KRS § 257.472 — KY Code / Title XXI / Chapter 257 / Section 257.472
257.472 Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council -- Duties -- Members -- Meetings -- Construction of KRS 257.472 to 257.476
Status: in_force

257.472 Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council -- Duties -- Members --

Meetings -- Construction of KRS 257.472 to 257.476.

(1) The Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council is hereby established and shall

be attached to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes

only. The council shall:

(a) Assist, advise, and consult with the commission created by KRS 257.192 on

equine health and welfare issues;

(b) Act to maintain the health, welfare, and safety of equines in the

Commonwealth; and

(c) Carry out the duties assigned to the council in KRS 257.474.

(2) The council shall be composed of thirteen (13) voting members and two (2)

nonvoting ex officio members as follows:

(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture or his or her designee;

(b) The state veterinarian or his or her designee;

(c) One (1) representative of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

Equine Initiative to be designated by the dean of the University of Kentucky

College of Agriculture;

(d) One (1) representative of the University of Louisville Equine Industry

Program to be designated by the dean of the College of Business;

(e) One (1) representative of equine education programs chosen by Morehead

State University, Murray State University, or Western Kentucky University

on a rotating basis at the pleasure of the university to serve a one (1) year

term;

(f) The executive director of the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease

Diagnostic Center, or his or her designee, or the executive director of the

Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center, or his or her designee,

who shall serve one (1) year terms on a rotating basis;

(g) One (1) representative of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation with an

interest in equine issues;

(h) One (1) veterinarian representing the Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare

Alliance Inc.;

(i) One (1) member representing the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association;

(j) One (1) member to be appointed by the Governor from a list of three (3)

nominees submitted by the Kentucky Horse Council;

(k) One (1) member representing organized horse rescue entities to be selected by

the Governor from a listing of those who apply for membership on the

council;

(l) Two (2) members at large who live in diverse regions of the state to be

appointed by the Governor. Each member at large shall primarily represent

one (1) of the following:

1. Equine breeders and owners; and

2. Agricultural interests;

(m) The chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, who shall serve

as a nonvoting ex officio member; and

(n) The chair of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Small

Business, who shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member.

(3) Initial terms of members serving under subsection (2)(c), (d), and (g) to (l) of this

section shall be staggered by the Governor. Thereafter, terms shall be for four (4)

years or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. Vacancies on the

council shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner

as the original appointment.

(4) Consideration shall be given to racial and gender equity in the appointment of

council members.

(5) The council shall elect one (1) of its members to serve as chair for a term of two (2)

years.

(6) The council shall meet quarterly or upon the call of the chair. The first meeting of

the council shall occur at the beginning of the quarter following appointments to the

council.

(7) A quorum of the council shall consist of seven (7) voting members. A majority of

the voting members present may act upon matters before the council.

(8) Members of the council shall serve without compensation.

(9) Nothing in KRS 257.472 to 257.476 shall be construed to infringe upon the

regulatory authority of:

(a) The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation to inspect, investigate,

and supervise horses and other participants in horse racing and breeders

incentive funds as provided by KRS Chapter 230, administrative regulations

promulgated under KRS Chapter 230, or any other law applicable to the

regulation of horse racing in the Commonwealth;

(b) The Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to license and certify

veterinarians as provided by KRS Chapter 321, administrative regulations

promulgated under KRS Chapter 321, or any other law applicable to the

regulation of veterinarians in the Commonwealth; or

(c) The Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission to make

recommendations to the Board of Agriculture to establish, maintain, or revise

standards governing the care and well-being of on-farm livestock and poultry,

or any other authority of the commission authorized under this chapter.