SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2608
As Amended by House Committee of the Whole
Brief*
HB 2608, as amended, would make changes to the
Poultry Disease Control Act (Act).
[Note: The Act was established to cooperate with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture in the administration of the
National Poultry Improvement Plan (National Plan), a
national, voluntary, and cooperative federal, state, and
industry program that uses disease control and prevention
strategies to improve the poultry and poultry products
produced by participants. The National Plan started in 1935,
and Kansas opted in officially in 1945.]

Annual Participation Fee
The bill would require a participation fee to be paid by
each person participating in the National Plan. The fee could
not exceed $50. Payment of the fee would allow participation
in the National Plan, subject to all other requirements, for one
year following the date of paying the fee.
The bill would state that failure to pay the annual
participation fee within a 60-day grace period following the
date the fee becomes due could result in revocation of a
National Plan hatchery or U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T) Clean
designation.
[Note: According to the Kansas Department of
Agriculture (KDA), P-T is a disease caused by a Salmonella
species that infects poultry. It is egg-transmitted and can
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
produce high death loss in hatchlings and young birds. Birds
that survive an infection are usually carriers for life and a
source of the disease for other birds. The disease has been
nearly eliminated from poultry flocks in the United States
because of the National Plan. Kansas is a “Pullorum-Typhoid
Clean State.”]

Pullorum-Typhoid Testing; Fees
The bill would require each person performing any P-T
testing to annually obtain certification from the KDA’s Animal
Health Commissioner (Commissioner) to perform testing or
poultry disease diagnostic services and pay a certification fee
that could not exceed $50. The certification would expire on
September 30 following its issuance.
The bill would require each person requesting the
Commissioner, or an authorized agent of the Commissioner,
to perform testing or diagnostic services related to P-T to pay
a fee that could not exceed $100 for each visit to each
location participating in the National Plan before any testing is
performed.
In addition, any testing or diagnostic services related to
P-T that would be performed other than by the Commissioner,
an authorized agent of the Commissioner, or an individual
certified pursuant to this section of the bill would not be
considered sufficient to support a National Plan hatchery or
U.S. P-T Clean designation, pursuant to the National Plan.

Administration and Enforcement Authority
The bill would authorize the Commissioner to administer
and enforce the Act.


2- 2608
Technical and Clarifying Amendments
The bill would also make technical and clarifying
amendments and update references to federal law.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Agriculture and Natural Resources at the request of the
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
In the House Committee hearing, the Deputy Secretary
of Agriculture and a representative of the Kansas Livestock
Association (KLA) provided proponent testimony on the bill.
The Deputy Secretary explained the National Plan and that
KDA’s Division of Animal Health has provided services to
businesses and individuals at no cost. The representative for
KLA stated the KDA’s Animal Disease Control Fund, which
currently pays for poultry disease control measures, is funded
by the cattle and swine industries, and the bill would allow for
the poultry industry to contribute to the Fund.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to remove two
references to “poultry disease” diagnostic services and
replace with diagnostic services “related to pullorum typhoid.”

House Committee of the Whole
The House Committee of the Whole amended the bill to
remove the Commissioner’s authority to adopt rules and
regulations to administer and enforce the Act.


3- 2608
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the KDA estimates the
bill would have a fiscal effect on the expenditures and
revenues of the agency. The KDA notes these services are
currently provided at no charge and estimates enactment of
the bill would generate new total fee revenue of $18,250 in
both FY 2025 and FY 2026.
New fee revenue for the participation fee is estimated to
be $7,500 in both FY 2025 and FY 2026 (150 flock owners X
$50 = $7,500). New fee revenue for the certification fee is
estimated to be $3,750 in both FY 2025 and FY 2026 (75
certified testers X $50 = $3,750). New fee revenue for the
testing fee is estimated to be $7,000 in both FY 2025 and FY
2026 (70 location participants X $100 = $7,000). The KDA
indicates the new fees would partially offset the estimated
total expenses of $35,500 in FY 2025 and $40,500 in FY
2026 for field veterinarian routine surveillance salaries,
agency administrative staff, and antigen supplies. The KDA
would use other fee funds to cover the shortfall.
Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not reflected
in The FY 2025 Governor’s Budget Report.
Agriculture; poultry disease control; Pullorum-Typhoid; fees; Animal Health
Commissioner; Kansas Department of Agriculture


4- 2608


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 2-910, 2-912, 2-914, 2-915
As Amended by House Committee: 2-910, 2-912, 2-914, 2-915
{As Amended by House Committee of the Whole}: 2-910, 2-912, 2-914, 2-915