GRAY WOLF ATTACKING LIVESTOCK H.B. 5686 (H-1):
FLOOR SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
House Bill 5686 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Michael Lahti
House Committee: Agriculture
Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Resources
CONTENT
The bill would create a new act to do the following:
-- Allow the owner of livestock, or the owner's designated agent, to remove, capture, or kill a gray wolf that was in the act of preying upon the owner's livestock.
-- Require the owner or agent to report to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) official within 12 hours after taking a gray wolf, and (except as provided below) retain the wolf until a DNR official could take possession of it for examination.
-- Prohibit a person from moving or disturbing a gray wolf that was killed until the person photographed the wolf and the area where it was killed; and allow the DNR to request copies of the photos.
-- Make a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days and/or a fine of at least $100 but not more than $1,000, and the costs of prosecution.
-- Require a DNR official to respond to the scene where a wolf was killed within 12 hours after a Department official was notified.
-- Define "livestock" as those species of animals used for human food or fiber or used for service to humans.
If any Federal or State legislation overturned the decision to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered species, the DNR would have to report the impact of that litigation on the proposed act to the standing committees of the Legislature with jurisdiction over issues dealing primarily with natural resources and the environment.
Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State. The additional responsibilities of DNR officials to retrieve a gray wolf from the owner of livestock would be paid for from existing resources.
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government. There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of the proposed misdemeanors involving the taking of gray wolves. Local units would incur the costs of probation and incarceration in local facilities, which vary by county. Penal fine revenue would benefit public libraries.
Date Completed: 9-22-08 Fiscal Analyst: Lindsay Hollander
Jessica Runnels
floor\hb5686 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
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.
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. hb5686/0708