11-20-203. Inspection of brands at time of delivery or removal; certificate required; lack thereof; emergency movement of livestock.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or except as provided in W.S. 11-20-211, 11-20-224 and 11-20-230, it is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association to sell, change ownership or to remove or cause to be removed in any way from any county in Wyoming to any other state or country, any livestock unless each animal has been inspected for brands and ownership at the time of delivery or removal by an authorized Wyoming brand inspector and a proper certificate of inspection or clearance has been issued.

(b) Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch. 191, § 3.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section or except as provided in W.S. 11-20-211, 11-20-217, 11-20-224 and 11-20-230, it is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association to remove or cause to be removed in any way from any county in Wyoming to any other county, any livestock unless each animal has been inspected for brands and ownership at the time of delivery or removal by an authorized Wyoming brand inspector and a proper certificate of inspection or clearance has been issued, except where the board has established brand inspection zones for each species of livestock. Brand inspection zones may encompass an area based on multiple contiguous counties or the entire state, as determined by the board. Brand inspection zones shall be reviewed and reauthorized annually by the board and shall be in effect for a calendar year.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person, firm, partnership, corporation or association may move livestock to another county in this state in the case of an emergency situation declared or recognized by the board or director. If a livestock animal is moved under this subsection, the person moving the animal shall notify the board or an agent of the board not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the movement has occurred. Prior to moving the livestock back to the original location or to any other location, the person shall obtain an inspection of brands and ownership and the board shall not charge a fee for the inspection. If livestock will be moved across state lines in an emergency situation declared or recognized by the board or director under this subsection, the person, firm, partnership, corporation or association shall immediately contact the board and follow the direction of the board for inspection of brands and ownership. The board or director may declare an emergency situation under this subsection at any time it is required for public safety or the safety of livestock. If livestock is moved prior to declaration of an emergency situation by the board or director, the board or director may recognize the situation as an emergency situation after the fact if it determines that any movement of livestock was required for public safety or for the safety of livestock.

(e) No inspection for brands and ownership is required if a change of ownership occurs solely due to:

(i) A legal name change of a person, firm, partnership, corporation or association if the ownership of the firm, partnership, corporation or association remains unchanged and the brand is transferred to the new legal name;

(ii) The transfer of a brand from an individual or the individual and his spouse to a business entity if the individual or the individual and his spouse are owners of a one hundred percent (100%) interest in the business entity;

(iii) A conversion of a business entity as provided in W.S. 17-26-101;

(iv) Marriage.