ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

 

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2544: appropriation; agriculture; brand inspectors

Sponsor: Representative Diaz, LD 19

Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Overview

Adds five full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to the Arizona Department of Agriculture (Department) to increase the number of brand inspectors in Graham and Greenlee Counties.

History

Livestock officers are peace officers, certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, who have the authority to pursue and arrest any person who violates state law relating to livestock. The Department employs livestock officers and inspectors to ensure compliance with various requirements related to managing livestock. These staff must inspect livestock, except equine, for health, marks and brands before the livestock are slaughtered, sold, purchased, driven, transported, shipped or conveyed (A.R.S. §§ 3-1208 and 3-1331).

Livestock officers and inspectors also help facilitate a self-inspection program that allows branded range cattle, unbranded dairy and feedlot cattle, sheep, goats and swine to move to auction, inspected slaughterhouse, feedlot, arena and pasture-to-pasture within a ranch using a self-inspection certificate. Livestock inspectors and officers also respond to stray and ownership dispute calls and investigate theft, welfare and neglect cases (A.R.S. §§ 3-1203 and 3-1332 through 3-1337).

Livestock means cattle, equine, sheep, goats and swine, except feral pigs (A.R.S. § 3-1201).

Livestock officer means an animal health and welfare officer, animal health and welfare inspector or investigator employed by the Department (A.R.S. § 3-1201).

Provisions

1.   Adds five FTE positions to the Department. (Sec. 1)

2.   Requires the Department to use the five additional FTE positions to increase the number of brand inspectors. (Sec. 2)

3.   Instructs the Department to use the five additional FTE positions to prioritize brand inspections in Graham and Greenlee Counties. (Sec. 2)

4.    

5.    

6.   ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

7.                     HB 2544

8.   Initials BSR         Page 0 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

9.    

10.  ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------