Livestock

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on the frequency of emergency meetings and their costs, which were mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Changes to Animal Health Regulations in Tennessee

This bill changes how animal health tests and vaccinations are handled by limiting the commissioner's power to make recommendations instead of orders, removes requirements for owners to dispose of dead animals, and mandates clear procedures for compensating owners when their animals are destroyed.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the commissioner’s ability to order animal health tests or vaccinations; now they can only recommend them unless approved by a committee.
• Removes the requirement that livestock owners pay for disposing of dead animals.
• Requires clear rules for compensating owners when their animals are destroyed due to disease, based on the value of the animal and available funds.

Who It Names or Affects

• Livestock owners in Tennessee
• The Department of Agriculture

Terms To Know

Indemnity

Compensation given to livestock owners when their animals are destroyed due to disease.

Sanitary disposition

The proper disposal of dead animals to prevent the spread of diseases.

Limits and Unknowns

• Local regulations may vary, making it hard to predict state expenditures for animal disposal.

Official Summary Text

Present law authorizes
the commissioner of agriculture and the state veterinarian to o
rder tests or vaccinations of animals within the state or imported into the state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in Tennessee
. This bill changes present law by limiting s
uch powers, with regard to tests and vaccinations, to making r
ecommend
ations for
tests or vaccinations of animals within this state or imported into this state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in this state
.

Present law authorizes th
e commissioner of agriculture and the state veterinarian to o
rder

the sanitary disposition of any dead animal
, with the animal's owner being
liable for its disposition
. This bill deletes such authorization.

Present law authorizes the
commissioner
of agr
iculture to promulgate rules to
establish procedures for the payment of indemnities for animals destroyed
under the law pertaining to the prevention and treatment of animal diseases.
Indemnity under
present law
is not intended to be a full reimbursement b
ut a partial compensation based on, but not limited to, the value of the animal and the availability of funds for that purpose.

Indemnification may be disallowed in cases where the owner is in violation of
the law concerning prevention and treatment of an
imal diseases. This bill makes the establishment of an indemnity program by rules mandatory. This bill requires that indemnity be based on, but not limited to, the value of the animal and the availability of funds. This bill deletes authorization to wi
t
hhold indemnity from the owner of a destroyed animal.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1058
By Pody

HOUSE BILL 1086
By Hulsey

HB1086
003257
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44
and Title 58, relative to animals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-102, is amended by deleting
subdivision (4) and substituting:
(4)
(A) Recommend tests or vaccinations of animals within this state or
imported into this state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in this
state; and
(B) Order tests or vaccinations of animals within this state or imported
into this state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in this state, if
each specific vaccination and test ordered has received prior approval from the
joint government operations committee of the house of representatives and the
senate;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-102, is amended by deleting
subdivision (6).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-105, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead:
The commissioner, through rules, shall establish procedures for the payment of
indemnities for animals destroyed under the authority of this chapter. Indemnity under
this section is based on, but not limited to, the value of the animal and the availability of
funds for that purpose.

- 2 - 003257

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.