
new text end

new text begin (1) is not located in a state or province where chronic wasting disease has been detected
in the previous five years; and
new text end

new text begin (2) has been subject to a state- or provincial-approved chronic wasting disease monitoring
program for at least three years.
new text end

new text begin (c) White-tailed deer or white-tailed deer semen imported in violation of this section
may be seized and destroyed by the commissioner of natural resources.
new text end