ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: LAG DP 7-0-0-0

---

HB 2673: livestock loss board; avoidance measures

Sponsor:  Representative Griffin, LD 14

House Engrossed

Overview

Allows the Livestock Loss Board (Board) to compensate those who implement avoidance measures to prevent wolf predation on livestock and allows the Livestock Compensation Fund (Fund) to provide compensation for those measures.

History

The Board was created to address wolf depredation on livestock operations and consists of members from the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department), the livestock industry, the wildlife conservation and management community and the state's universities (A.R.S. § 17-491). The Board sets requirements for lessees and livestock operators to demonstrate wolf depredation and to apply and receive compensation for any depredation. Additionally, the Board determines compensation rates, but it is not required to compensate landowners, lessees or livestock operators for wolf depredation. Finally, the Board can coordinate with the Department to investigate wolf depredation on livestock and any corrective measures taken to alleviate property damage caused by wolves (A.R.S. § 17-492).

The Fund compensates landowners, lessees and livestock operators for wolf depredation on livestock and can also be used to compensate these parties if they allow wolves on their private property and accept potential wolf depredation. It consists of federal monies, legislative appropriations, public and private grants and private donations. Monies in this fund must supplement, and not supplant, monies appropriated by the Department (A.R.S. § 17-493).

Provisions

1. Allows the Board to compensate landowners, lessees or livestock operators for implementing avoidance measures to prevent wolf predation on livestock. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that the Board can coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Department when investigating wolf depredation on livestock and any corrective measures taken. (Sec. 1)

3. Allows the Fund to be used for implementing avoidance measures to prevent wolf depredation on livestock. (Sec. 2)

4. Defines avoidance measures as nonlethal actions taken or education provided by livestock owners to reduce the likelihood of livestock depredation. (Sec. 1)

5. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

6.

7.

8. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

9. Initials PAB                       House Engrossed

10.

11. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------