This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 9:44 AM by housengrossing.
1     
DOMESTICATED ELK AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

5     
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to the Domesticated Elk Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     repeals an expired requirement to study the importation of domesticated elk;
13          ▸     establishes requirements for the importation of domesticated elk from east of the
14     100 degree meridian;
15          ▸     authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Food to stop importation of an elk or
16     quarantine an elk in which the department identifies the spread of meningeal worm;
17     and
18          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          This bill provides a special effective date.
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          4-39-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 110
26     REPEALS:
27          4-39-308, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 110
28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 4-39-303 is amended to read:
31          4-39-303. Importation of domesticated elk.
32          (1) A person may not import domesticated elk into the state for use in domesticated elk
33     facilities without first obtaining:
34          (a) an entry permit from the state veterinarian's office; and
35          (b) a domesticated elk facility license from the department.
36          (2) The entry permit shall include the following information and certificates:
37          (a) a health certificate with an indication of the current health status;
38          (b) proof of genetic purity as required in Section 4-39-301;
39          (c) the name and address of the consignor and consignee;
40          (d) proof that the elk are:
41          (i) tuberculosis free; or
42          (ii) enrolled in a tuberculosis herd monitoring accreditation program administered by
43     the United State Department of Agriculture or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency;
44          (e) the origin of shipment;
45          (f) the final destination;
46          (g) the total number of animals in the shipment; [and]
47          (h) for an elk imported from east of the 100 degree meridian, proof that the elk has
48     been dewormed in accordance with Subsection (3)(a); and
49          [(h)] (i) any other information required by the state veterinarian's office or the
50     department.
51          (3) [No domesticated elk will be allowed into the state that originates east of the 100
52     degree meridian, to prevent introduction of the meningeal worm.] In addition to the
53     requirements described in Subsections (1) and (2), a person importing a domesticated elk from
54     east of the 100 degree meridian shall:
55          (a) deworm the elk Ĥ→ [no sooner than 60 days and no later than 30 days] within 60 days
55a     ←Ĥ before arrival in
56     the state;
57          (b) deworm or harvest the elk no later than 150 days after arrival in the state;
58          (c) for a bull sent to an elk ranch:
59          (i) hold the bull for harvest until the bull has completed a slaughter withdrawal period;
60     or
61          (ii) be able to demonstrate that the elk is free from dewormer residue; and
62          (d) make the elk available to the department for monitoring and inspection upon
63     request by the department.
64          (4) The department may stop the importation of a domesticated elk or quarantine a
65     domesticated elk if the department identifies the spread of meningeal worm in the elk or the
66     elk's domesticated herd.
67          [(4)] (5) A person who imports domesticated elk into the state from an international
68     herd:
69          (a) may only import domesticated elk:
70          (i) that are male; and
71          (ii) to an elk ranch for use in the elk ranch; and
72          (b) shall ensure that the domesticated elk are harvested in the same season in which the
73     domesticated elk enter the state.
74          [(5)] (6) For the purpose of enforcing Subsection [(4)] (5), the department may make
75     rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, for the
76     use of radio frequency identification tags to track male elk imported into the state from an
77     international herd.
78          Section 2. Repealer.
79          This bill repeals:
80          Section 4-39-308, Study of importation of domesticated elk.
81          Section 3. Effective date.
82          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
83     upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
84     Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
85     the date of veto override.