SENATE BILL No. 182

 

 

March 7, 2019, Introduced by Senators MCBROOM and DALEY and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 2012 PA 487, entitled

 

"Wildlife depredations indemnification act,"

 

by amending sections 2 and 3 (MCL 285.362 and 285.363).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Commission" means the commission of agriculture and rural

 

development.

 

     (b) "Department" means the department of agriculture and rural

 

development.

 

     (c) "Livestock" means that term as it is defined in section 5

 

3 of the animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.705.MCL 287.703.

 

     Sec. 3. (1) The department shall provide indemnification for

 

the death, injury, or loss of livestock from wolves, coyotes, and

 

cougars. Indemnification for missing animals shall only be paid if

 

there is a history of losses to the owner of livestock as evidenced

 

by a prior payment by the department due to the death or injury of

 

livestock from wolves.

 

     (2) To be eligible for indemnification under subsection (1),

 

the owner of livestock shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Report the incident to the department within 24 hours

 

after the animal is discovered to be dead, injured, or missing.

 

     (b) File a claim for indemnification with the department

 

verifying the type and number of animals for which indemnification

 

is sought. The verification may include photographs of the animals

 

or tracks or other information that provides support for the claim.

 

If the claim seeks indemnification for missing animals, a notarized

 

statement from the owner specifying the date of birth of each

 

missing animal and the date on which the animals were discovered

 

missing, along with evidence of prior indemnification payments due

 

to death or injury of livestock from wolves, is sufficient

 

documentation that 1 or more animals are missing and eligible for

 

indemnification.

 

     (c) Upon request, provide the department of natural resources

 

with access to the owner's property as necessary to conduct an

 

investigation if the department of natural resources believes that

 

an on-site visit will assist its investigation.

 

     (d) Upon request, provide the department with documentation

 

that the animals have official identification, if required under

 

the animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to

 

287.746.287.745.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.

     Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No. 174

 

of the 100th Legislature is enacted into law.