TESTING OF EQUINES - S.B. 350: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 350 (as introduced 3-21-01)
Sponsor: Senator Leon Stille
Committee: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems
Date Completed: 3-27-01
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Animal Industry Act to:
-- Require all equines, with certain exceptions, to be tested for equine infectious anemia by December 31, 2003, and require testing to be conducted at least every three years thereafter.
-- Require that all results of equine infectious anemia be reported to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).
-- Require the MDA, at its expense, to test equine located within a quarter-mile radius of any equine infectious anemia test-positive equine.
-- Require the MDA to establish an equine identification card system.
The bill would repeal Section 26a of the Act, which contains the equine testing provisions, on January 1, 2011.
Equine Testing
Beginning on the bill's effective date, all equines would have to be tested at least every three years. This requirement would not apply to equines being moved into Michigan from other states; equines entered in exhibitions, expositions, or fairs; equines before change of ownership within the State; or equines entering licensed horse auctions or sales markets. (These equines are subject to other testing requirements in the Act.) The testing would have to be completed by December 31, 2003, and the equines would have to be tested every three years thereafter.
Currently, all equines, before change of ownership within the State, must have had an official equine infectious anemia test with a negative result within the calendar year or previous 30 days. All change of ownership transactions must be accompanied by a certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian documenting the date, laboratory, accession number, and results of the latest equine infectious anemia test or by an equine infectious anemia laboratory test form. Under the bill, these requirements would apply to all equines before change of ownership and location in the State and to all change of ownership and location transactions. (The bill would define "change of ownership and location" as a transfer of ownership of equines from one person to another person either through selling, bartering, trading, leasing, or donating the equine along with a change of location of the equines.)
The bill would delete the current requirement that equines transported or providing transportation on public highways, roads, or streets have an official equine infectious anemia test with a negative result within the calendar year or previous 30 days. The Act defines "calendar year" as the current 12-month period commencing with January and ending December 31. The bill would define "calendar year" as the current 13-month period commencing with December 1 and ending December 31 of the following year.
Reporting Test Results
The owner or operator of an approved laboratory would have to report to the MDA all results, both negative and positive, of equine infectious anemia. A positive test result would have to be reported as soon as practicable and a negative test would have to be reported within 10 business days after the test was administered.
Identification Card
The Department would have to promulgate rules to establish, or otherwise establish, an equine identification card system that included at least the following: a pocket-size card made of durable material; a photographic or graphic likeness of the equine and a description of at least the color, breed, sex, age, markings, name of owner, and location or address of the equine; an indication of a negative test result for an official equine infectious anemia test, along with the date of the test; and, any other information the Director considered appropriate.
MCL 287.726a - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in additional administrative costs to the Michigan Department of Agriculture associated with the establishment of an equine identification card system. The Department would be required to assume these costs within existing resources. It is unknown exactly how much the program would cost, but the amount is estimated to be minimal.
- Fiscal Analyst: C. ThielS0102\s350sa
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.