An Act To Amend Certain Animal Health Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1106
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: TWOMEY, JODREY, MAREAN
Amends: 7 MRSA §1751, 7 MRSA §1760

Legislative Document 
No. 1106 
H.P.759 
House of Representatives, March 1,2005 
An Act To Amend Certain Animal Health Laws 
Submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative TWOMEY of Biddeford. 
'/JJdI~ /h.1JldC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: JODREY of Bethel, MAREAN of Hollis. 
Primed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §1751, first,. as amended by PL 1977, c. 78, 
§29, is further amended to read: 
As used in this chapter and chapters 201, 202, 202-A, 207, 
r --W6-
and 305, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following words sha±± have the following meanings+~ 
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §1760 is enacted to read: 
S1760. 
Confidentiality of records 
Records and test results relating to diagnostic tests for 
livestock or poultry diseases performed on samples submitted to 
or obtained by the commissioner pursuant to this chapter, and any 
information reported to the commissioner by any person pursuant 
to this chapter that pertains to diseases among livestock and 
poultry within the State, 
are confidential, except when such 
information concerns diseases that are specifically regulated for 
mandatory control and eradication by the State or the United 
States 
Department 
of 
Agriculture 
or 
when 
release 
of 
such 
information is determined necessary by the commissioner or 
a 
state veterinarian to protect the public health, other livestock 
or wildlife. 
If disclosed pursuant to this section, livestock or 
poultry disease diagnostic test results may not be disclosed in a 
form that identifies the owner unless the commissioner or a state 
veterinarian 
determines 
that 
the 
disclosure 
of 
the 
owner's 
identity is necessary. 
The department may not disclose records 
the department has collected or obtained for the purposes of the 
United 
States 
Department 
of 
Agriculture's 
National 
Animal 
Identification 
System 
unless 
the 
commissioner 
or 
a 
state 
veterinarian determines 
that 
the 
disclosure 
is 
necessary 
to 
protect the public health, other livestock or wildlife. 
Sec.3. 7 MRSA c. 307 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 307 
S1901. 
The 
commissjo~~x ___ 
s~ll develop 
a 
State of 
Maine 
Animal 
Response Team, 
referred to in this section as "the team," to 
support a unifying network that protects human and animal health 
through preparation, response and recovery for animal emergencies 
in the State. 
The team shall facilitate a prompt, coordinated 
and 
effective 
response 
to 
a 
natural 
or 
man-made 
disaster 
affecting animals; 
decrease 
the health and safety threat to 
Page l-LR0309(1) 
humans and animals during animal emergencies; and minimize the 
economic and environmental impacts of animal emergencies. 
§1902. 
The Treasurer of State shall establish a separate account 
known as the State of Maine Animal Response Team Fund. 
This fund 
does not lapse but must be carried forward. 
Funds from this 
account may be used to pay for administrative costs associated 
with section 1311. 
SUMMARY 
The bill establishes the State of Maine Animal Response Team 
to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disease outbreaks 
involving animals. 
It establishes the State of Maine 
Animal 
Response 
Team 
Fund. 
It corrects 
a 
minor 
chapter 
omission 
necessary 
for 
enforcement. 
Finally, 
it 
establishes 
a 
confidentiality 
clause 
to 
protect 
records 
and 
test 
results 
relating to diagnostic tests for livestock or poultry diseases 
performed on samples submitted to or obtained by the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, 
Food and Rural Resources 
and any information 
reported 
to 
the 
commissioner 
or 
the 
commissioner's 
duly 
authorized agents by any person that pertains to diseases among 
livestock and poultry within the State.