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APHIS Headquarters located in Riverdale, Maryland |
Contact Information
Hallie Zimmers
State Liaison, APHIS
Legislative and Public Affairs
202-720-0378 (ph)
202-720-3982 (fax)
hallie.zimmers@aphis.usda.gov
Jacob Hegeman
State
Liaison, APHIS
Legislative
and Public Affiars
202-720-6794
202-720-3982
jacob.hegeman@aphis.usda.gov
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For the August 2009 edition of "APHIS News for States", we decided to take a look at a few pieces of enacted State legislation from the 2009 session that bear upon Animal and Plant health issues. While by no means comprehensive, we thought this might be of interest to you. If you would like more information on any of the bills summarized here, please just let us know. We’ll be back to our regular format in September.
Utah H.B. 183
This bill allows the State Department of Agriculture to participate in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), but prohibits it from requiring a person to participate in a system that requires livestock premise registration, identification, or tracking. Additionally, the bill prohibits the Department from withholding indemnity based solely on nonparticipation in NAIS, or denying, revoking, or limiting a service, license, permit, grant, or other benefit to a person who does not participate in NAIS. It also provides that the Department, if necessary, may adopt a rule to implement NAIS if it becomes mandatory by federal law, but that the rule can be no more stringent than the federal program.
Kentucky H.B. 302
This bill defines “reportable disease” and prohibits a person possessing a domestic animal with a reportable disease from transporting the animal without the permission or approval of the State Veterinarian. It also directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a regulation listing all reportable diseases of livestock, poultry and fish and set out the conditions under which the diseases must be reported.
Montana H.B. 247
This bill amends the definition of natural beef under the Montana-certified natural beef cattle marketing program to strike the word “subtherapeutic” antibiotics, thus excluding any antibiotic from being used in Montana-certified natural beef.
Nevada A.B. 242
Existing Nevada law requires owners or agents in charge of infected animals, inspectors of the State Department of Agriculture and practicing veterinarians to notify the State Quarantine Officer immediately if they have knowledge of any animal infected with any infectious, contagious or parasitic disease, but requires that this notification of disease to be kept confidential except in certain circumstances. The bill expands the exceptions to the confidentiality requirement to include instances in which the reported disease is trichomoniasis in cattle.
North Dakota H.B. 1009
This appropriations bill includes a requirement that the state board of animal health increase the number of health permit inspections on livestock entering the state for the biennium beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2011. As part of the program, the board shall provide public information on the results of the livestock health permit inspections.
Texas H.B. 4006
This bill adds bovine trichomoniasis, equine herpes virus-1, and equine viral arteritis to the list of diseases that a vet is required to report within 24 hours of diagnosis.
West Virginia H.B. 2690:
This bill outlines indemnity requirements for the euthanization of infected or exposed animals.
Wyoming S.F. 0032
This bill directs the Wyoming livestock board to establish a brucellosis surveillance program in the board’s designated surveillance area. The bill requires that the spaying of heifers and adult vaccinations be done only to the extent necessary to maintain or regain the State’s brucellosis-free status. The bill also sets out compensation requirements for accredited veterinarians performing surveillance testing, spaying of heifers and adult vaccinations.
Wyoming S.F. 0032
This bill directs the Wyoming livestock board to develop a livestock health and emergency disease response program, including prevention, surveillance and investigation of livestock diseases through naturally occurring events or acts of agroterrorism.
Indiana HB 1468:
This bill authorizes the State board of animal health to establish a registry of commercial dog brokers and commercial dog breeders and establishes requirements for these entities. The bill defines a “commercial dog breeder” as a person who maintains more than 20 unaltered female dogs at least 12 months of age and a "commercial dog broker" as a person who is licensed under federal law and sells at least 500 dogs in a calendar year. Commercial breeders and brokers are required to register with the board annually. The bill also authorizes the board to enforce USDA and other standards when sufficient fees have been deposited in the State’s breeder and broker fund to permit enforcement, and grants the board the authority to enforce the commercial breeder provisions by seeking injunctive relief or a civil penalty.
Kentucky H.B. 302
This bill defines “abandon” as to forsake entirely, or to neglect or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for care and support of an animal by its owner or his agent.
Nebraska L.B. 494
This bill requires that any animal health care professional, while acting in their professional capacity or within the scope of their employment, who observes or is involved in an incident which leads them to reasonably suspect that an animal has been abandoned, cruelly neglected, or cruelly mistreated, report such treatment to an entity that investigates such reports in the appropriate jurisdiction.
Tennessee H.B. 0386
This bill makes it an offense for any commercial breeder to advertise, sell, offer to sell, transport or offer for transportation any companion animal unless the commercial breeder has a valid license from the commissioner of agriculture and has complied with all rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The bill defines "commercial breeder" as a person who possesses or maintains at least 20 female dogs in order to sell their offspring as companion animals. Additionally, the bill makes certain actions by commercial breeders a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.
Washington S.B. 5974
This bill establishes that any person who knowingly transports or accepts delivery of live nonambulatory livestock to, from, or between any livestock market, feedlot, slaughtering facility, or similar facility that trades in livestock has committed a civil infraction.
Nebraska L.B. 246
This bill directs the Legislature’s Natural Resource Committee to develop a statewide strategic plan for biotechnology. The bill defines “biotechnology” as “the technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives of biological systems or living organisms to make or modify products or processes for specific use.”
Nuisance/Invasive Species |
Indiana SB 424:
This bill includes pests and pathogens that are injurious to natural resources in the definition of "pest or pathogen" for purposes of certain laws concerning entomology and plant pathology. It provides that the director of the department of natural resources may prescribe the boundaries of an area where a pest or pathogen is located and to declare the area to be an infested area.
New Mexico H.B. 0594
This bill adds language to the State livestock code that provides that no person shall import into the state, transport within the state, hold for breeding, release or sell a live feral hog or operate a commercial feral hog hunting enterprise. The bill defines "feral hog" as a pig that exists in an untamed state from domestication."
North Dakota H.B.1110
This bill establishes that the state board of animal health is responsible for the control and eradication of feral swine on state and private lands in North Dakota. It defines “feral swine” as a “hog, boar or pig that appears to be untamed or undomesticated; appears to have reverted from a domesticated to a wild state; and is freeroaming.” The bill prohibits the import, transport or possession of live feral swine and outlines provisions for notifying the board of the presence of feral swine. The bill also prohibits the hunting or trapping of feral swine by anyone other than a state or federal agency or person authorized by a state or federal agency to engage in the control or eradication of feral swine.
Oregon H.B. 2212
This bill defines “plant pest” and authorizes the State Department of Agriculture to adopt rules requiring the use of measures to control the spread of a specific plant pest that is not the subject of a quarantine. It also restricts movement of plant pests and permits the State Department of Agriculture to conduct research to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests into or within the state.
Texas H.B. 865:
This bill establishes the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee. It defines "Invasive species" as a “species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction to the ecosystem causes or has been demonstrated to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health.” Humans, domestic and exotic livestock, and non-harmful exotic organisms are not defined as invasive species.
Vermont H.B. 348
This bill enacts the Interstate Pest Control Compact into State law. It defines “pest” as any “invertebrate animal, pathogen, parasitic plant, or similar or allied organism which can cause disease or damage in any crops, trees, shrubs, grasses, or other plants of substantial value.” The Compact establishes an insurance fund that member States may access for “other than normal pest control operations.”
Wyoming S.F. 0008
This bill outlines procedures for the identification and management of feral livestock. The bill authorizes the director of the State Livestock Board or the State veterinarian to order the destruction of feral livestock if they determine the livestock are likely to be infected with or able to spread any infectious or contagious disease or are causing damage to public or private property. This bill also prevents any future indemnity or payment to the owner for the destruction of any feral livestock destroyed in accordance with the bill’s provisions.
Georgia SB 110
This bill creates an exception to a prohibition against trapping wildlife upon the rights of way of public roads or highways to allow for the trapping of beaver for the purpose of preventing, reducing, or stopping damage to highways, roads, or streets resulting from beaver activity.
USDA Employee Feature: Jennifer Yezak, Intergovernmental Affairs |
 Name: Jennifer Yezak
Title: Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Tell us about your role: The USDA Office of Intergovernmental Affairs works with the Nation's Governors, State Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of Agriculture, other State, county, local, and Tribal officials on issues affecting America’s food and agriculture. The office plays a key role in disseminating information related to the implementation of USDA policies and procedures. It also serves as a link to resources that can accurately address questions and concerns. The office serves as a contact point for national and local organizations, as well as leaders at all levels of government while also functioning as a liaison to the White House and other executive branch agencies and departments. The overall goal is to ensure that accurate information is relayed in an efficient manner.
How long have you worked at USDA: On June 15, 2009, I started as director. However, I previously worked for USDA from 1993-2000 where I worked for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; served as a confidential assistant to the Under Secretaries for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Research, Education, and Economics; and was the executive director of the National Commission on Small Farms, an advisory committee to then Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman.
Education: Master of Agriculture, Agricultural Development, Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Education, Texas A&M University
Most Memorable USDA experience: While executive director of the National Commission on Small Farms, which had 29 members, seven hearings and meetings were held across the country and a report with 146 recommendations to Secretary Dan Glickman was completed within seven months, July 1997 to January 1998.
Priorities for the coming months: Agriculture Secretary TomVilsack is leading the Obama Administration's Rural Tour. Over the next several months, Secretary Vilsack will be joined by top administration officials, including several Cabinet Secretaries, at discussions throughout the country about how the USDA and other federal agencies are working to strengthen and revitalize rural America. Our office will lead outreach efforts to ensure participation in the Rural Tours. For more information check www.ruraltours.gov. Our office will continue to build relationships with government leaders and identify ways to collaborate with them as well as other federal departments on food, agriculture and nutrition issues.
Last good book read: Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite movie: It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Hobbies: Attending baseball and football games; dancing; playing dominoes
All Agency vacancies are posted on the APHIS Web site. To view the entire list of APHIS vacancies go to www.aphis.usda.gov. Under Related Topics click on Find a Job in APHIS. The positions highlighted below are for relevant positions that are at the GS-13 level and above.
Position: Agronomist/Biotechnologist
Location: Riverdale, MD
Pay Plan: GS-0401-13/14
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 7, 2009
Position: Outreach and Communications Program Specialist
Location: Riverdale, MD
Pay Plan: GS-0301-12/13
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 10, 2009
Position: Veterinary Medical Officer/Animal Scientist
Location: Riverdale, MD
Pay Plan: GS-0487/0701-11/14
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 12, 2009
Position: Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (AVIC)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Pay Plan: GS-0701-15/15
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 17, 2009
Position: Management & Program Analyst
Location: Riverdale, MD
Pay Plan: GS-0343-13/14
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 17, 2009
Position: Management Analyst
Location: Riverdale, MD
Pay Plan: GS-0343-11/13
Who May Apply: All U.S. citizens
Position Closes: August 17, 2009
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