HB1296 (2006) Detail

Relative to the voluntary scrapie flock certification program.


CHAPTER 26

HB 1296 – FINAL VERSION

2006 SESSION

06-2195

10/04

HOUSE BILL 1296

AN ACT relative to the voluntary scrapie flock certification program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Rausch, Rock 5

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the appointment and duties of the state scrapie certification board and the entry into and maintenance of status in the program.

This bill is a request of the department of agriculture, markets, and food.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06-2195

10/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to the voluntary scrapie flock certification program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

26:1 Scrapie Certification Board; Nominations. Amend RSA 436:117, III to read as follows:

III. Members specified under subparagraphs II(c)-(e) shall be [recommended] nominated by breed associations and registries, [and the state veterinarian or] in consultation with the Area Veterinarian-in-Charge or AVIC designee, and [appointed by the governor with the consent of the council] approved by the state veterinarian.

26:2 Board Members; Removal Deleted. Amend RSA 436:117, V to read as follows:

V. Members specified under subparagraphs II(c)-(e) shall serve 3-year terms, except that the terms of no more than 3 such members may expire in any one calendar year. Original appointments for terms of less than 3 years may be made in order to comply with this limitation. Upon expiration of a member’s term, the member shall serve until a successor is qualified and appointed. There shall be no limit to the number of terms such members may serve. Vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of a specific term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. [Board members specified under subparagraphs II(c)-(e) may be removed for cause by the governor and council under RSA 4:1.] The Area Veterinarian-in-Charge Designee and the state veterinarian shall be ex officio members.

26:3 Applications. Amend RSA 436:118, I to read as follows:

I. An applicant to the program shall submit a completed program application to the Area Veterinarian-in-Charge designee. Once the program application has been received, an authorized state veterinarian or the AVIC or AVIC designee shall inspect the flock for evidence of scrapie. The application shall be signed by a board subcommittee consisting of the state veterinarian, AVIC designee, and board chairperson. The board members shall review the application package [at the next regularly scheduled board meeting]. The status date for initial flock enrollment shall be the date that the last signature is applied to the application for entry into the program. The complete application package shall include:

(a) A completed program application;

(b) An inventory of animals in the flock submitted by the flock owner and verified and signed by a state veterinarian or AVIC or AVIC designee, including at least official identification numbers, breed, and sex information as specified by the certification category for which applied, as determined in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 436:5;

(c) A written statement by an accredited veterinarian, if available, or a state veterinarian or AVIC or AVIC designee declaring that the flock is free of scrapie to the best of his or her knowledge; and

(d) An inspection report by an authorized state veterinarian or AVIC or AVIC designee, including verification of the information provided on the application by the flock owner and verification of the official identification of each animal listed in the application.

26:4 Maintenance of Status. Amend RSA 436:120, I to read as follows:

I. A flock’s status date shall be maintained if, during an annual inspection[:

(a) Scrapie has not been diagnosed in the flock and the flock has not been deemed a source flock since its enrollment;

(b) The minimal requirements for the status currently held by a flock have been fulfilled; and

(c) The flock has only had acquisitions or commingling of animals approved for the current status] it meets the requirements of 9 C.F.R. parts 54 and 79 and the Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules adopted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

26:5 Repeal. RSA 436:117, IX, relative to report of the board, is repealed.

26:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: March 31, 2006

Effective: May 30, 2006