AB 374

This bill subjects the fences that enclose deer farms to additional requirements,

especially if chronic wasting disease (CWD) is confirmed in a farm-raised deer that

is kept in captivity on the deer farm. Under the bill, “farm-raised deer” means any

animal of the cervid family, which includes white-tailed deer, non-white-tailed deer,

reindeer, elk, and moose, that is kept in captivity. The bill requires each deer farm

to pay a fee for and hold a fence inspection certificate issued by the Department of

Natural Resources after DNR inspects the fence enclosing the deer farm and

determines that it meets certain requirements. The bill provides that a fence

inspection certificate for a deer farm is valid for two years, except that a fence

inspection certificate for a deer farm is valid for one year if CWD has been confirmed

in a farm-raised deer kept in captivity on that deer farm. Current law requires that

fences enclosing a deer farm meet certain specifications but does not require a fence

inspection certificate for a deer farm unless the deer farm keeps at least one

white-tailed deer. Under current law, the fence inspection certificates for deer farms

keeping white-tailed deer are valid for approximately ten years.

Further, the bill requires deer farms to install an electronic monitoring system,

or other system approved by DNR, on each gate in the perimeter fence enclosing a

deer farm. Additionally, under the bill, if CWD is confirmed in a farm-raised deer,

the deer farm must install, within 30 days, either 1) a double-perimeter fence, with

each layer of the fence meeting the mandatory specifications; or 2) an electric fence

that meets requirements established by DNR by rule.

The bill requires that if the farm-raised deer kept on a deer farm have been

removed because CWD is confirmed at that deer farm, the operator of the deer farm,

or the landowner, must maintain the fences enclosing the deer farm until DNR and

the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection certify that the deer

farm has been free of CWD prions for five years. If a fence fails to meet the

specifications under the bill, DNR must issue an order to the person who is required

to maintain the fence to bring it into compliance within ten days. The bill grants

DNR authority to inspect the fence enclosing deer farms containing

non-white-tailed deer at any time. DNR has authority under current law to inspect

the fences enclosing white-tailed deer farms at any time.