COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed the legislation making the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board a reality March 31.
State Representative Allan Sayre sponsored the bill, which creates the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board and establishes the terms of office for the 13 members of the board.
Bill is now law
The bill, which was a constitutional amendment passed by voters in November 2009, requires the board to adopt rules governing the care and well-being of livestock in Ohio, including best management practices, and establishes the amount of civil penalties to be assessed against people who violate the rules.
Funding
The Ohio Department of Agriculture will absorb the cost of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board including the cost of the investigations.
The bill also requires the Director of Agriculture to assist the board by helping perform the necessary duties to administer the bill.
Now that the bill is signed, Strickland will be able to start appointing members to the board.
Appointments
The appointments are expected to be made fairly quickly. The governor will be responsible for 11 of the appointments to the board.
To be considered for the board, individuals can go to the governor’s Web site and fill out an application.
Future hearings
The board will hold its initial meeting and then will schedule at least four public meetings across the state during the summer months and have the standards ready by the November election. The public hearings will be to collect input the board can use to create standards.
