Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ut-predator-control-chapter-23-agricultural-and-wildlife-damage-prevention-act
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 18:10:02+00:00

Document:
Summary: This Utah statute is known as the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Act. It creates the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board and Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account. This act also makes it a class B misdemeanor to hold a raccoon or coyote in captivity (with exceptions).
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 236, eff. July 1, 2017.
The Legislature finds and declares that it is important to the economy of the state to maintain agricultural production at the highest possible level and at the same time, to promote, to protect, and preserve the wildlife resources of the state.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 237, eff. July 1, 2017.
(9) “Wildlife” means any form of animal life generally living in a state of nature, except a predatory animal or a depredating animal or bird.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 238, eff. July 1, 2017.
(g) one person from the United States Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Appointees' term of office shall commence June 1.
(3)(a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current board members expire, the governor shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four-year term.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of board members are staggered so that approximately half of the board is appointed every two years.
(5)(a) Attendance of five members at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business.
(b) The board shall convene at the times and places prescribed by the chair or vice chair.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 239, eff. July 1, 2017.
(1) The board is responsible for the formulation of the agricultural and wildlife damage prevention policy of the state and may, consistent with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules to implement the agricultural and wildlife damage prevention policy which shall be administered by the department.
(b) specify methods for the prevention of damage and for the selective control of predators and depredating birds and animals including hunting, trapping, chemical toxicants, and the use of aircraft.
(b) cooperate with federal, state, and local governments, educational institutions, and private persons or organizations, through agreement or otherwise, to effectuate the board's policies.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 240, eff. July 1, 2017.
(2)(a) A state agency or private person may not use any aircraft for the prevention of damage without first obtaining a use permit from the department.
(b) A state agency that contemplates the use of aircraft for the protection of agricultural crops, livestock, poultry, or wildlife shall file an application with the department for an aircraft use permit to enable the agency to issue licenses to personnel within the agency charged with the responsibility to protect such resources.
(c) A person who desires to use privately owned aircraft for the protection of land, water, crops, wildlife, or livestock may not engage in any such protective activity without first obtaining an aircraft permit from the department.
(d) Agencies and private persons that obtain aircraft use permits shall file such reports with the department as it deems necessary in the administration of its licensing authority.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 241, eff. July 1, 2017.
1 16 U.S.C.A. § 742a et seq.
(2) The amount of the fees imposed upon each category of animals specified in this section shall be determined by the board annually on or before January 1 of each year.
(3)(a) Fee brand inspected cattle are subject to a predator control fee upon change of ownership or slaughter.
(b) The fee shall be collected by the local brand inspector at the time of the inspection of cattle, or withheld and paid by the market from proceeds derived from the sale of the cattle.
(c) Cattle that are fee brand inspected prior to confinement to a feedlot are not subject to any subsequent predator control fee.
(4)(a) Fleece of sheared sheep is subject to a predator control fee upon sale of the fleece.
(b)(i) The fee shall be withheld and paid by the marketing agency or purchaser of wool from proceeds derived from the sale of the fleece.
(ii) The department shall enter into cooperative agreements with in-state and out-of-state wool warehouses and wool processing facilities for the collection of predator control fees on the fleece of sheep that graze on private or public range in the state.
(c) The fee shall be based on the number of pounds of wool divided by 10 pounds for white face sheep and five pounds for black face sheep.
(5) Predator control fees on turkey breeding stock shall be paid by the turkey cooperative.
(6)(a) Livestock owners shall pay a predator control fee on any livestock that uses public or private range in the state which is not otherwise subject to the fee under Subsection (3) or (4).
(b) By January 1, the commissioner shall mail to each owner of livestock specified in Subsection (6)(a) a reporting form requiring sufficient information on the type and number of livestock grazed in the state and indicating the fee imposed for each category of livestock.
(c) Each owner shall file the completed form and the appropriate fee with the commissioner before April 1.
(d) If any person who receives the reporting form fails to return the completed form and the imposed fee as required, the commissioner is authorized to commence suit through the office of the attorney general, in a court of competent jurisdiction, to collect the imposed fee, the amount of which shall be as determined by the commissioner.
(7) All fees collected under this section shall be remitted to the department and deposited in the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 242, eff. July 1, 2017.
(1) There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account.
(2) Money received under Section 4-23-107 shall be deposited by the commissioner into the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account to be appropriated for the purposes provided in this chapter.
(3) Any supplemental contributions received by the department from livestock owners for predator control programs shall be deposited into the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 243, eff. July 1, 2017.
(1)(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Subsection (1), the commissioner may spend an amount each year from the proceeds collected from the fee imposed on sheep for the promotion, advancement, and protection of the sheep interests of the state.
(ii) equals or is less than 25 cents per head.
(ii) in consultation with one or more statewide organizations that represent persons who grow wool.
(d) A sheep fee is refundable in an amount equal to that part of the fee used to promote, advance, or protect sheep interests.
(e) A refund claim shall be filed with the department on or before January 1 of the year immediately succeeding the year for which the fee was paid.
(f) A refund claim shall be certified by the department to the state treasurer for payment from the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account created in Section 4-23-108.
(2) Any expense incurred by the department in administering refunds shall be paid from funds allocated for the promotion, advancement, and protection of the sheep interests of the state.
(3)(a) The books, records, and accounts of the Utah Woolgrowers Association, or any other organization which receives funds from the agricultural and wildlife damage prevention account, for the purpose of promoting, advancing, or protecting the sheep interests of the state, shall be audited at least once annually by a licensed accountant.
(b) The results of this audit shall be submitted to the commissioner.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 244, eff. July 1, 2017.
This chapter, unless contrary to a federal statute, shall apply to all federal, state, and private lands.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 245, eff. July 1, 2017.
(1) No individual may hold in captivity a raccoon or coyote, except as provided by rules of the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board.
(2) The Division of Wildlife Resources, with the cooperation of the department and the Department of Health, shall enforce this section.
(3) Any violation of this section is an infraction.
Laws 2017, c. 345, § 246, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2018, c. 433, § 1, eff. May 8, 2018.

References: § 236
 § 237
 § 238
 § 239
 § 240
 § 241
 § 742
 § 242
 § 243
 § 244
 § 245
 § 246
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