PROHIBITED SPECIES: PENALTY S.B. 507: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 507 (as introduced 5-18-05)
Sponsor: Senator Patricia L. Birkholz
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 5-23-05
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to include the possession or release of a genetically engineered, nonnative, or prohibited organism in the sentencing guidelines.
Currently, the possession or release of a genetically engineered, nonnative, or prohibited fish is a class E property felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. The bill would delete the reference to a fish and instead refer to an organism.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 214, which would amend Part 413 (Transgenic and Nonnative Organisms) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to revise the violations subject to penalties under Part 413, and prescribe a civil fine for failing to report the presence of a prohibited species to the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, or the Department of Environmental Quality.
MCL 777.13e Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall
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. sb507/0506