State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor		REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	House Bill 5380, AS INTRODUCED
TOPIC:	Extend sunset provision requiring the NRC to issue deer and elk feeding order
SPONSOR:	Representative Lahti
CO-SPONSORS:	Representatives McDowell and Lindberg
COMMITTEE:	Appropriations
Analysis Done:	September 29, 2009

POSITION

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

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

The current legislation that directs the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to develop an order to regulate the feeding of wild, free-ranging deer and elk, will sunset on January 1, 2010. There is still a need to regulate feeding of wild, free-ranging deer and elk because of the potential for contagious diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, to spread among animals at sites where deer and/or elk congregate to feed for extended periods. Any animals that become infected with bovine tuberculosis and then associate closely with cattle may in turn, pass the disease along to domestic stock.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

House Bill 5380 would extend the requirement for the NRC to regulate feeding of wild, free-ranging deer and elk through January 1, 2016.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

This legislation would help minimize the likelihood that contagious diseases (e.g. bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease) and parasites will be spread further among Michigan's wild, free-ranging deer and elk, which in turn will also help minimize the likelihood of transmission of diseases from wild deer and elk to livestock.

Con

None

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

The Department of Agriculture will be interested in this legislation because they have concerns about disease passing from wildlife to domestic animals.

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

There has been a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of bovine tuberculosis among white-tailed deer in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula since the regulation of feeding in that area. Although other factors, including reducing deer abundance have probably also contributed to the reduction, the regulation of feeding has been very important in this reduction and needs to be continued.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

Rules can be promulgated to provide for administration of the act.

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Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

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Date

WLD/LED