Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 81. LIVESTOCK

CHAPTER 7. PREDATORY ANIMAL CONTROL

Part 3. County Predator Control for Protection of Sheep

County Commissioners Permitted To Require Per Capita License Fee On Sheep

81-7-303. County commissioners permitted to require per capita license fee on sheep. (1) To defray the expense of protection, the board of county commissioners of a county may require all owners or persons in possession of a sheep 1 year of age or older in the county on the regular assessment date of each year as provided in 15-24-903 to pay a per capita license fee in an amount to be determined by the board. All owners or persons in possession of a sheep 1 year of age or older coming into the county after the regular assessment date and subject to the per capita levy under the provisions of Title 15, chapter 24, part 9, are subject to payment of the license fee.

(2) Upon the order of the board of county commissioners, the license fees may be imposed by entering the name of the licensee upon the assessment record of the county by the department of revenue. The license fees are payable to and must be collected by the county treasurer. When levied, the fees are a lien upon the property, both real and personal, of the licensee. If the person against whom the license fee is levied does not own real estate against which the license fee is or may become a lien, then the license fee is payable immediately upon its levy and the treasurer shall collect the fee in the manner provided by law for the collection of personal property taxes that are not a lien upon real estate.

(3) When collected, the fees must be placed in the predatory animal control fund and the fund may be expended on order of the board of county commissioners of the county for predatory animal control, including bounties paid pursuant to Title 81, chapter 7, part 2. Interest earned on money in the fund must be deposited in the fund.

(4) Money from any source may be deposited in the predatory animal control fund provided for in this section to carry out the provisions of this part.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 206, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 123, L. 1949; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 87, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 87, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 261, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 46-2102(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 9, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 153, Ch. 27, Sp. L. November 1993; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 285, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 12, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 176, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 78, L. 2017.