HOUSE BILL No. 5015


     July 8, 1997, Introduced by Reps. DeHart, Curtis, Bogardus and Schermesser and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.


        A bill to amend 1994 PA 358, entitled

   "An act to regulate the possession of ferrets; to provide for the
   licensing of ferrets; to provide for requirements for importation
   and rabies control procedures for ferrets; to provide for the
   powers and duties of certain governmental entities; to prescribe
   penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of
   acts,"

   by amending section 2 (MCL 287.892).

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 2.  (1) A person shall not own or harbor a ferret over

 2    12 weeks of age unless the ferret has a current vaccination

 3    against rabies with an approved rabies vaccine administered by a

 4    veterinarian, except that rabies vaccinations are not required

 5    for research ferrets kept at research facilities registered pur-

 6    suant to the public health code,  Act No. 368 of the Public Acts

 7     of 1978, being sections 333.1101 to 333.25211 of the Michigan

 8     Compiled Laws  1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 TO 333.25211.



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 1         (2) A person who owns or harbors a ferret that has bitten,

 2    scratched, caused abrasions or contaminated with saliva or other

 3    infectious material an open wound or mucous membrane of a human

 4    being shall report the incident within 48 hours to the county

 5     public  health department.

 6         (3)  A person who owns or harbors  IF a ferret  that  has

 7    potentially exposed a person or other animal to rabies by biting,

 8    scratching, causing abrasions, or contaminating open wounds or

 9    mucous membranes with saliva or other infectious material, THE

10    COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT shall handle the ferret in accordance

11    with current published guidelines of the centers  of  FOR disease

12    control and prevention.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF

13    THE CURRENT GUIDELINES TO EACH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

14         (4) A person who owns or harbors a ferret shall produce

15    proof of a valid rabies certificate signed by a veterinarian for

16    the ferret upon request of a law enforcement agent or animal con-

17    trol officer or the director.























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