December 2, 2008, Introduced by Senators STAMAS and BROWN and referred to the Committee on Finance.
A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled
"The general property tax act,"
(MCL 211.1 to 211.155) by adding section 7oo.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 7oo. (1) Real and personal property used to implement or
comply with a wildlife risk mitigation action plan for a beef or
dairy farm that is located in a modified accredited zone is exempt
from the collection of taxes under this act if that beef or dairy
farm had a premises identification number registered with the
department of agriculture for bovine tuberculosis testing prior to
September 1, 2008.
(2) A person claiming an exemption under subsection (1) shall
file with the assessor of the local tax collecting unit in which
the real and personal property is located an application for the
exemption in a form prescribed by the department of treasury, which
shall include a copy of the wildlife risk mitigation action plan
and certification from the department of agriculture that the
person's beef or dairy farm is located in a modified accredited
zone.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Modified accredited zone" means those areas identified in
this state under 9 CFR 77.11 as modified accredited zones.
(b) "Project" means certain risk mitigating measures, which
may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) Making it difficult for wildlife to access feed by storing
livestock feed securely, restricting wildlife access to feeding and
watering areas, and deterring or reducing wildlife presence around
cattle and cattle feed by storing feed in an enclosed barn,
wrapping bales or covering stacks with tarps, closing ends of bags,
storing grains in animal-proof containers or bins, maintaining
fences, practicing small mammal and rodent control, or feeding away
from deer cover.
(ii) Minimizing wildlife access to cattle feed and water by
feeding cattle in an enclosed area, feeding in open areas near
buildings and human activity, removing extra or waste feed when
cattle are moved, using hay feeders to reduce waste, using
artificial water systems to help keep cattle from sharing water
sources with wildlife, fencing off stagnant ponds and wetlands, and
keeping mineral feeders near buildings and human activity or using
devices that restrict deer usage.
(c) "Wildlife risk mitigation action plan" means a written
plan consisting of 1 or more projects to help reduce the risks of
bovine tuberculosis spreading between wildlife and livestock and is
approved by the department of agriculture under the animal industry
act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.745.