Assigned to NREW & APPROP AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2641
appropriations; department of agriculture; staffing
Purpose
Appropriates $723,100 and 4 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) from the state General
Fund (state GF) in FY 2024 to the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) for 1 administrative
position and 3 animal health and welfare inspectors (inspectors).
Background
The AZDA may: 1) adopt rules regarding the importation of animals into Arizona;
2) establish a mandatory self-inspection program for moving livestock from one location to
another; 3) establish a central investigation group to investigate reports of crimes and violations of
law and AZDA rules related to livestock; and 4) employ livestock officers and inspectors to inspect
livestock, other than livestock subject to authorized self-inspection. The AZDA must provide
livestock inspections at border inspection stations or at AZDA offices (A.R.S. §§ 3-1203; 3-1208;
and 3-1332).
Livestock officers and inspectors inspect livestock: 1) health; 2) marks and brands at
loading stations; 3) at places of exit from Arizona; and 4) at places where livestock are gathered
to be sold, slaughtered, transported, conveyed, shipped or driven from their range. Livestock
officers and inspectors may also authenticate bills of sale and brands and marks. A livestock officer
must seize livestock wherever found whenever the livestock officer questions the livestock's
ownership under the circumstances outlined in statute. Livestock officers, but not livestock
inspectors, are peace officers certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board
and must pursue and arrest any person on probable cause of a violation of law relating to livestock
(A.R.S. §§ 3-1331 and 3-1332).
Livestock is cattle, equine, sheep, goats and swine, except feral pigs. Equine is horses,
mules, burros and asses (A.R.S. § 3-1201).
H.B. 2641 appropriates $723,100 and 4 FTEs from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates the following amounts and FTEs from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA:
a) $193,800 and 1 FTE for an administrative position in the AZDA's Animal Services
Division; and
b) $529,300 and 3 FTEs for three inspectors.
2. States that the Legislature intends that the appropriations to the AZDA be considered ongoing
funding in future years. FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2641
Page 2
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations Committee
1. Appropriates $193,800 and 1 FTE from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA for an
administrative position in the AZDA's Animal Services Division.
2. Increases, from $348,842 to $529,300 and from 2 FTEs to 3 FTEs, the appropriation from the
state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA for inspectors.
3. Removes the specification that one inspector be at the Douglas Port of Entry and one inspector
be at the Nogales Port of Entry.
4. Removes the following appropriations from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA:
a) $193,787.94 and 1 FTE for a certified peace officer located in eastern Maricopa and Pinal
counties to investigate livestock neglect and cruelty and criminal matters involving
livestock and to complete livestock inspections for health and ownership;
b) $326,231.44 and 1.5 FTEs for certified peace officers to investigate livestock neglect and
cruelty and criminal matters involving livestock and to complete livestock inspection for
health and ownership for investigations and inspections located in northern Cochise, Gila,
Graham and Greenlee counties;
c) $193,787.94 and 1 FTE for a certified peace officer to ensure compliance with the
self-inspection program for hauling cattle and ownership transfers; and
d) $208,165 and 1 FTE for an animal health regional supervisor.
House Action Senate Action
LARA 2/13/23 DPA 9-0-0-0 NREW 3/30/23 DP 6-1-0
3
rd
Read 3/9/23 54-3-3 APPROP 4/4/23 DPA 7-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
April 5, 2023
RA/FB/slp