Researcher: JKL Page 1 3/28/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6726
AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF LIVESTOCK AND
CERTAIN RABBIT PROCESSING FACILITIES.
SUMMARY
This bill revises the state’s livestock statutes to reflect language
changes over time from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It
updates compensation and quarantine requirements for condemned
livestock and public health responsibilities regarding reportable
diseases.
Among other things, the bill generally requires livestock imported to
the state to have a livestock importation permit and a certificate of
veterinary inspection (i.e., health certificate). It specifies importation
requirements for livestock generally and specifically for cattle, bison,
sheep, goats, camelids (e.g., camels, llamas, alpacas), Cervidae (e.g.,
deer), and swine. The bill broadly prohibits importing an animal
infected with or exposed to any infectious disease (e.g., tuberculosis,
brucellosis, anaplasmosis, psoroptic scabies, chronic wasting disease,
bovine spongiform encephalopathy, hog cholera, pseudorabies, rabies,
or scrapie).
The bill imposes a general penalty for violating the livestock statutes
and related regulations when specific penalties are not provided. Under
this general penalty, a violator is subject to a $250 fine for a first violation
and a class D misdemeanor for a second (and, presumably, subsequent)
violation. (Under current law, the general penalty for all violations is a
class D misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 30 days
imprisonment, a fine of up to $250, or both.)
The bill also allows for in-state processing of rabbits for human
consumption (§ 27). Specifically, it makes the agriculture commissioner
the state official in charge of inspecting rabbit producers and rabbit 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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processing facilities. It defines a “producer” as one who breeds, raises,
or keeps up to 1,000 rabbits in a year for food production purposes. The
bill requires that inspections done by the commissioner or his
designated agents be consistent with federal health, sanitation, and
safety regulations. It designates a rabbit processing facility that passes
inspection as an approved food source for household consumers,
restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, and retail food establishments.
Lastly, the bill makes numerous technical and conforming changes
(e.g., §§ 24 & 28) and repeals several statutes, the contents of which
generally are incorporated in other sections of the bill (§ 29).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the rabbit processing
provisions are effective October 1, 2023.
§§ 1 & 2 — LIVESTOCK ORDERS AND REGUL ATIONS
Orders and Regulations
By law, the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner may
issue orders or adopt regulations on importing, transporting, trailing,
riding, driving, exhibiting, examining, testing, identifying,
quarantining, or disposing of livestock to prevent the spread of
contagious and infectious disease among the livestock and protect the
public from any transmissible disease. For this and other laws on
domestic animal disease, the bill additionally allows the commissioner
to designate an agent, including the State Veterinarian, to do his duties.
As under existing law, the bill defines “livestock” as any camelid or
hooved animal raised for domestic or commercial use, but the bill
further specifies that livestock is generally used to produce food or fiber
and considered farm animals.
As under current law, the commissioner must give notice of orders to
those named in them by leaving a copy with them or those with custody
of the affected animals, if they are located in Connecticut. If those named
in the order are not in Connecticut, the commissioner must send the
order by registered or certified mail to the last-known address. The bill
also allows the commissioner to send an order to an out-of-state person
electronically if that person previously agreed to receive electronic 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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notices.
Similarly, existing law requires the commissioner to give notice to
any common carrier named in an order or affected by a regulation on
livestock. Currently, notice must be given by leaving a copy with the
carrier’s president, secretary, or treasurer or other person at the carrier
or at their last-known address. The bill allows the commissioner to give
these notices through email if the carrier previously agreed to receive
electronic notices.
Under current law, in the case of an emergency, the commissioner
may give notice of a regulation limiting or prohibiting moving,
exhibiting, or disposing of livestock on a highway by publishing it in a
newspaper with a substantial circulation in the town in which the
affected highway is located. The bill applies this requirement to orders,
instead of regulations.
Quarantine Orders
By law, the commissioner may quarantine animals he reasonably
believes have a contagious disease, do not meet DoAg requirements, or
are kept in unsanitary conditions that endanger them or the public.
Currently, a quarantine order may prohibit or regulate the sale of the
animals and their products and require their confinement at a place the
commissioner designates for as long as he deems necessary. The bill also
allows quarantine orders to prohibit or regulate the movement of the
animals, including dead ones (i.e., “mortalities”) and their products.
Penalties
Under current law, anyone who violates an order or regulation, or
obstructs or attempts to obstruct the commissioner or his agents in
carrying out their duties, is fined up to $100 or assessed an
administrative civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation and $250 per
day of a continuing violation. Also under current law, anyone who
violates a quarantine order is fined $500 per day of continuing violation,
up to $25,000.
The bill instead allows violators in each case to be fined up to $500 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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per day, per animal, for each day the violation continues, up to $25,000.
§ 3 — DISEASE OR BIOLOGIC AL OR CHEMICAL RESID UE
TESTING
Under current law, any livestock or poultry that is tested for disease
under USDA rules or a biological or chemical residue generally must be
quarantined at the testing location until test results are available and
signed by a veterinarian or DoAg employee who administered the test.
The bill applies this to animals being tested for disease under USDA
rules or a biological or chemical residue known to be in the state.
Additionally, it requires that the veterinarian involved must be licensed
and accredited. Under the bill, an “accredited veterinarian” is a
veterinarian approved under category II of the USDA’s National
Veterinary Accreditation Program and by the state animal health official
of the state that licenses the veterinarian to practice.
§ 4 — TUBERCULOSIS TESTING
Under current law, the DoAg commissioner may require neat cattle
and all goats to be tuberculin tested by a licensed accredited veterinarian
at the state’s expense or a USDA or DoAg veterinarian. The bill instead
allows the commissioner to require and provide for the testing and
control of tuberculosis in any livestock at the state’s expense. Testing is
restricted to the state veterinarian, veterinarians the federal government
employs, and Connecticut-licensed accredited veterinarians. (Any
infected livestock are subject to the condemnation provisions in § 5,
described below.)
The bill requires that the testing procedures and the control and
disposition of any reacting livestock (i.e., reactors) conform to one of the
following:
1. for goats, cattle, bison, and captive cervids, the USDA Uniform
Methods and Rules for Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication;
2. for other livestock, the procedures, methods, testing, and
disposition of reactors determined by the state veterinarian; or 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JKL Page 5 3/28/23
3. the most recent USDA approved and published procedures for
tuberculosis testing and the control and disposition of
brucellosis-positive livestock.
Further, the bill specifies that the state is not liable for any damage
incurred or alleged to have been incurred by any testing.
§§ 5 & 21 — CONDEMNING AND COMPENSATIN G FOR INFECTED
LIVESTOCK
Condemnation
Under current law, the DoAg commissioner may have any domestic
animal that tests positive for tuberculosis killed. However, if the animal
is cattle, he cannot do so until the cattle’s owner and the commissioner
(or their arbitrators) determine the animal’s value for purposes of the
state’s compensation to the owner.
The bill instead allows the commissioner to have any livestock
infected with any infectious or contagious disease, including
tuberculosis, anthrax, or foot and mouth disease, euthanized. The
commissioner must first determine the condemned livestock’s value for
compensation purposes. When determining the value, the bill (1)
requires him to consider the livestock’s age, sex, grade, and purpose for
being kept and (2) allows him to consult with livestock dealers,
commission sales stables, or other sources familiar with the value of
livestock.
Current law specifies how an animal that tests positive for
tuberculosis must be tagged. The bill instead requires that a condemned
animal must be identified with a tag, brand device, or marking that the
commissioner approves. Additionally, current law prohibits a
condemned animal from being killed, sold, or used for food except as
the commissioner directs. The bill also prohibits a condemned animal
from being moved except as the commissioner directs.
Under current law, once an animal has been killed, the premises
where the animal was kept must be disinfected within 15 days after the
commissioner’s order. The bill instead requires the premises to be
disinfected within a time period the commissioner specifies and in a 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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way acceptable to him before livestock are reintroduced to the premises.
Under the bill, anyone aggrieved by a commissioner’s condemnation
order may appeal to Hartford Superior Court within seven days after
the order is issued.
Compensation
Under the bill, similar to current law, the state will compensate the
owner of a condemned animal, limited to the difference between the
animal’s fair market value and the amount of indemnity or payment the
owner received from the federal government. The state will not
compensate for any livestock unless the animal has been destroyed.
Additionally, the state will not pay for an animal that has no real value
or that was in the state for less than three months before being
quarantined, unless the animal was born into the herd in Connecticut or
was imported to the state in compliance with state law.
The bill eliminates an exception in current law on compensation for
animals condemned to prevent foot and mouth disease or anthrax. It
also eliminates a $2,000 limit on the appraisal amount for condemned,
registered, purebred bovine animals and a $1,100 limit for grade bovine
animals.
Disposal
Under current law, cattle and goats found to be affected by a
communicable disease must be killed, and the carcasses disposed of in
keeping with the DoAg commissioner’s order and at the owner’s
expense.
The bill instead requires that all carcasses of diseased livestock that
are condemned pursuant to state law be disposed of in a way that is
acceptable to the commissioner.
§ 6 — CONDEMNED HERD
Under current law, the DoAg commissioner has authority to
condemn a cattle herd due to recurring tuberculosis or brucellosis
within a two-year period or substantial infection throughout the herd.
Under the bill, if the DoAg commissioner finds that (1) tuberculosis or 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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brucellosis recurs in a livestock herd within a two-year period or (2) any
livestock herd is substantially infected with tuberculosis, brucellosis, or
other infectious or contagious disease, he may condemn the herd to
prevent the spread of disease or protect public health. The state must
pay compensation for a condemned herd as described in § 5 above.
As under current law, anyone aggrieved by a commissioner’s order
to condemn a herd may appeal to Superior Court within seven days
after the order is issued, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
Procedure Act.
§ 7 — CARE OF HERDS
Current law requires a herd owner to house, feed, and care for the
animals in sanitary conditions that promote the herd’s health. The bill
expands this to apply to any livestock herd to promote the herd’s health
and welfare. As under current law, calves may be fed milk and dairy
products only from a herd that tested negative for tuberculosis or that
is pasteurized at 142 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
§ 8 — RECORDKEEPING
Current law requires a herd owner to (1) keep records describing each
registered or graded animal and its final disposition and (2) mark each
animal with a tag or marking the DoAg commissioner approves.
The bill instead requires the owner of a livestock herd to keep a
record of each animal in the herd, including the final disposition of each.
It requires the herd owner to mark each animal in the herd with official
identification when the animal leaves the premises and keep the
identification in the animal’s record. Under the bill, “official
identification” is a numbering system, approved by USDA and the state
veterinarian, that (1) provides a nationally unique identification number
for each animal, (2) prescribes the animal identification methods and
devices approved for use in each livestock species, and (3) is affixed to
each animal by tag or other USDA-approved method. The owner must
keep the record for the animal’s life plus one year.
§ 9 — QUARANTINING AN INFECTED HERD 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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Under current law, when tuberculosis is found in a herd of cattle or
goats, the entire herd must be quarantined until it passes three
successive negative tests with at least 60 days between each test. Current
law prohibits an animal from being removed from the herd during
quarantine, except under a written permit from the DoAg commissioner
for slaughtering.
The bill expands these requirements to apply to any livestock herd
and any reportable disease. Specifically, it requires that when a disease
that is listed as reportable or notifiable by DoAg or USDA is found in a
livestock herd, the entire herd must be quarantined until a time the state
veterinarian determines. Also, the bill prohibits an animal from being
removed from the herd during quarantine, except under a written
permit from the DoAg commissioner for the purpose and under
conditions specified in the permit.
§ 10 — BRUCELLOSIS TESTING
Under current law, the DoAg commissioner may require certain
cattle and goats to be tested for brucellosis by the state veterinarian,
veterinarians employed by DoAg or the federal government, and
veterinarians licensed in Connecticut and assigned by the DoAg
commissioner for that purpose. The bill instead allows the
commissioner to require and provide for the testing and control of
brucellosis in any livestock in the state. The bill restricts the drawing of
blood and milk samples for brucellosis testing to the state veterinarian,
veterinarians and trained employees of DoAg, veterinarians the federal
government employs, a nd Connecticut-licensed accredited
veterinarians. (Any infected livestock are subject to the condemnation
provisions in § 5, described above.)
The bill eliminates requirements that animals testing positive be
branded with a hot iron and tagged with a metal number reactor tag.
The bill requires that the testing procedures and the control and
disposition of any reactors conform to one of the following:
1. for cattle, bison, swine, or Cervidae, the USDA Uniform Methods
and Rules for Brucellosis Eradication for the respective species; 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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2. for other livestock, the procedures, methods, testing, and
disposition that the state veterinarian determines; or
3. the most recent USDA approved and published procedures for
brucellosis procedures for testing and the control and disposition
of brucellosis-positive livestock.
Further, as under current law, the bill specifies that the state is not
liable for any damage incurred or alleged to have been incurred by any
testing performed under these provisions.
§ 11 — SALE OF MILK
Under current law, no one may offer milk for sale in the state unless
it is produced from herds that comply with state laws on tuberculosis
and brucellosis. The bill specifies that no one may offer milk for sale in
the state unless it is produced from herds complying with §§ 4 and 10 of
the bill (i.e., tuberculosis and brucellosis testing).
Additionally, the bill requires, for new milk producers wanting to
register with DoAg, that if the herd or any animal in the herd does not
have a current negative tuberculosis and brucellosis test result, the herd
must test negative before the commissioner may issue the milk producer
registration. DoAg employees may do the testing. The bill requires that
DoAg then surveillance test each registered milk producing herd for
tuberculosis and brucellosis every two years.
§ 12 — BRUCELLOSIS VACCINA TION
By law, bovine (e.g., cattle and bison) owners may have their female
calves vaccinated against brucellosis at their own expense and at ages
set out in the USDA Uniform Methods and Rules for Brucellosis
Eradication. The bill eliminates current law’s requirement that the DoAg
commissioner identify the ages in regulations.
The bill requires a licensed accredited veterinarian to perform the
vaccinations, rather than an approved licensed veterinarian, an
approved federal or state full-time employed veterinarian that the
DoAg commissioner assigns and authorizes, or a livestock inspector
that the commissioner employs and authorizes, as under current law. 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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§ 13 — IMPORTING LIVESTOCK
Importation Permit and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
Current law generally requires neat cattle and goats brought into the
state to be accompanied by a permit from the DoAg commissioner.
The bill instead requires all livestock brought into the state to be
accompanied by a livestock importation permit obtained from the DoAg
commissioner as well as a certificate of veterinary inspection signed by
an accredited veterinarian. A livestock importation permit expires 15
days after its issuance, while a certificate of veterinary inspection is valid
for 30 days after its issuance.
Under the bill, a certificate of veterinary inspection must include the
following:
1. examination date;
2. the livestock’s point of origin and destination;
3. the consignor’s and consignee’s names and mailing addresses;
4. the official identification of each animal’s age, sex, breed, and
species for each animal represented on the certificate;
5. results of all health tests required by Connecticut law; and
6. a statement verifying that the livestock (a) have been inspected
and are free from clinical signs of any contagious, infectious, or
communicable diseases and (b) do not originate from an area of
quarantine, infestation, or infection.
The bill also requires the veterinarian issuing the certificate to verify,
at the time of examination, that each animal represented on the
certificate has identification tags or other form of identification.
Under the bill, within 48 hours after imported livestock arrive at their
destination in the state, the livestock’s owner must (1) complete and
return the importation permit to the commissioner and (2) report the
number of each species imported. The owner must include with these a 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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copy of the certificate of veterinary inspection that accompanied the
livestock into the state.
As under current law, the commissioner may refuse to issue an
importation permit to anyone who violates any statutes or regulations
on importing livestock. The bill requires the commissioner, when
refusing to issue or revoking an importation permit, to notify the
importer of the violations and corrections needed. After making the
corrections, the person may reapply for a permit.
Importing for Immediate Slaughter
Current law exempts neat cattle and goats brought into the state for
immediate slaughter at federally inspected premises from needing a
permit as long as they are accompanied by a bill of sale or certificate of
assignment. It also requires the slaughter facility’s owner to report
weekly to the DoAg commissioner with the number of animals
imported for slaughter.
Under the bill, livestock brought into the state are exempt from
needing an importation permit and certificate of veterinary inspection if
they are brought to (1) federally inspected premises for immediate
slaughter, (2) a slaughter facility approved by the commissioner, or (3)
a licensed livestock commission sales stable authorized by the USDA
and state veterinarian. The exemption applies as long as the livestock
are accompanied by an owner-shipper statement that includes the
following:
1. the consignor’s and consignee’s names and addresses;
2. the livestock’s point of origin and destination;
3. the date of entry into the state;
4. a statement that the livestock are consigned for immediate
slaughter;
5. a listing of each animal’s official identification, including age, sex,
breed, and species; and 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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6. the shipper’s signature certifying the animals are imported for
slaughter only.
Importing for Exhibition or Competition Purposes
Under the bill, anyone transporting livestock or equines into the state
for exhibition or competition purposes may obtain an exhibition permit
from the DoAg commissioner before entering the state. Animals listed
in the exhibition permit and on the certificate of veterinary inspection
are exempt from requiring a new certificate of veterinary inspection
every 30 days for the duration of the exhibition permit. An exhibition
permit expires six months after its issuance.
For the duration of the exhibition permit, the bill requires that all tests
required under state law to qualify for importation be listed on the
certificate of veterinary inspection and kept current.
§ 14 — REFUSAL TO PERMIT IMPORTATION
Current law allows the DoAg commissioner to refuse to grant import
permits for neat cattle and goats from any area that are infected with a
contagious disease. It also allows him to revoke any permit for animals
that, in his opinion, are infected. The bill expands his right to refuse to
issue or to revoke a permit to livestock generally.
Also, the bill requires all livestock entering the state to be identified
by official identification, rather than ear tags, registration name or
number, tattoo, or other markings approved by the commissioner as
under current law.
§§ 15-20 & 23 — IMPORTATION REQUIREM ENTS BY SPECIES
Livestock Generally (§ 15)
The bill prohibits anyone from importing livestock into the state if the
livestock is (1) under quarantine due to the presence, or suspected
presence, of an infectious or contagious disease and (2) infected with, or
has been exposed to, any infectious or contagious disease.
The bill also prohibits anyone from importing livestock into the state
unless an importation permit is obtained as required in § 13 (described 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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above) and each animal is accompanied by a certificate of veterinary
inspection from an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals
have been inspected, are not showing signs of disease, and have been
tested in accordance with state law.
The bill exempts from the permit and certificate requirements any
livestock imported for slaughter at a facility under a USDA grant of
inspection or approved by the DoAg commissioner, as long as the
livestock come with the owner-shipper statement required in § 13. The
bill prohibits any livestock brought into the state for slaughter to be sold
or transferred live to anyone.
Cattle and Bison (§ 16)
The bill requires that all cattle or bison imported into the state come
with an importation permit as required under § 13 and a certificate of
veterinary inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30
days before importation. The certificate must include the dates and
results of any required tests, the official identification of each animal,
and a certification that the cattle or bison meet the following
requirements:
1. they originated from a herd that was negative to a whole herd
tuberculin test performed within 12 months before importation
and each animal was included in the whole herd test or tested
negative to a tuberculosis test performed within 60 days of
importation and
2. for bulls and non-brucellosis vaccinated female cattle at least six
months old, and for official calfhood vaccinates (i.e., those
vaccinated when they were calves) at least 18 months old, that
they tested negative to an official brucellosis test performed
within 30 days before importation.
The bill exempts from brucellosis testing spayed heifers and steer that
are imported as feeder cattle (i.e., for eventual slaughter). The bill also
prohibits cattle and bison from being imported into the state if they were
vaccinated (1) as adults or (2) when they were more than 359 days of age 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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with diluted brucella abortus vaccine.
Sheep (§ 17)
The bill requires that any sheep imported into the state come with an
importation permit as required under § 13 and a certificate of veterinary
inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days before
importation. The certificate must include the dates and results of any
required tests, the official identification of each animal, and a
certification that the sheep listed on the certificate have not been
exposed to scrapie.
Goats (§ 18)
The bill requires that any goat imported into the state come with an
importation permit as required under § 13 and a certificate of veterinary
inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days before
importation. The certificate must include the dates and results of any
required tests, the official identification of each animal, and a
certification that the goats listed on the certificate have not been exposed
to scrapie. Each goat also must meet the following requirements:
1. they originated from a herd that was negative to a whole herd
tuberculin test performed within 12 months before importation
and they each were included in the test,
2. each goat more than three months old has tested negative to a
tuberculosis test performed within 60 days before importation,
and
3. each goat more than three months old has tested negative to a
brucellosis test performed within 30 days before importation.
The bill allows a kid goat under three months old to be imported on
its dam’s (female parent’s) test chart if the dam tested negative for
brucellosis within 12 months of importation and a copy of that test result
is given to the commissioner. The bill exempts from brucellosis testing
any wether (i.e., castrated male goat).
Camelids (§ 19) 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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The bill requires that any camelid (e.g., camels, llamas, alpacas)
imported into the state come with an importation permit as required
under § 13 and a certificate of veterinary inspection issued by an
accredited veterinarian within 30 days before importation. The
certificate must include the dates and results of any required tests and
the official identification of each animal. Each camelid also must meet
the following requirements:
1. have tested negative for tuberculosis using an axillary tuberculin
test within 60 days before importation and
2. if at least six months old, text negative for brucellosis within 30
days before importation.
Cervidae (§ 20)
The bill requires that any Cervidae imported into the state come with
an importation or exhibition permit as required under § 13 and a
certificate of veterinary inspection that verifies compliance with CGS §
26-57a and any related regulations. Among other things, CGS § 26-57a
sets requirements for imported reindeer, including testing negative for
tuberculosis and brucellosis within 30 days before importation and
coming from a herd that participated in a chronic wasting disease
monitoring program.
Swine (§ 23)
The bill requires that any swine imported into the state come with an
importation permit as required under § 13 and a certificate of veterinary
inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days before
importation. The certificate must include the dates and results of any
required tests, the official identification of each animal, and a
certification that the swine came from a herd that was brucellosis
validated free and pseudorabies qualified free. The certificate must also
include the following:
1. the number and date of the last whole herd negative brucellosis
test that included the swine being imported, or each swine over
three months old must have tested negative for brucellosis within 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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30 days before importation, and
2. the number and date of the last whole herd negative
pseudorabies test that included the swine being imported, or
each swine must have tested negative for pseudorabies within 30
days before importation.
The bill exempts barrows (i.e., castrated male swine) from brucellosis
testing.
§ 22 — DISPERSAL SALE OF LIVESTOCK
Current law requires a herd owner, auctioneer, cattle dealer, or sales
manager who wants to sell a herd (i.e., dispersal sale) or more than 10
head as a group to give the DoAg commissioner a list of the animals to
be sold within 14 days before the sale, unless the commissioner waives
this requirement as an undue hardship. Also, no one may conduct a
dispersal sale without the commissioner’s approval. The bill applies
these requirements to livestock dealers, instead of cattle dealers, and
eliminates the commissioner’s ability to waive the list requirement.
Under current law, the commissioner may require the herd to be
tested for tuberculosis, brucellosis, or both before a sale. The bill instead
allows the state veterinarian to require the herd to be tested for any
diseases as she determines necessary. The herd’s owner must pay for
any required tests. If the herd tests negative, the commissioner must
give permission for the sale.
Current law imposes a fine of up to $100 on anyone who violates
these sale provisions. The bill eliminates this specific penalty, meaning
the statutory general penalty applies instead (see § 25 below).
§ 23 — REQUIREMENTS FOR BR EEDING SWINE
The bill requires anyone who breeds swine to have all breeding swine
tested for brucellosis and pseudorabies by an accredited veterinarian,
USDA- or DoAg-employed veterinarian, or a DoAg employee under the
state veterinarian’s supervision. The animals’ owner must help restrain
the animals during the testing. 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
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The bill specifies that the state is not liable for any damages incurred
or alleged to have been incurred from the testing. Also, it requires that
the (1) brucellosis testing comply with § 10 of the bill and (2)
pseudorabies testing procedures and control and disposition of positive
swine conform to USDA Pseudorabies Eradication Program standards.
§ 25 — PENALTIES
The bill changes the general penalty for (1) violating the livestock
statutes and related regulations or (2) obstructing the DoAg
commissioner or his agents when performing their official duties. The
general penalty applies when specific penalties are not otherwise
provided. Under the general penalty, a violator is subject to a $250 fine
for a first violation and a class D misdemeanor for a second (and,
presumably, each subsequent) violation. (Under current law, the
general penalty for all violations is a class D misdemeanor, which is
punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $250, or both.)
The bill also imposes a penalty for misleading or attempting to
mislead the commissioner by removing or altering a livestock’s official
identification or falsifying a certificate of veterinary inspection. A
violator is subject to a $250 fine for a first violation and a class D
misdemeanor for a second or subsequent violation.
§ 26 — NOTIFIABLE OR REPOR TABLE DISEASE REPORT ING
The bill requires laboratories and veterinarians that do testing on
livestock or poultry to notify the state veterinarian of any positive test
results for notifiable or reportable diseases. (By law, the state
veterinarian must provide a list of these diseases annually (CGS § 22-
26f).) A notification must be made (1) within 24 hours after getting the
test results and (2) as the DoAg commissioner prescribes.
Under the bill, anyone who violates this requirement is subject to an
administrative civil penalty of up to $500 for a first violation and up to
$1,000 for a second or subsequent violation.
§ 29 — REPEALED STATUTES
The bill repeals the following statutes, the contents of which are 2023HB-06726-R000274-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JKL Page 18 3/28/23
mostly incorporated in other sections of the bill:
1. CGS § 22-284, on handling outbreaks of the contagious disease
anthrax or charbon;
2. CGS § 22-304, on controlling disease in imported cattle;
3. CGS § 22-318, on importing feeder cattle;
4. CGS § 22-318b, on allowing DoAg, upon a herd owner’s request,
to issue interstate health charts for a fee for livestock to be sold
(the bill does not incorporate this provision);
5. CGS §§ 22-291 to 22-293, on tuberculosis-free accredited herds
and livestock sale and purchase reports; and
6. CGS §§ 22-310 to 22-313, on requirements for certain cattle and
goats.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 26 Nay 7 (03/10/2023)