An Act Regarding the Slaughter of Animals
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0057
Committee Amendment CA_A_H43 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A " 
to H.P. 55, L.D. 57, Bill, "An Act Regarding 
the Slaughter of Animals" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Develop and Promote Enhanced Humane Livestock Handling 
and Slaughtering Practices' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to 
develop enhanced humane livestock handling and slaughtering practices. 
Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, referred 
to in this resolve as "the commissioner," shall engage an animal behaviorist specializing 
in the design of slaughtering facilities and methods of slaughter to conduct a workshop on 
enhanced humane livestock handling and slaughtering practices. The commissioner shall 
notifY commercial and custom slaughtering facilities licensed under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, section 2514 and livestock producers throughout the State of the 
location and date for the workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to serve as an 
educational forum and a step in the development of enhanced voluntary guidelines for 
humane slaughter. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall 
develop enhanced voluntary humane handling and slaughter guidelines, to be known as 
"Maine Humane," and report on the guidelines to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than January 2, 2008. The commissioner 
also shall provide the committee with a proposed strategy for voluntary implementation 
of the guidelines; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Legislation authorized. Resolved: That the Joint Standing Committee 
on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit legislation regarding enhanced 
humane livestock handling and slaughtering practices and certification and labeling of 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 55, L.D. 57 
meat products from slaughterhouses adhering to these voluntary practices to the Second 
Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Priority in awarding grants from the Agricultural Development 
Fund. Resolved: That, notwithstanding criteria established in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 7, section 306-A, subsection 3 and rules adopted in accordance with that 
subsection, for the 2 grant cycles of the Agricultural Development Fund under that 
section following the effective date of this resolve, the commissioner shall give priority to 
applicants seeking funds to modify or construct slaughterhouse facilities to comply with 
the voluntary guidelines for enhanced humane handling and slaughtering practices 
developed under this resolve.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the bill to a resolve. The resolve directs the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to conduct a workshop and develop guidelines 
for enhanced voluntary humane livestock handling and slaughtering practices. 
It 
authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to 
submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. It also directs 
the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to give priority to applicants 
to the Agricultural Development Fund who are seeking funding to modify or construct 
slaughterhouse facilities to implement the guidelines for enhanced humane handling and 
slaughtering practices. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/01107 frac:.. 
LD57 
LR 331(02) 
An Act Regarding the Slaughter of Animals 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR0331(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1