Establishes a livestock standards board; board shall educate farmers on the care and well-being of livestock; propose recommendations and legislation consistent with promoting the health and well-being of livestock and standards established by the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10186
IN ASSEMBLY
May 10, 2012
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REILLY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a livestock standards board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
2 article 26-C to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 26-C
4 LIVESTOCK STANDARDS BOARD
5 Section 420. Livestock standards board.
6 421. Purpose of the livestock standards board.
7 § 420. Livestock standards board. 1. (a) There is hereby created the
8 livestock standards board which shall consist of ten members. The
9 members of the board shall be appointed by the governor as follows:
10 (i) The commissioner or his or her designee;
11 (ii) The dean of Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine or his or her
12 designee;
13 (iii) The state veterinarian;
14 (iv) One member shall be a representative of Cornell University's
15 pro-dairy program;
16 (v) Three members shall be nominated by the New York state farm bureau
17 and shall include a representative of the farm bureau for a term of two
18 years, an active dairy farmer in the state for a term of three years,
19 and an owner of a family farm of livestock in the state for a term of
20 four years;
21 (vi) One member shall be an officer from an incorporated humane socie-
22 ty as nominated by a humane society, for a term of two years; and
23 (vii) Two members representing consumer organizations, one member
24 shall be nominated by the speaker of the assembly for a term of four
25 years and one member shall be nominated by the temporary president of
26 the senate, for a term of three years.
27 (b) After the initial appointment terms, the appointment term is three
28 years. Appointed members may be reappointed for one additional term.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15807-01-2
A. 10186 2
1 (c) All appointed members serve until their successor has been
2 appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner
3 as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
4 2. The chair of the livestock standards board shall be elected by the
5 members of the board.
6 3. The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their
7 services as members but shall be allowed their actual and necessary
8 expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties pursuant to
9 this article.
10 4. The board shall meet at least semi-annually.
11 5. For purposes of this article "livestock" shall mean ruminant farm
12 mammals including but not limited to, cattle, sheep, and goats.
13 § 421. Purpose of the livestock standards board. 1. The board's prima-
14 ry purpose shall be farmer education as to the proper standards for
15 livestock care, including but not limited to:
16 (a) Best practices for the care and well-being of livestock;
17 (b) To advise on the prevention of livestock diseases, morbidity and
18 mortality;
19 (c) Accepted veterinary medical practices related to livestock treat-
20 ment; and
21 (d) Any other areas the board considers important for the appropriate
22 care and treatment of livestock.
23 2. (a) The board shall serve in an advisory role to the department and
24 legislature in the establishment of standards and accepted practices for
25 livestock care.
26 (b) The standards for livestock care established by the Cornell School
27 of Veterinary Medicine shall be adopted by the board, subject to modifi-
28 cation and amendment as deemed necessary by the board.
29 (c) The livestock standards board shall base its policy recommenda-
30 tions and guidelines on the New York State Cattle Health Assurance
31 program developed by Cornell University, to promote the well-being of
32 cattle by emphasizing guidelines for their proper care and handling.
33 3. The board shall propose recommendations and legislation consistent
34 with promoting the health and well-being of livestock. All emerging
35 regulations and legislation shall be measured against the standards for
36 livestock care, as established by the Cornell School of Veterinary Medi-
37 cine and as adopted by the board.
38 4. All adopted standards and board recommendations shall be accessi-
39 ble to the public and shall be posted in a manner that will most effec-
40 tively promote the provisions of this section.
41 5. The livestock standards board, established pursuant to section
42 four hundred twenty of this article shall be funded by the department.
43 § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013. Effective immediately,
44 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
45 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is author-
46 ized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
