First Substitute H.B. 261

Representative Jacob L. Anderegg proposes the following substitute bill:

1 DOMESTIC HORSE DISPOSAL
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Jacob L. Anderegg
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends Title 4, Chapter 31, Control of Animal Disease.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . allows the owner of certain dead animals to bury the dead animals on the owner's
13 property;
14 . requires a study of, and report on, the disposal of dead domestic horses; and
15 . establishes a repeal date.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 4-31-102 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 331
23 63I-2-204 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 369
24 ENACTS:
25 4-31-120 , Utah Code Annotated 1953

26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 4-31-102 is amended to read:
29 4-31-102. Dead domestic animals -- Duty of owner to bury or otherwise dispose of
30 them -- Liability for costs.
31 (1) An owner or other person responsible for a domestic animal that dies shall bury or
32 dispose of the animal within [two business days after the day on which the owner or other
33 person responsible for the animal becomes aware that the animal is dead] a reasonable period
34 of time.
35 (2) The owner of a dead bovine, horse, mule, goat, sheep, or swine may bury dead
36 animals on the owner's property.
37 [(2)] (3) If the owner or other person responsible for the dead animal cannot be found,
38 the county, city, or town within which the dead animal is found, shall, at the political
39 subdivision's expense, bury the dead animal.
40 [(3)] (4) A county, city, or town that incurs expense under this section is entitled to
41 reimbursement from the owner of the dead animal.
42 Section 2. Section 4-31-120 is enacted to read:
43 4-31-120. Study -- Disposal of dead horses.
44 The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University shall:
45 (1) conduct a study of the disposal of dead domestic horses, including:
46 (a) whether domestic horse owners in the state have difficulty disposing of their dead
47 domestic horses;
48 (b) an estimate of:
49 (i) the total number of live domestic horses in the state;
50 (ii) the current number of live domestic horses that owners need to dispose of in the
51 state; and
52 (iii) the projected number of domestic horses that will annually need to be disposed of
53 in the state;
54 (c) the options for disposal in the state and how those options differ in different parts of
55 the state;
56 (d) the potential economic cost and benefit of establishing dead horse processing or

57 disposal facilities in the state; and
58 (e) the potential environmental impact of disposal on water quality and ways to
59 mitigate that impact; and
60 (2) report the findings of the study required under Subsection (1), along with any
61 recommended legislation, to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
62 Committee by November 30, 2015.
63 Section 3. Section 63I-2-204 is amended to read:
64 63I-2-204. Repeal dates -- Title 4.
65 Section 4-31-120 is repealed November 30, 2015.