Wyoming Legislature update – Feb. 29, 2024
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
March 1, 2024
Hello Sublette County and LaBarge, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on February 29, the fourteenth day of the 2024 Budget Session.
Today we continued to work Senate File bills through second and third reading.
Three bills I want to highlight:
SF12 requires hide buyers to keep a bill of sale for two years and includes a record of the date of purchase and all brands and identification marks in the record. The bill of sale must also accompany the hide. Including brands and identification marks helps track and ensure the animal was not stolen. I am not convinced this bill is needed, and might actually be harmful. The current system has protected livestock producers from theft, and was well established with meat processors.
SF18 Amends Wyoming’s safe haven statutes to ensure compliance with the Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act requiring safe haven providers to inquire about any tribal affiliation or Native American ancestry of a newborn child. Safe haven laws allow parents to remain nameless to the court when a parent relinquishes custody of a newborn without fear of legal repercussions, as long as the baby is unharmed. I support this bill, and I support the Tribes’ ability to determine the destiny of their children.
SF81 clarifies that entities formed by county memorial hospitals and other healthcare districts are covered under existing statute when they partner to expand and offer community services like joint EMS services. Presently, due to uncertainty about existing statute, such entities seek separate liability insurance at great expense to be sure they are covered. Clarifying the law lowers the cost of expanding care to Wyoming citizens. I support this bill.
Tomorrow we will continue to work through Senate Files in Committee of the Whole, second and third reading. We will also work on any concurrence reports on Senate amendments to House bills.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com with questions or comments.
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