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Legislature gives TAHC
authority for Premise ID...
The Legislature has sent a package of bills to the Governor regarding the Texas Animal Health Com-mission's authority to establish a Premise Identification Program in preparation for a National Animal ID Program, increase Commission revenue from fees, and make better use of inspectors. The Governor is expected to sign the bills, and they will become effective no later than Sept. 1, 2005.
The Premise Identification bill, HB 1361 by House Agriculture and Livestock Committee Chairman Rick Hardcastle, authorizes the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to implement a program to identify livestock operations. Strict limitations and protections on the use and confidentiality of producer information are provided. The program will be used in the event of an animal disease outbreak to rapidly isolate and manage exposed animals. The TAHC is authorized to charge a registration fee to fund the operation of the program. Producer participation is on a voluntary basis until a federal animal identification program becomes mandatory.
Secondly, the Legislature has required regulatory agencies to impose user fees to cover a portion of their services. The TAHC has been directed to collect 5 percent of their budget through such fees. House Bill 1363 allows the Commission to increase the charge for Certificates of Veterinarian Inspection—the most likely method for raising the required revenue. Currently, the TAHC can only charge 25 cents per certificate, an amount which only covers a fraction of the actual cost. A total of just over 100,000 certificates are issued each year.
With some exceptions, certificates are required to enter the state for most animals and fowl, as well as horses entering public shows. Certificates are required within Texas for poultry entering non-terminal public shows; livestock, poultry, and ratites entering interstate public shows; and horses entering paramutual racetracks. Certificates are also required to enter the state for all sheep, goats, ratites, exotic livestock and most livestock that are sexually intact. Texas Farm Bureau policy opposes Texas Animal Health Commission user fees, but states that if required by the Legislature, they be assessed proportionally.
Finally, Chairman Hardcastle's HB 1362 would implement cost savings for the Commission. The bill eliminates the current requirement of the TAHC to visually inspect every animal sold through livestock markets.
Safeguards are still in place since animals would be subject to inspection by buyers, auction veterinarians, brand inspectors and/or the Commission.
Eliminating this duplicative requirement will provide cost savings and better utilize the Commission's resources.
