Bill No.: HB0207                  Drafter:  JWL

 

LSO No.:  05LSO-0443              Effective Date:  7/1/2005

 

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0051

 

Chapter No.:       107

 

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Philp

 

Catch Title:       Livestock records-confidentiality.

 

Subject:  Provides for confidentiality of livestock records as specified.

 

Summary/Major Elements:

 

·        This act is enacted in anticipation of a national livestock identification program, currently being developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) threat.  The act:

 

o       Provides that all records collected by the state for a national livestock identification program are confidential and not public records;

 

o       Prohibits release of records to a federal agency until the agency confirms that the records are exempt from the federal Freedom of Information Act;

 

o       Provides an exception to confidentiality to the extent useful in controlling or preventing a disease outbreak;

 

o       Provides that knowingly providing false information to the livestock board for purposes of a national livestock identification program, or refusing to provide required information, is a misdemeanor.