1     
BEEKEEPING AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Marc K. Roberts

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions relating to the Utah Bee Inspection Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     amends bee raising registration requirements;
13          ▸     amends county bee inspector appointment provisions;
14          ▸     amends county bee inspector duties;
15          ▸     deletes certain hive equipment requirements;
16          ▸     modifies inspection provisions;
17          ▸     modifies bee raising record requirements;
18          ▸     provides for bee raising restrictions under certain circumstances;
19          ▸     removes certain honey extraction restrictions;
20          ▸     prohibits regulation of bee raising by a political subdivision; and
21          ▸     makes technical changes.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:
28          4-11-4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
29          4-11-5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
30          4-11-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
31          4-11-7, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
32          4-11-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
33          4-11-10, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
34          4-11-12, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
35          4-11-13, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 73
36     ENACTS:
37          4-11-18, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38     

39     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
40          Section 1. Section 4-11-4 is amended to read:
41          4-11-4. Bee raising -- Registration required -- Application -- Fees -- Renewal --
42     Wax-salvage plants -- License required -- Application -- Fees -- Renewal.
43          (1) (a) A person [may not raise] who raises more than five colonies of bees in [this] the
44     state [without being registered] shall register with the department.
45          (b) Application for registration to raise bees shall be made to the department upon
46     tangible or electronic forms prescribed and furnished by the department, within 30 days after
47     the person:
48          (i) takes possession of the bees; or
49          (ii) moves the bees into the state.
50          (c) Nothing in Subsection (1)(b) limits the requirements of Section 4-11-11.
51          (d) An application in accordance with this chapter shall specify:
52          (i) the name and address of the applicant;
53          (ii) the number of bee colonies owned by the applicant at the time of the application
54     that will be present in the state for a period exceeding 30 days; and
55          (iii) [any] other relevant information the department considers appropriate.
56          (e) Upon receipt of a proper application and payment of an annual registration fee
57     determined by the department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-2(2), the commissioner shall issue a
58     registration to the applicant valid through December 31 of the year in which the registration is
59     issued[, subject to suspension or revocation for cause].
60          (f) A bee registration is renewable for a period of one year upon the payment of an
61     annual registration renewal fee as determined by the department pursuant to Subsection
62     4-2-2(2).
63          (g) Registration shall be renewed on or before December 31 of each year.
64          (h) A person who is exempt from registration may voluntarily register and receive
65     inspections, educational training, or other information from the department.
66          (2) (a) A person may not operate a wax-salvage plant without a license issued by the
67     department.
68          (b) Application for a license to operate a wax-salvage plant shall be made to the
69     department upon tangible or electronic forms prescribed and furnished by the department.
70          (c) The application shall specify [such] information [as] that the department considers
71     appropriate.
72          (d) Upon receipt of a proper application and payment of a license fee as determined by
73     the department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-2(2), the commissioner, if satisfied that the
74     convenience and necessity of the industry and the public will be served, shall issue a license
75     entitling the applicant to operate a wax-salvage plant through December 31 of the year in
76     which the license is issued, subject to suspension or revocation for cause.
77          (e) A wax-salvage license is renewable for a period of one year, on or before December
78     31 of each year, upon the payment of an annual license renewal fee as determined by the
79     department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-2(2).
80          Section 2. Section 4-11-5 is amended to read:
81          4-11-5. County bee inspector -- Appointment -- Termination -- Compensation.
82          (1) The county executive upon the petition of five or more persons who raise bees
83     within the respective county shall, with the approval of the commissioner, appoint a qualified
84     person to act as a bee inspector within the county.
85          (2) A county bee inspector shall be employed at the pleasure of the county executive
86     and the commissioner, and is subject to termination of employment, with or without cause, at
87     the instance of either.
88          (3) Compensation for the county bee inspector shall be fixed by the county legislative
89     body.
90          (4) [To be appointed a] A county bee inspector[, a person] shall demonstrate adequate
91     training and knowledge related to this chapter, bee diseases, and pests.
92          (5) A [record concerning] county bee inspector shall submit bee inspection [shall be
93     kept by the county executive or commissioner] records to the department.
94          [(6) The county executive and the commissioner shall investigate a formal, written
95     complaint against a county bee inspector.]
96          [(7) The department may authorize an inspection if:]
97          [(a) a county bee inspector is not appointed; and]
98          [(b) a conflict of interest arises with a county bee inspector.]
99          Section 3. Section 4-11-6 is amended to read:
100          4-11-6. Consent of county bee inspector to sell or transport diseased bees.
101          [(1) A person may not house or keep bees in a hive unless it is equipped with movable
102     frames to all its parts so that access to the hive can be had without difficulty.]
103          [(2) No] A person who owns or has possession of bees (whether queens or workers)
104     with knowledge that they are infected with terminal disease, parasites, or pests, or with
105     knowledge that they have been exposed to terminal disease, parasites, or pests, [shall] may not
106     sell, barter, give away, or move the bees, colonies, or apiary equipment without the consent of
107     the county bee inspector or the department.
108          Section 4. Section 4-11-7 is amended to read:
109          4-11-7. Inspector -- Duties -- Diseased apiaries -- Examination of diseased bees by
110     department -- Election to transport bees to wax-salvage plant.
111          (1) [The] If the department receives a written complaint that an apiary in a county is
112     severely diseased, parasitized, or abandoned, the county bee inspector or the department shall
113     [inspect all apiaries within the county at least once each year and, also], after giving notice to
114     the owner of the apiary, inspect [immediately any] the apiary [within the county that is alleged
115     in a written complaint to be severely diseased, parasitized, or abandoned].
116          (2) If, upon inspection, the inspector determines that an apiary is diseased or
117     parasitized, the inspector shall [take the following action], based on the severity of the disease
118     or parasite present:
119          (a) prescribe the course of treatment that the owner or caretaker of the bees shall follow
120     to eliminate the disease or parasite;
121          (b) personally, for the purpose of treatment approved by the department, take control of
122     the afflicted bees, hives, combs, broods, honey, and equipment; or
123          (c) destroy the afflicted bees and, if necessary, their hives, combs, broods, honey, and
124     all appliances that may have become infected.
125          (3) If, upon reinspection, the inspector determines that the responsible party has not
126     executed the course of treatment prescribed by Subsection (2), the inspector may take
127     immediate possession of the afflicted colony for control or destruction in accordance with
128     Subsection (2)(b) or (c).
129          (4) (a) The owner of an apiary who is dissatisfied with the diagnosis or course of action
130     proposed by an inspector under this section may, at the owner's expense, have the department
131     examine the alleged diseased bees.
132          (b) The decision of the commissioner with respect to the condition of bees at the time
133     of the examination is final and conclusive upon the owner and the inspector involved.
134          (5) The owner of a diseased apiary, notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections (2),
135     (3), and (4), may elect under the direction of the county bee inspector to kill the diseased bees,
136     seal their hives, and transport them to a licensed wax-salvage plant.
137          (6) A county bee inspector may, with the consent of the owner, inspect an apiary and
138     offer educational training or information to the owner.
139          Section 5. Section 4-11-8 is amended to read:
140          4-11-8. County bee inspector -- Disinfection required before leaving apiary with
141     diseased bees.
142          (1) Before leaving the premises of [any] an apiary where disease exists, [the] a county
143     bee inspector, [or] and any [assistant] individual assisting the inspector, shall thoroughly
144     disinfect any part of the inspector's or assistant's own person, clothing, or [any] appliance that
145     has come in contact with infected material.
146          (2) The method of disinfection required by Subsection (1):
147          (a) may be determined by the department; and
148          (b) shall be sufficient to destroy disease, parasites, and pathogens encountered.
149          (3) A county bee inspector shall maintain and submit to the department a record of
150     each inspection, including disinfection practices.
151          [(4) The county executive or the commissioner may review a county bee inspector's
152     records kept in accordance with Subsection (3).]
153          Section 6. Section 4-11-10 is amended to read:
154          4-11-10. Enforcement -- Inspections authorized -- Warrants.
155          (1) The department and all county bee inspectors shall have access to all apiaries [or
156     places where bees, hives, and appliances are kept] for the purpose of [enforcing this chapter]
157     conducting an inspection under Section 4-11-7 or Section 4-11-9.
158          (2) If admittance is refused, the department[, or the county bee inspector involved,]
159     may proceed [immediately] to obtain an ex parte warrant from the nearest court of competent
160     jurisdiction to allow entry upon the premises for the purpose of making an inspection.
161          Section 7. Section 4-11-12 is amended to read:
162          4-11-12. Quarantine authorized.
163          (1) The commissioner, in order to protect the bee industry of the state against bee
164     health or management issues, may quarantine the entire state, an entire county, or any apiary or
165     specific hive within the state, as the commissioner considers necessary.
166          (2) (a) A registered beekeeper may petition the department to restrict migratory
167     beekeeping within a 25-mile radius if:
168          (i) at least two other beekeepers operating in the 25-mile radius join the petition; and
169          (ii) there are fewer than six registered beekeepers operating apiaries in the 25-mile
170     radius.
171          (b) The department may, upon receipt of a petition that meets the requirements of
172     Subsection (2)(a), restrict migratory beekeeping within a 25-mile radius for up to one year, if
173     the department finds the restriction would protect the genetics or breeding of bees.
174          Section 8. Section 4-11-13 is amended to read:
175          4-11-13. Unlawful acts specified.
176          It is unlawful for a person to:
177          [(1) extract honey in any place where bees can gain access either during or after the
178     extraction process;]
179          [(2)] (1) remove honey or wax, or attempt to salvage, or salvage any hives, apiary
180     equipment, or appliances from a diseased colony, except in a licensed wax-salvage plant,
181     unless specifically authorized by a county bee inspector or the commissioner;
182          [(3)] (2) maintain any neglected or abandoned hives, apiary equipment, or appliances
183     other than in an enclosure that prohibits the entrance of bees;
184          [(4)] (3) raise [bees] more than five colonies without being registered with the
185     department;
186          [(5)] (4) operate a wax-salvage plant without a license;
187          [(6)] (5) store an empty hive body, apiary equipment, or appliances in a manner that
188     may propagate pests, disease, or bee feeding frenzy; or
189          [(7)] (6) knowingly sell a colony, apiary equipment, or appliances that are inoculated
190     with terminal disease pathogens.
191          Section 9. Section 4-11-18 is enacted to read:
192          4-11-18. Regulation of bees by a political subdivision.
193          (1) A political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation related
194     to raising or managing bees.
195          (2) Any ordinance or regulation regarding raising or managing bees established by a
196     political subdivision is void.




Legislative Review Note
     as of 1-30-15 9:56 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel