CERVIDAE LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS
House Bills 6420-6424
Sponsor: Rep. Larry DeVuyst
Committee: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
Complete to 11-12-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 6420-6424 AS INTRODUCED 9-24-02
House Bill 6420 would amend the Animal Industry Act to provide indemnification for cervids destroyed due to chronic wasting disease; and House Bills 6421-6424 would each amend the Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act to make changes concerning privately owned cervidae.
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House Bill 6420. Currently, under the Animal Industry Act (MCL 287.714), the director of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) may allow indemnification for livestock or domestic animals that have been disposed of due to livestock diseases or toxicological contamination. The bill would amend the act to include privately owned cervids that had been destroyed due to chronic wasting disease under this provision, and to require that the status of chronic wasting disease be included in the annual written reports on bovine tuberculosis to the legislative standing committee with jurisdiction over agricultural and farming issues. These reports are required to be prepared by the directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
House Bill 6421 would amend the Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act (MCL 287.967) to prohibit the feeding of animal parts to any cervidae that were part of a cervidae livestock operation.
House Bills 6422 and 6424 would each amend Section 6 of the Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act (MCL 287.956). House Bill 6422 would require that the DOA make a request for rule-making to the Office of Regulatory Reform with proposed rules establishing a manifest system to track all cervidae that were part of a cervidae livestock operation in the state. The request would have to be made not later than 180 days after the bill's effective date.
House Bill 6424 would amend current standards for cervidae livestock facilities to require that there be double-fencing around each facility not later than 180 after the bill's effective date.
House Bill 6423 would amend the Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act (MCL 287.955) to delete current provisions that require the registration of cervidae livestock operations, including those licensed by the Department of Natural Resources to maintain cervidae species in captivity, by January 1, 2003. Instead, the bill would specify that the DOA could not issue any new registrations for a cervidae livestock facility for 36 months, beginning on the bill's effective date. However, the bill would specify that this provision would not affect the ability of an existing cervidae livestock facility to renew its registration.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.