HF 503 (LSB 1790HV (1) 86)

HOUSE FILE 503

BY  COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 168)

A BILL FOR

An Act excluding certain show animals from formulas used to calculate the capacity of animal feeding operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 459.201, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  A show animal entered in a program or project sponsored by 4-H or the national FFA organization or one of its chapters, including but not limited to an exhibition, contest, or fair event, shall not be included in calculating animal weight capacity, animal units, or animal unit capacity.
    Sec. 2.  Section 459.301, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  A show animal described in section 459.201 shall not be included in calculating animal weight capacity, animal units, or animal unit capacity.
    Sec. 3.  Section 459A.103, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  A show animal described in section 459.201 shall not be included in calculating animal units or animal unit capacity.
    Sec. 4.  Section 459B.103, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6.  A show animal described in section 459.201 shall not be included in calculating animal units or animal unit capacity.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   GENERAL. This bill provides that certain show animals are not to be counted when computing the animal capacity of an animal feeding operation regulated by the department of natural resources. In order to not to be counted, the animal must be entered in a program or project sponsored by 4-H or the national FFA organization or one of its chapters, such as an exhibition, contest, or fair event.
   BACKGROUND. The applicability and scope of regulation often depends upon the size of an animal feeding operation which is either measured by animal weight capacity or animal unit capacity. An animal feeding operation is an area in which animals (cattle, swine, horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys, or fish) are maintained for at least 45 days. Animal weight capacity is the average weight of all animals in a confinement feeding operation when the operation is at full animal capacity. Animal unit capacity is determined by multiplying the maximum number of each category of animal species that may be confined at one time by an equivalency factor assigned to that category and then adding those sums together.