Cattle: inspections: fees.

(1) Existing law requires cattle to be inspected before being moved or transported under certain circumstances, including before cattle are moved out of the state. Existing law provides that inspection of cattle consists of the examination of the cattle for all brands and marks, and, in the case of unbranded cattle, for natural marks, sex, and breed, and includes the issuance of a certificate of inspection. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to impose a prescribed service charge for each site at which an inspection is performed. Existing law also establishes various inspection fees per head of cattle to supplement this site-based charge, generally of $1.50 per animal, with certain exceptions. This bill would increase various inspection fees per head of cattle to $1.60, with certain exceptions, as specified. (2) Existing law authorizes any person who receives cattle from any cattle sale market, upon request and payment of a fee of $0.70 per head before accepting delivery of any cattle from that market, to have a reinspection of the cattle. This bill would increase that fee to $0.80 per head of cattle. (3) Existing law requires that the inspection of carcasses with the hide on and of hides to be made in the same manner as the inspection of cattle, as specified. Under existing law, all brand inspection fees for hides or carcasses are due and payable at the time of the inspection. Existing law requires a brand inspection fee to be paid at the point of inspection in the amount of $2 for each carcass or hide that is inspected and $2 for each carcass or hide inspected originating in those counties or geographical areas where a point-of-origin inspection is maintained. This bill would increase these fees to $2.10 for each carcass or hide that is inspected. (4) Existing law requires all of the above-described fees to be deposited into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, which is continuously appropriated, as prescribed. By increasing the amount of existing fees, the revenue from which is continuously appropriated, the bill would make an appropriation.