H.B. 32 Enrolled

1

LIVESTOCK DAMAGE COMPENSATION
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2010 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown
6 Senate Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends a provision relating to livestock damage caused by a wolf.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . defines a term;
14 . allows a person to receive compensation for livestock damage by a wolf in certain
15 areas; and
16 . makes technical corrections.
17 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 23-24-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 23-24-1 is amended to read:
27 23-24-1. Procedure to obtain compensation for livestock damage done by bear,
28 mountain lion, wolf, or eagle.
29 (1) As used in this section:

30 (a) "Damage" means injury to or loss [to] of livestock.
31 (b) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources.
32 (c) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, goats, or turkeys.
33 (d) (i) "Wolf" means the gray wolf Canis lupus.
34 (ii) "Wolf" does not mean a wolf hybrid with a domestic dog.
35 (2) (a) [When] (i) Except as provided by Subsection (2)(a)(ii), if livestock are
36 damaged by a bear, mountain lion, wolf, or an eagle, the owner may receive compensation for
37 the fair market value of the damage.
38 (ii) The owner may not receive compensation if the livestock is damaged by a wolf
39 within an area where a wolf is endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of
40 1973, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531, et seq.
41 (b) To obtain this compensation, the owner of the damaged livestock shall notify the
42 division of the damage as soon as possible, but no later than four days after the damage is
43 discovered.
44 (c) The owner must notify the division each time any damage is discovered.
45 (3) The livestock owner shall file a proof of loss form, provided by the division, no
46 later than 30 days after the original notification of damage was given to the division by the
47 owner.
48 (4) (a) (i) The division, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture and Food
49 shall:
50 (A) within 30 days after the owner files the proof of loss form, either accept or deny
51 the claim for damages; and
52 (B) subject to Subsections (4)(a)(ii) through (4)(a)(iv), pay all accepted claims to the
53 extent money appropriated by the Legislature is available for this purpose.
54 (ii) Money appropriated from the Wildlife Resources Account may be used to provide
55 compensation for only up to 50% of the fair market value of any damaged livestock.
56 (iii) Money appropriated from the Wildlife Resources Account may not be used to
57 provide compensation for livestock damaged by an eagle or a wolf.

58 (iv) The division may not pay any eagle damage claim until the division has paid all
59 accepted mountain lion and bear damage claims for the fiscal year.
60 (b) The division may not pay mountain lion, bear, wolf, or eagle damage claims to a
61 livestock owner unless the owner has filed a completed livestock form and the appropriate fee
62 as outlined in Section 4-23-7 for the immediately preceding and current year.
63 (c) (i) Unless the division denies a claim for the reason identified in Subsection (4)(b),
64 the owner may appeal the decision to a panel consisting of one person selected by the owner,
65 one person selected by the division, and a third person selected by the first two panel
66 members.
67 (ii) The panel shall decide whether the division should pay all of the claim, a portion
68 of the claim, or none of the claim.
69 (5) By following the procedures and requirements of Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
70 Administrative Rulemaking Act, the Wildlife Board may make and enforce rules to administer
71 and enforce this section.