State of Michigan

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Lansing

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM

governor

REBECCA  A. HUMPHRIES

director

 

 

BILL ANALYSIS

 

BILL NUMBER:

HOUSE BILL 4579, AS ENROLLED

TOPIC:

Transgenic and Nonnative Species

SPONSOR:

Representative Warren

CO-SPONSORS:

Representatives Leland, Hansen, T Brown, Scripps, Lipton, Liss, Young, Tlaib, Durhal, Meadows, and Miller

 

COMMITTEE:

Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Analysis Done:

June 9, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supports this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

Invasive species continue to spread and cause harm to natural resources and/or human health.  They displace native species and are costly to control once they are established.  This bill amends the Transgenic and Nonnative Species Law which regulates the possession and introduction of these organisms into Michigan or parts of Michigan that are not currently infested. 

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

House Bill 4579 amends a portion of Section 413 of 1994 PA 451, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.  This bill gives authority to the Natural Resources Commission to add to or delete from the list of prohibited or restricted species, other than an insect or plant species.  Authority is given to the Commission of Agriculture to add to or delete from the list of prohibited and restricted species for insect and plant species.  Each Commission shall consult with the other Department before listing or delisting species. 

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

Regulating invasive species will provide an additional tool for protecting our state’s natural resources by reducing negative impacts from these species. 

Con

The regulation of this bill increases the workload for the Department at a time when financial support for Departmental programs is dwindling. 

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a)     Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:   

None

Comments:

None

(b)     State

Budgetary: 

None

Revenue:   

None

Comments:

None

(c)      Local Government

Comments:

None

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

Michigan Department of Agriculture

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

 

 

_______________________________

Rebecca  A. Humphries

Director

 

_______________________________

Date

WLD/FI