Proposed Law
Too Intrusive

Although the state's controversial mandatory "Premises ID" is in a state of suspended animation, it could be resurrected at any time; therefore it is still a threat to all of us, not just to farmers.

ANYONE keeping even one chicken would be required to register their premises (which could include your neighbor's yard if that is where you graze the goat or your grandchildren ride the pony). Every time you go on a trail ride, or a 4H'er shows animals at a fair, the state must be notified of the animals' whereabouts.

The stated purpose of the program is to prevent the spread of disease, but I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation of how Premises ID or animal ID will accomplish this goal (unless the bureaucrats have found a way to ID each disease-causing micro-organism).

There are no meaningful guarantees in the Premises ID proposed rule to protect confidential information from being accessed by anyone for any purpose. Aren't we "spammed" enough already?

There were 14 hearings held by the state Agency of Agriculture to give citizens a chance to voice their opinions—one in each county. According to all the reports I have read, everyone who spoke was clearly against this unreasonable and intrusive rule.

After Premises ID, the next step in this program would be to ID with microchips, every cow, Bison, steer, horse, sheep, goat, pig, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, ostrich, llama, alpaca, farmed deer or farmed trout; of course at the owner's expense. In addition, there will be penalties.

Let your legislators (both state and federal) know how you feel about this.

Linda Doane

Braintree