H.B. 261

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.
34 (2) The owner of a dead bovine, horse, mule, goat, sheep, or swine may bury up to two
35 dead animals per acre per year on the owner's property.
36 [(2)] (3) If the owner or other person responsible for the dead animal cannot be found,
37 the county, city, or town within which the dead animal is found, shall, at the political
38 subdivision's expense, bury the dead animal.
39 [(3)] (4) A county, city, or town that incurs expense under this section is entitled to
40 reimbursement from the owner of the dead animal.
41 (5) Burial or disposal of a dead domestic animal under this section is subject to rules
42 that the Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board may make under Section 19-6-105 .
43 Section 2. Section 4-31-120 is enacted to read:
44 4-31-120. Study -- Disposal of dead horses.
45 The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University shall:
46 (1) conduct a study of the disposal of dead domestic horses, including:
47 (a) whether domestic horse owners in the state have difficulty disposing of their dead
48 domestic horses;
49 (b) the options for disposal in the state and how those options differ in different parts
50 of the state;
51 (c) the potential economic cost and benefit of establishing dead horse processing or
52 disposal facilities in the state; and
53 (d) the potential environmental impact of disposal on water quality and ways to
54 mitigate that impact; and
55 (2) report the findings of the study required under Subsection (1), along with any
56 recommended legislation, to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
57 Committee by November 30, 2015.
58 Section 3. Section 63I-2-204 is amended to read:

59 63I-2-204. Repeal dates -- Title 4.
60 Section 4-31-120 is repealed November 30, 2015.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-9-14 11:44 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel