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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
appropriation; wolf depredation investigator
Purpose
Appropriates $193,787 and one full-time equivalent position (FTE) from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2024 to the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) for a wolf depredation investigator.
Background
The AZDA Animal Services Division must: 1) exercise general supervision over Arizona's livestock and poultry interests; 2) protect the livestock industry from theft; 3) protect the livestock and poultry industries from contagious and infectious diseases; and 4) protect the public from diseased and unwholesome meat products (A.R.S. § 3-1203).
The nine-member Livestock Loss Board (Board) is charged with addressing the depredation of wolves on livestock operations. The Director of the AZDA or the Director's designee is a member of the Board. The Board may compensate landowners, lessees or livestock operators for: 1) wolf depredation on livestock; 2) implementing avoidance measures to prevent wolf depredation on livestock; and 3) allowing wolves to be present on private property owned or leased by the landowner, lessees or livestock operator and accepting potential wolf depredation on livestock through a pay-for-presence program. The Board may coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and state and federal wildlife agencies to verify wolf depredation on livestock (A.R.S. §§ 17-491 and 17-492).
H.B. 2644 appropriates $193,787 and one FTE from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $193,787 and one FTE from the state GF in FY 2024 to the AZDA to employ an employee with relevant qualifications and experience to investigate wolf depredation on livestock in Arizona.
2. Exempts the appropriation to the AZDA from lapsing.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
LARA 2/13/23 DPA 8-0-1-0
3rd Read 3/9/23 57-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
March 21, 2023
RA/FB/slp