ANIMAL INDUSTRY ACT; BOVINE TB - H.B. 5832 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5832 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Mike Pumford
House Committee: Agriculture and Resource Management
Senate Committee: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Animal Industry Act to do the following:
-- Delete the requirement that a surveillance zone (an area adjacent or contiguous to an infection zone) be free of bovine Tuberculosis (TB).
-- Authorize the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to order testing for any reportable disease in any area or herd in order to accomplish surveillance necessary for the State to participate in the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program, to complete epidemiological investigations for any reportable disease, or whenever a reportable disease was suspected.
-- Require the Director to remove high-risk and potential high-risk designations from areas of the State when certain testing requirements had been met.
-- Permit the Director to waive any testing requirements after epidemiological review.
-- Require the Director to hold at least one public forum within the area that would be affected by proposed zoning requirements.
-- Include privately owned cervids in livestock facilities with reduced testing requirements for bovine TB if the animals are going only to slaughter.
-- Permit the Director to quarantine equipment and vehicles, in addition to animals, for the purpose of controlling or preventing the spread of disease.
-- Include aerosol mingling as a form of animal contact in several definitions.
-- Exempt veterinarians who are participants in the bovine TB testing program from yearly bovine TB training.
-- Eliminate the 50/50 cost share program for the purchase of chutes and gates required for animal testing by veterinarians.
-- Make it a felony intentionally to infect, contaminate, or expose an animal to a reportable disease, other than for research purposes.
MCL 287.703 et al. - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in increased administrative costs to the Department of Agriculture. These costs would be covered by existing resources. The proposed fiscal year 2002-03 budget for the bovine tuberculosis program is $3.5 million. The bill could result in decreased costs associated with the elimination of the 50/50 cost share program for the purchase of chutes and gates required for animal testing by veterinarians. According to the Department, this provision is being eliminated because nearly all of the vets participating in the testing program have been provided with the necessary equipment.
Date Completed: 5-17-02 - Fiscal Analyst: Craig ThielFloor\hb5832 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.state.mi.us/sfa
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.