Senate Bill 891, introduced by Senator Tomczyk and co-sponsored by several representatives, aims to amend existing statutes regarding the quarantine of animals in relation to chronic wasting disease (CWD). The bill specifically prohibits the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) from quarantining animals that belong to species known to neither carry nor be susceptible to CWD, such as fallow deer (Dama dama), based solely on exposure to the disease. This change is intended to protect certain animal species from unnecessary quarantine measures.

The bill includes amendments to sections 29.753 and the creation of new provisions under sections 95.23 and 95.55. Notably, it amends 29.753 to clarify the conditions under which elk can be imported and moved, while also establishing that the department cannot quarantine animals of non-susceptible species based on exposure to CWD. The new legal language inserted into the statutes emphasizes the protection of specific animal species from quarantine actions that are not warranted by their susceptibility to CWD.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 29.753(intro.), 29.753, 29.753(3)