The act removes the phrase "or sheep" from provisions of law relating to certain animals running at large.
Before August 28, 2021, any person who knowingly or recklessly releases any swine to live in the wild or possesses or transports certain live wild boar or wild-caught swine without a permit from the Department of Agriculture is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Beginning August 28, 2021, such acts shall be a Class E felony.
The act repeals a definition for "feral hog" and replaces it with a definition for "feral swine". Additionally, the term "feral hog" is replaced with "feral swine" throughout the act.
Any person who takes or kills a feral swine on public or private land without the consent of the landowner or with the use of an artificial light is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Finally, the act repeals rulemaking authority for the Director of the Department of Agriculture for health standards for certain wild swine and repeals provisions of law creating the Animal Health Fund.
This act is substantially similar to HB 508 (2021) and is similar to SB 1059 (2020) and HCS/HB 1798 (2020).
JAMIE ANDREWS
Statutes affected: