Public hearing scheduled for proposed animal health regulations

A public hearing will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Dec. 11 to consider the adoption of proposed regulations within the Animal Facilities Inspection Program. The hearing will be held in room 124 on the first floor of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Dr. in Manhattan.

Due to the passage of HB 2477 by the 2018 Kansas Legislature, KDA’s AFI program is proposing amendments to K.A.R. 9-18-6, 9-18-9, and 9-18-28. The primary changes made to the Pet Animal Act by HB 2477 include increasing the fee caps for licensed facilities, adding fees for no-contact inspections and follow-up inspections due to failed inspections (re-inspection fees), removing the ability to provide notice prior to inspections, and removing the fees for the licensure of pet animal foster homes. In addition to these changes, the AFI program has also proposed amendments that more clearly outline the routine inspection policy.

The regulations can be found at the KDA website, agriculture.ks.gov/ProposedRegs. Written comments can be submitted prior to the hearing at that webpage as well.

All interested persons may attend the hearing and will be given the opportunity to express comments orally on the adoptions of the proposed regulations during the hearing. In order to give all parties an opportunity to present their views, it may be necessary to request that each participant limit any oral presentation to five minutes. Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least five days prior to the hearing. For more information, including special accommodations or a copy of the regulations, please contact Ronda Hutton, 785-564-6715.