Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to amend the structure and membership requirements of the Board of Animal Health in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Expansion of Board Membership: The bill increases the number of board members from seven to eleven. The new composition includes:
  • Three livestock producers.
  • One member from a federally recognized Tribe in Minnesota with experience in animal husbandry.
  • Three practicing veterinarians licensed in Minnesota, including at least one who specializes in companion animals.
  • Two at-large members.
  • Eight regional members, with a requirement that no two members reside in the same congressional district.
• Diversity and Expertise Requirements: Members must have knowledge in areas like animal agriculture, animal health, or companion animals. The appointments should reflect gender and geographic balance, and at least two members should represent the public, being independent of agriculture, veterinary medicine, the pet industry, or related fields.
• Advisory Roles: Commissioners of agriculture, natural resources, and health, along with the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and the director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota, are to serve as non-voting consultants to the board.
• Leadership Structure: The board will elect a president and a vice-president from its membership. The governor is responsible for appointing a licensed veterinarian from outside its members as an executive director for one-year terms. The board determines the director's duties.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill alters the Board of Animal Health by increasing its members and specifying new categories for those members, emphasizing diversity and expertise. It changes the advisory roles from voluntary to mandatory and expands the executive roles within the board to include an externally appointed executive director with set duties.

Relevant Terms

• Board of Animal Health
• Livestock producers
• Animal husbandry
• Veterinarians
• Companion animals
• Federally recognized Tribe
• Geographic balance
• Executive director