FT 13.06 – Farm Animal Confinement Standards Act (Awaiting signature)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AN ACT
To establish minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens, as well as to ban the sale of veal from calves, pork from breeding pigs, and eggs from hens when the animals are confined to areas below minimum square-feet requirements.

Section 1: Title

This legislation may be cited as the Farm Animal Confinement Standards Act.

Section 2: Definitions

For the purposes of this legislation, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Breeding pig” means any female pig of the porcine species kept for the purpose of commercial breeding, who is 6 months or older or pregnant.

(b) “Business owner or operator” means any person who owns or controls the operations of a business.

(c) “Cage-free housing system” means an indoor or outdoor controlled environment for egg-laying hens within which hens are free to roam unrestricted; are provided enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including, at a minimum, scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas; and within which farm employees can provide care while standing within the hens’ usable floor space.  Cage-free housing systems include, to the extent they comply with the requirements of this subsection:

(1) “Multi-tiered aviaries” in which hens have access to multiple elevated platforms that provide hens with usable floor space both on top of and underneath the platforms;

(2) “Partially-slatted systems” in which hens have access to elevated flat platforms under which manure drops through the flooring to a pit or litter removal belt below;

(3) “Single-level all litter floor systems” bedded with litter, and in which hens have limited or no access to elevated flat platforms; and

(4) Any future systems that will comply with the requirements of this subsection.

(a)(d) “Calf raised for veal” means any calf of the bovine species kept for the purpose of producing the food product described as veal

(e) “Confined in a cruel manner” means any one of the following acts:

(1) Confining a covered animal in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal’s limbs, or turning around freely; or

(2) After December 31, 2020, confining a calf raised for veal with less than 43 square feet of usable floor space per calf; or

(3) After December 31, 2022, confining a breeding pig with less than 24 square feet of usable floor space per pig; or

(4) After December 31, 2020, confining an egg-laying hen with less than 144 square inches of usable floor space per hen.

(b)(f) “Covered animal” means any pig during pregnancy, calf raised for veal, breeding pig, or egg-laying hen who is kept on a farm.

(c)(g) “Egg-laying hen” means any female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea fowl kept for the purpose of egg production.

(d)(h) “Enclosure” means any cage, crate, or other a structure (including what is commonly described as a “gestation crate” for pigs; a “veal crate” for calves; or a “battery cage” for egg laying hens) used to confine a covered animal or animals.

(e)(i) “Farm” means the land, building, support facilities, and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber; and does not include live animal markets, establishments at which mandatory inspection is provided under state or federal law, or official plants at which mandatory inspection is maintained under local or federal law.

(j) “Farm owner or operator” means any person who owns or controls the operations of a farm.

(f)(k) “Fully extending his or her the animal’s limbs” means fully extending all limbs without touching the side of an enclosure, including, in the case of egg-laying hens, fully spreading both wings without touching the side of an enclosure or other egg laying hens or another animal.

(l) “Liquid eggs” means eggs of an egg-laying hen broken from the shells, intended for human food, with the yolks and whites in their natural proportions, or with the yolks and whites separated, mixed, or mixed and strained. Liquid eggs do not include combination food products (including pancake mixes, cake mixes, cookies, pizzas, cookie dough, ice cream, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than liquid eggs, sugar, salt, water, seasoning, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, stabilizers, and similar food additives.

(g)(m) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate.

(h) “Pig during pregnancy” means any pregnant pig of the porcine species kept for the primary purpose of breeding.

(n) “Pork meat” means meat of a pig of the porcine species, intended for use as human food.

(o) “Sale” means a commercial sale by a business that sells any item covered by this chapter, but does not include any sale undertaken at an establishment at which mandatory inspection is provided under federal or local law, or any sale undertaken at an official plant at which mandatory inspection is maintained under the federal or local law.  For purposes of this section, a sale shall be deemed to occur at the location where the buyer takes physical possession of an item.

(p) “Shell egg” means a whole egg of an egg-laying hen in its shell form, intended for use as human food.

(i)(q) “Turning around freely” means turning in a complete circle without any impediment, including a tether, and without touching the side of an enclosure or another animal.

(r) “Uncooked” means requiring cooking prior to human consumption.

(s) “Usable floor space” means the total square footage of floor space provided to each covered animal, as calculated by dividing the total square footage of floor space provided to the animals in an enclosure by the number of animals in that enclosure. In the case of egg-laying hens, “usable floor space” shall include both ground space and elevated level flat platforms upon which hens can roost, but shall not include perches or ramps.

(t) “Veal meat” means meat, as defined of a calf raised for veal intended for use as human food.

(u) “Whole pork meat” means any uncooked cut of pork (including bacon, ham, chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin or cutlet) that is comprised entirely of pork meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives and similar meat additives.  Whole pork meat does not include combination food products (including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than pork meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives.

(v) “Whole veal meat” means any uncooked cut of veal (including chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin or cutlet) that is comprised entirely of veal meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives. Whole veal meat does not include combination food products (including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than veal meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives and similar meat additives.

Section 3: Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals

1. A farm owner or operator in the Commonwealth of Frémont shall not knowingly cause any covered animal to be confined in a cruel manner, for all or the majority of any day, in a manner that prevents such animal from:

(a) Lying down, standing up, and fully extending his or her limbs; and
(b) Turning around freely

2. A business owner or operator shall not knowingly engage in the sale within the Commonwealth of Frémont of any:

(1) Whole veal meat that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the meat of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(2) Whole pork meat that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the meat of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner, or is the meat of immediate offspring of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(3) Shell egg that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the product of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(4) Liquid eggs that the business owner or operator knows or should know are the product of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

Section 4: Exceptions

Section 3 shall not apply:

(a) During scientific or agricultural medical research.

(b) During examination, testing, individual treatment or operation for veterinary purposes.

(c) During transportation.

(d) During rodeo exhibitions, state or county fair exhibitions, 4-H programs, and similar exhibitions.

(e) During the slaughter of a covered animal in accordance with federal and local agricultural code, relating to humane methods of slaughter, and other applicable law and regulations.

(f) To a breeding pig during the seven five (5) day period prior to the breeding pig's expected date of giving birth, and any day that the breeding pig is nursing piglets.

(g) During temporary periods for animal husbandry purposes for no more than six (6) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period, and no more than twenty-four (24) hours total in any thirty (30) day period.

Section 5: Penalties for noncompliance

1. The Frémont Department of Agriculture shall jointly promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act by September 1, 2020.

(b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) The provisions of this chapter relating to cruel confinement of covered animals and sale of products shall supersede any conflicting regulations.

2. It shall be a defense to any action to enforce section 3 of this law that a business owner or operator relied in good faith upon a written certification by the supplier that the whole veal meat, whole pork meat, shell eggs, or liquid eggs at issue was not derived from a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner, or from the immediate offspring of a breeding pig who was confined in a cruel manner.

Sponsor: Scott, FM

The first minister has the floor.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This is a region-wide version of California Proposition 12 which was approved by voters last year.  This bill would establish minimum space requirements for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens so that farm animals might be kept in more humane conditions, which all animals deserve, especially those raised for food.  To quote Josh Balk, vice president of the Humane Society, "Chickens are put in barren, wire cages the size of your microwave oven, with six to eight other chickens.  Mother pigs are put in pens so small they can't turn around for up to four years."

I believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that all animals are protected from cruelty, and this bill will ensure that farm animals are allowed to move freely in the spaces in which they are confined.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I will support this. The practices described by this bill are not only cruel, but totally unnecessary, and ought to be prohibited.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I move for a final vote.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Seeing no objection, we proceed to a vote. Members will vote Aye, Nay, or abstain. Voting will last 48 hours or until all members have voted.


Aye.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye.

[Pericles]

Aye

[AustralianSwingVoter]

Aye

[raymundoflx]

Aye

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

With five votes in favor and none opposed, the resolution carries.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

AN ACT
To establish minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens, as well as to ban the sale of veal from calves, pork from breeding pigs, and eggs from hens when the animals are confined to areas below minimum square-feet requirements.

Section 1: Title

This legislation may be cited as the Farm Animal Confinement Standards Act.

Section 2: Definitions

For the purposes of this legislation, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Breeding pig” means any female pig of the porcine species kept for the purpose of commercial breeding, who is 6 months or older or pregnant.

(b) “Business owner or operator” means any person who owns or controls the operations of a business.

(c) “Cage-free housing system” means an indoor or outdoor controlled environment for egg-laying hens within which hens are free to roam unrestricted; are provided enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including, at a minimum, scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas; and within which farm employees can provide care while standing within the hens’ usable floor space.  Cage-free housing systems include, to the extent they comply with the requirements of this subsection:

(1) “Multi-tiered aviaries” in which hens have access to multiple elevated platforms that provide hens with usable floor space both on top of and underneath the platforms;

(2) “Partially-slatted systems” in which hens have access to elevated flat platforms under which manure drops through the flooring to a pit or litter removal belt below;

(3) “Single-level all litter floor systems” bedded with litter, and in which hens have limited or no access to elevated flat platforms; and

(4) Any future systems that will comply with the requirements of this subsection.

(a)(d) “Calf raised for veal” means any calf of the bovine species kept for the purpose of producing the food product described as veal

(e) “Confined in a cruel manner” means any one of the following acts:

(1) Confining a covered animal in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal’s limbs, or turning around freely; or

(2) After December 31, 2020, confining a calf raised for veal with less than 43 square feet of usable floor space per calf; or

(3) After December 31, 2022, confining a breeding pig with less than 24 square feet of usable floor space per pig; or

(4) After December 31, 2020, confining an egg-laying hen with less than 144 square inches of usable floor space per hen.

(b)(f) “Covered animal” means any pig during pregnancy, calf raised for veal, breeding pig, or egg-laying hen who is kept on a farm.

(c)(g) “Egg-laying hen” means any female domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea fowl kept for the purpose of egg production.

(d)(h) “Enclosure” means any cage, crate, or other a structure (including what is commonly described as a “gestation crate” for pigs; a “veal crate” for calves; or a “battery cage” for egg laying hens) used to confine a covered animal or animals.

(e)(i) “Farm” means the land, building, support facilities, and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber; and does not include live animal markets, establishments at which mandatory inspection is provided under state or federal law, or official plants at which mandatory inspection is maintained under local or federal law.

(j) “Farm owner or operator” means any person who owns or controls the operations of a farm.

(f)(k) “Fully extending his or her the animal’s limbs” means fully extending all limbs without touching the side of an enclosure, including, in the case of egg-laying hens, fully spreading both wings without touching the side of an enclosure or other egg laying hens or another animal.

(l) “Liquid eggs” means eggs of an egg-laying hen broken from the shells, intended for human food, with the yolks and whites in their natural proportions, or with the yolks and whites separated, mixed, or mixed and strained. Liquid eggs do not include combination food products (including pancake mixes, cake mixes, cookies, pizzas, cookie dough, ice cream, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than liquid eggs, sugar, salt, water, seasoning, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, stabilizers, and similar food additives.

(g)(m) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate.

(h) “Pig during pregnancy” means any pregnant pig of the porcine species kept for the primary purpose of breeding.

(n) “Pork meat” means meat of a pig of the porcine species, intended for use as human food.

(o) “Sale” means a commercial sale by a business that sells any item covered by this chapter, but does not include any sale undertaken at an establishment at which mandatory inspection is provided under federal or local law, or any sale undertaken at an official plant at which mandatory inspection is maintained under the federal or local law.  For purposes of this section, a sale shall be deemed to occur at the location where the buyer takes physical possession of an item.

(p) “Shell egg” means a whole egg of an egg-laying hen in its shell form, intended for use as human food.

(i)(q) “Turning around freely” means turning in a complete circle without any impediment, including a tether, and without touching the side of an enclosure or another animal.

(r) “Uncooked” means requiring cooking prior to human consumption.

(s) “Usable floor space” means the total square footage of floor space provided to each covered animal, as calculated by dividing the total square footage of floor space provided to the animals in an enclosure by the number of animals in that enclosure. In the case of egg-laying hens, “usable floor space” shall include both ground space and elevated level flat platforms upon which hens can roost, but shall not include perches or ramps.

(t) “Veal meat” means meat, as defined of a calf raised for veal intended for use as human food.

(u) “Whole pork meat” means any uncooked cut of pork (including bacon, ham, chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin or cutlet) that is comprised entirely of pork meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives and similar meat additives.  Whole pork meat does not include combination food products (including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than pork meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives.

(v) “Whole veal meat” means any uncooked cut of veal (including chop, ribs, riblet, loin, shank, leg, roast, brisket, steak, sirloin or cutlet) that is comprised entirely of veal meat, except for seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and similar meat additives. Whole veal meat does not include combination food products (including soups, sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs, or similar processed or prepared food products) that are comprised of more than veal meat, seasoning, curing agents, coloring, flavoring, preservatives and similar meat additives.

Section 3: Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals

1. A farm owner or operator in the Commonwealth of Frémont shall not knowingly cause any covered animal to be confined in a cruel manner, for all or the majority of any day, in a manner that prevents such animal from:

(a) Lying down, standing up, and fully extending his or her limbs; and
(b) Turning around freely

2. A business owner or operator shall not knowingly engage in the sale within the Commonwealth of Frémont of any:

(1) Whole veal meat that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the meat of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(2) Whole pork meat that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the meat of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner, or is the meat of immediate offspring of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(3) Shell egg that the business owner or operator knows or should know is the product of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

(4) Liquid eggs that the business owner or operator knows or should know are the product of a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner.

Section 4: Exceptions

Section 3 shall not apply:

(a) During scientific or agricultural medical research.

(b) During examination, testing, individual treatment or operation for veterinary purposes.

(c) During transportation.

(d) During rodeo exhibitions, state or county fair exhibitions, 4-H programs, and similar exhibitions.

(e) During the slaughter of a covered animal in accordance with federal and local agricultural code, relating to humane methods of slaughter, and other applicable law and regulations.

(f) To a breeding pig during the seven five (5) day period prior to the breeding pig's expected date of giving birth, and any day that the breeding pig is nursing piglets.

(g) During temporary periods for animal husbandry purposes for no more than six (6) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period, and no more than twenty-four (24) hours total in any thirty (30) day period.

Section 5: Penalties for noncompliance

1. The Frémont Department of Agriculture shall jointly promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act by September 1, 2020.

(b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) The provisions of this chapter relating to cruel confinement of covered animals and sale of products shall supersede any conflicting regulations.

2. It shall be a defense to any action to enforce section 3 of this law that a business owner or operator relied in good faith upon a written certification by the supplier that the whole veal meat, whole pork meat, shell eggs, or liquid eggs at issue was not derived from a covered animal who was confined in a cruel manner, or from the immediate offspring of a breeding pig who was confined in a cruel manner.