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Committee introduces RS32058 to add ‘possible’ payment tier and change “validate” to “confirm” for livestock depredation claims
Summary
Representative Gerald Raymond introduced RS32058 to the Resources and Conservation Committee, asking members to approve introduction of a bill that replaces the word “validate” with “confirm” in existing depredation-payment language and adds a third payment category, “possible,” for livestock losses that cannot be fully identified as wolf or grizzly depredation.
Representative Gerald Raymond introduced RS32058 to the Resources and Conservation Committee, asking members to approve introduction of a bill that replaces the word “validate” with “confirm” in existing depredation-payment language and adds a third payment category, “possible,” for livestock losses that cannot be fully identified as wolf or grizzly depredation.
Raymond, who identified himself as the representative for District 31, said his district suffered heavy losses last summer. “This is a slight change to that piece of legislation… It changes that word to confirmed,” Raymond said, describing the edit as consistent with other statutory language and agency usage. He told the committee that the bill would provide three payment avenues — confirmed, probable and possible — all paid from available revenue and prorated when claims exceed funds.
Raymond gave figures for claims so far: about $40,000 in confirmed claims and roughly $7,000 in probable claims. He said a “possible” category does not yet exist in practice but, if it did, claims in that bucket would be roughly $30,000. “We have nowhere near come close to the maximum that we have set aside in appropriations for this program,” he said.
Representative Miller asked whether the bill text defines “possible.” Raymond said he could not find that definition immediately in the draft and offered to “dig into that” and report back at a full hearing if the committee schedules one. That exchange was recorded during the consideration of the introduction motion.
Representative Pickett moved to introduce RS32058. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the chair recorded “ayes have it,” and the chair also voted aye. The motion resulted in formal introduction of RS32058 and the item will proceed to a bill hearing for a fuller review and any required definitions or drafting clarification.
The committee also noted a Department of Lands report on the Good Neighbor Authority placed in members’ OneDrive, but no presentation on that report occurred during the brief session. The Resources and Conservation Committee adjourned after completing the two introduction votes on its agenda.
