Brief (1)
SB 532 would require that any person who owns or operates an electronic auction for livestock which is simulcast into the state and at which livestock located in the state are offered for sale to obtain a license from the Livestock Commissioner. The bill would be issued when the operator meets the statutory bond requirements and has paid an annual fee. The fee could not be more than $40 per year. Electronic auctions would include auctions conducted by satellite and those conducted over the Internet.
The bill also would require the operator of an electronic auction to collect from the consignor the per head fee on all horses, mules, cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats sold if the livestock are located in the state. This fee is set by statute at not more than $0.15 per head and currently is imposed on livestock at public livestock markets and is credited to the Animal Disease Control Fund.
Finally, the bill would require that all livestock sold by a licensed electronic auction, before being delivered to an out-of-state buyer, have a health certificate issued by a licensed, accredited veterinarian. Kansas buyers would be furnished health certificates upon request.
Background
This bill was introduced at the request of the Livestock Commissioner. At the hearing on the bill, the Commissioner told the Committee that a major source of funding for the Animal Health Department has been the market fees imposed and that this number has declined, in part, because other options for the marketing of livestock have developed. He noted that the Kansas Animal Health Board believes that all livestock auctions should help provide support. A spokesperson representing the Kansas Livestock Association also appeared in support of the bill. There were no opponents.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture amended the bill to clarify when health certificates would be issued.
The Animal Health Department estimates that three satellite auctions and four websites are involved in electronic livestock auctions in Kansas. Based on these estimates, the agency would receive $280 for license fees and approximately $15,000 for the per-animal fee. These fees would be credited to the Animal Disease Control Fund. The agency indicated that, other than routine clerical time, no additional expenditures would be incurred.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html