February 7, 2024 - Introduced by Senators Testin, Ballweg and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Mursau, Brandtjen, Edming, Green and O’Connor. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
SB994,,22An Act to create 90.21 (5m) of the statutes; relating to: providing grants for double-fencing of farm-raised white-tailed deer. SB994,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, a person who keeps farm-raised deer must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and, if keeping white-tailed deer, must also obtain a fence inspection certificate from the Department of Natural Resources. To obtain a DNR fence inspection certificate, a farm-raised white-tailed deer keeper must meet certain fencing requirements; keepers may choose between maintaining a double perimeter fence or a single solid perimeter fence.
In addition, current DATCP rules require a farm-raised deer herd to be enrolled in DATCP’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) herd status program before a live deer may be moved off the farm to a place other than to slaughter. To maintain enrollment in the herd status program, the herd must be enclosed by a “double protective barrier” if at least two wild deer found or killed within five miles of the farm-raised deer herd have tested positive for CWD. A “double protective barrier” may be either a double fence or a single solid barrier.
This bill provides that, if DNR or DATCP require a person to maintain a double perimeter fence, install a second perimeter fence, or install a solid perimeter fence around a deer farm, DNR must provide the person with a grant equal to the cost of installing the second perimeter fence or solid perimeter fence.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
SB994,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB994,15Section 1. 90.21 (5m) of the statutes is created to read: SB994,,6690.21 (5m) Grants for double fencing. If the department or the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection require a person to maintain a double perimeter fence, install a 2nd perimeter fence, or install a solid perimeter fence around an area containing farm-raised white-tailed deer, the department of natural resources shall provide the person, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (hs), a grant in an amount equal to the cost of installing the second perimeter fence or of installing the solid perimeter fence.
