GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISMS - S.B. 229: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">Senate Bill 229 (as introduced 2-27-03)
Sponsor: Senator Patricia L. Birkholz
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Aquaculture Development Act to provide that, for purposes of the Act, each genetically engineered organism (GEO) that was a variant of an aquaculture species would be considered a distinct aquaculture species. The bill also provides that such a GEO would not be included on the list of approved aquaculture species, or covered by an aquaculture research permit, unless it was specifically identified.
The bill would define “genetically engineered organism” as “an organism whose genome, chromosomal or extrachromosomal, is modified permanently and heritably using recombinant nucleic acid techniques”. “Recombinant nucleic acid techniques” would mean “laboratory techniques through which genetic material is isolated and manipulated in vitro and then inserted into an organism”.
Section 5 of the Act establishes a list of approved species for aquaculture production, and states that only the species on the list are allowed for purposes of aquaculture production. Under the bill, a genetically engineered organism that was a variant of an aquaculture species would not be included on that list unless it was specifically identified on the list or specifically identified in a rule promulgated under the Act as being on the list.
Section 8 provides that research of an aquaculture species not on the approved list is allowed and must be conducted pursuant to an aquaculture research permit in a confinement research facility. Under the bill, a GEO that was a variant of an aquaculture species would not be covered by an aquaculture research permit under Section 8 unless specifically identified in the permit.
MCL 286.872 & 286.874 - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: Craig ThielS0304\s229sa
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.