Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/02/2006 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB318 | |
| HB380 | |
| HB105 | |
| HB16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 318 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 380 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 218 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 380(RES)
"An Act relating to the powers and duties of the
commissioner of environmental conservation regarding
animals, animal products, agricultural products, and the
transportation of animals and animal products; relating to
the employment, appointment, and duties of a state
veterinarian by the commissioner of environmental
conservation; relating to the powers of the commissioner of
natural resources regarding agricultural products; relating
to animal rabies prevention and control; and providing for
an effective date."
9:32:11 AM
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
MICHAEL PAWLOWSKI, Staff to Representative Kevin Meyer, the
bill's sponsor, communicated that many "working groups" met over
the Legislative interim to develop this bill, which would revise
State Statutes pertaining to "the powers of the State
Veterinarian and our animals and animal product Statutes".
Mr. Pawlowski informed the Committee that the majority of the
State's animal Statutes were established prior to 1949 when the
majority of "animals were considered livestock". Over time, "the
definition of what an animal or animal product is" has changed
and State Statutes must evolve to reflect current circumstances.
In addition, such things as Avian influenza and other zoonotic
diseases must be considered.
Mr. Pawlowski proclaimed that the authorities provided to the
Department of Environmental Conservation by existing Statutes
were deemed "inadequate and the definitions were unclear". As a
result, "the State was not in a position to react accordingly in
the event of a crisis". This bill "would repeal and reenact the
majority of the provisions of Title 3 as they relate to animals
and animal products and the power of our State Veterinarian".
Mr. Pawlowski contended the changes made to the bill during its
committee hearing process produced a good product. The bill
would have no fiscal impact. This bill "is one piece of the
puzzle" through which to address the threat to humans from Avian
influenza and other zoonotic diseases, which could be
transmitted by exposure to domestic animals.
9:33:50 AM
Co-Chair Green asked for further information about issues that
were addressed during the bill's hearing process.
9:34:05 AM
Mr. Pawlowski shared that the State's agricultural community had
raised concerns. He praised the efforts of the Senate Resources
Committee, chaired by Senator Ralph Seekins, in addressing those
concerns. To that point, he referenced language in Section
1(b)(3) and (4) beginning on page 2 line 29 and continuing
through page 3, line 2 of SCS CS HB 381(RES), Version 24-
LS1469\L. This language addressed the procedure through which
the State would quarantine or destroy an animal. Existing
"Statutes are completely inadequate", as they would provide
compensation only for dairy cattle. The compensation levels,
ranging from $300 to $500 per animal were also limited by
judicial district. The value of dairy cattle today far exceeds
that value. Thus, the definition of animal was expanded to align
with the federal indemnity payments of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) program.
Mr. Pawlowski stated that further consideration was provided to
address the diversity of animals found in Alaska, such as
reindeer, which might not be included for compensation in the
federal indemnity program. The compensation would be subject to
appropriation. This would "create a vehicle" through which the
Legislature could, in an emergency, provide support to the
industry and a community "to solve a problem that really wasn't
of their making".
Co-Chair Green noted that this would address the concern that
Committee members might have heard from constituents.
In response to a comment from Co-Chair Green, Mr. Pawlowski
directed attention to another provision in the bill that had
evoked concern: the ability of the DEC commissioner to appoint
individuals other than the State's Veterinarian to enforce or
manage provisions in Title 3. This language is located in
Section 1(b)(2), page 2 lines 25-28. The Senate Resources
committee substitute addressed this concern by incorporating on
lines 26 and 27 of that subsection, the requirement that the
appointed individuals must act under the direction of the State
Veterinarian.
Mr. Pawlowski stated that were there an Avian influenza outbreak
or a foot and mouth outbreak in a reindeer herd, the State
Veterinarian must possess the authority to work with municipal
officials and local veterinarians, and act as the responsible
party in overseeing any action being taken, including the
actions of an appointed individual.
9:36:51 AM
BOB GERLACK, State Veterinarian, Office of the State
Veterinarian, Division of Environmental Health, Department of
Environmental Conservation, testified via teleconference from an
offnet site. Current State Statutes would allow the State
Veterinarian to control the spread of contagious disease
provided it originated with livestock, commercial poultry or
animals of fur farms. This bill would expand this authority to
help protect both domestic and wildlife animal resources as well
as public health in the State.
Mr. Gerlack stated that this bill would complement HB 95-PUBLIC
HEALTH DISASTERS/EMERGENCIES, which was enacted in the year
2005. That bill allowed "public health officials to control the
spread of contagious and potentially deadly diseases in people".
Mr. Gerlack informed that the regulations in place to control
infectious diseases in animals were reviewed in the past. The
determination was that they created "an artificial system", as
they treated diseases in livestock, wildlife, pets and people as
separate issues. "The fact is that infectious diseases are
rarely restricted to an individual group or species of animals."
They could not be "contained by artificial or geographic
boundary" and "could spread very rapidly". The emergence and
rapid spread of new diseases in this century has presented "new
challenges for the management and control of animals and public
health diseases". More than "70 percent of recent infections
affecting people are zoonotic diseases", which are diseases that
originate in animals but could inflect people. Zoonotic diseases
could, on a large scale, negatively impact animal health, food
supplies, human health and local and national economies. This
should be a concern to all people and industry.
Mr. Gerlack proclaimed that diseases could spread into Alaska by
the importation of animals or animal products such as dairy,
meats, animal feed, or domestic or wild animal movement. Animals
could easily transverse the border between Alaska and Canada.
Migrating waterfowl could introduce Avian influenza or the West
Nile virus into the State. The State Veterinarian must be
provided the authority and tools to protect people and animal
resources in the State. The current authority is limited in
regards to infectious disease control. In addition, no State
agency has the authority to manage all groups or categories of
animals including domestic livestock, pets, exotic or wild
animals. This authority is urgently needed in order to control
threats to the State's animal resources or public health.
9:40:58 AM
DR. LOUISA CASTRODALE, Division of Public Health, Department of
Health and Social Services, testified via teleconference from
Anchorage on behalf of Dr. Richard Mandsager, Director of the
Division. The Division, which works closely with the State
Veterinarian's office on disease investigations that affect both
animal and human health, fully supports this bill, as it would
strengthen the collaborative effort.
9:41:40 AM
CHRISTIAN RYAN, Director, Division of Environmental Health,
Department of Environmental Conservation, was available to
respond to questions.
Co-Chair Green asked which change to the bill was most
significant in achieving support for it.
Ms. Ryan responded that, during the bill's evolution, "a lot of
changes were made to make people more accepting of the
legislation". Broadening the definition of which animals could
be quarantined by the State from livestock to all animals had
tremendous impact; however, many people were supportive of the
bill due to fear of the Avian flu and other diseases that might
occur. The addition of the indemnity clause through which the
State could reimburse people for animals that might be taken
also satisfied many concerns. The addition of the language
specifying that no action could be taken without the approval of
the State Veterinarian was also an important element. These
conditions appear to satisfy the concerns.
Co-Chair Green noted the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had
provided a pamphlet [copy on file] titled "A Field Guide To
Common Wildlife Diseases and Parasites in Alaska".
9:43:13 AM
Senator Bunde moved to report the bill from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, SCS CS HB 380(RES) was REPORTED from
Committee with previous zero fiscal note #1 dated February 6,
2006 from the Department of Environmental Conservation.
AT EASE 9:44:14 AM / 9:46:12 AM
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