TESTING OF EQUINES - S.B. 350 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 350 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Leon Stille
Committee: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Animal Industry Act to:
-- Require all equidae, with certain exceptions, to be tested for equine infectious anemia by December 31, 2001, and require testing to be conducted at least every three years thereafter between December 1 and March 1.
-- Require that all positive results of equine infectious anemia be reported to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).
-- Require the owner of a test-positive equine to provide certain records to the MDA within 30 days after positive test results were reported to the owner or at a different time period agreed to by the MDA Director.
-- Require the MDA, at its expense, to test all equidae located within a quarter-mile radius of all equine infectious anemia test-positive equine.
-- Permit the Director to require testing of all equidae within an area larger than the quarter-mile radius, if he or she determined that a large number of equidae were test-positive.
-- Permit the MDA to establish a voluntary program for an equidae identification card system that would be funded by a fee charged to participants.
The bill would repeal Section 26a of the Act, which contains the equine testing provisions, on January 1, 2011.
MCL 287.726a - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could result in additional administrative costs to the Michigan Department of Agriculture associated with the establishment of a voluntary equidae identification card system. The program would be funded from revenue generated by a "reasonable" fee charged by the Department. Because of the voluntary nature of the identification, it is unknown how many persons would participate in the program.
Date Completed: 4-18-01 - Fiscal Analyst: C. Thielfloor\sb350 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.