By STEVE BROWN

Capital Press

OLYMPIA -- A legislative committee heard a bill Jan. 16 that would protect livestock producers' proprietary information the state collects.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture administers the animal disease and livestock identification program.

Mark Streuli, policy assistant to the director of WSDA, said that owner information would be important in the event of a disease outbreak.

"Protecting that information encourages sharing with the department," he said.

Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 6087, which has bipartisan support. A companion bill in the House, HB2456, is primarily sponsored by Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger.

Information that would not be subject to public disclosure includes:

* Animal ownership.

* Numbers of animals.

* Locations.

* Contact information.

* Movements of livestock.

* Financial information.

* Purchase and sale information.

* Account numbers.

* Unique identifiers issued by government to private entities.

* Information related to livestock diseases that would identify a specific animal, person or location.

However, that information can be furnished to other government agencies. Also information related to a reportable animal health investigation can be disclosed once that investigation is complete.

Jack Field, of the Washington Cattlemen's Association, said the bill was written in consultation with both the WSDA and livestock producers and has their support. The legislation will give producers confidence that the information they divulge will be protected, he said.

"The public has the right to know how the WSDA is reacting," he said. "(The bill) gives the department the opportunity to react without public records requests (from news media)."

The exemptions were also included in the now-defunct National Animal Identification System. USDA is replacing it by coordinating with states and tribal organizations to track livestock sold across state lines.

Because inclement weather kept many senators from the meeting of the Senate Committee of Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development, Hatfield said there weren't enough in attendance to move the bill forward.