S.B. 265: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - DEAD ANIMALS ON ROADWAYS
Senate Bill 265 (as introduced 3-4-97)
Sponsor: Senator Jon Cisky
Committee: Agriculture and Forestry
CONTENT
The bill would create a new statute to make the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responsible for the removal of dead deer, bears, elk, and moose from public roads and bridges. As soon as practical after receiving notice from a person, the DNR would have to remove the carcass of such an animal from the traveled portion or the shoulder of any public roadway or bridge in this State. The Department could enter into contract, however, with the county board of commissioners of any county that sought to undertake this responsibility in that county. Contracts would have to be negotiated by the DNR with individual counties and provide reasonable compensation to a county in exchange for the service.
"Roadway" would mean "the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part is improved, designed, or ordinarily used for public vehicular travel". "Shoulder" would mean "that portion of the roadway that is contiguous to the roadway and generally extends the contour of the roadway and that is not designed for vehicular travel but is maintained for the temporary accommodation of disabled or stopped vehicles otherwise permitted on the roadway".
- Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State government, ranging between $1.6 million and $3.7 million, depending upon the number of dead animals requiring removal and the cost per animal. The bill would save local units of government (county road commissions) an estimated $1.2 million.
According to a 1995 County Road Commission Survey, over 24,000 deer were removed from roads by 63 counties, at a cost of $1.2 million. The cost per deer ranged from $13 to $416, but averaged between $50 and $60. According to the Michigan State Police, there were 62,500 car/deer crashes in 1995. If half the deer were removed, at $50 per animal, the total cost would be $1.6 million. If all the deer required removal, at $60 per animal, the total cost would be $3.7 million.
- Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
S9798\S265SA
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.