BREEDING BLACK BEARS H.B. 6050 (H-1):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 6050 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Dan Lauwers
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Large Carnivore Act to allow a person to breed not more than four black bear sows each year if he or she satisfied certain requirements and conditions.
Generally, the Act does not apply to a person who allows a patron to come into direct contact with, or close enough contact to as to place the patron in jeopardy of being harmed by, a large carnivore if the carnivore is a bear less than 36 weeks of age or a bear weighing 90 pounds or less if the person otherwise meets certain requirements under the Act, and satisfies one of the following:
-- The person was in possession of a bear on March 26, 2013.
-- The person acquired a business from a person who was in possession of a bear on March 26, 2013, and the business's primary purpose is the presentation of animals, including large carnivores, to the public for education or exhibition purposes.
Under the bill, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person who met the above requirements could breed not more than four black bear sows per year if the person satisfied all of the following conditions:
-- The person did not transfer a large carnivore to any of the following: a) a person that was not qualified or capable, as determined by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, of safely maintaining the large carnivore or ensuring its well-being; b) an animal auction or person who could display or sell the carnivore at an animal auction; or c) a person who allowed the hunting of large carnivores.
-- The person did not raise a large carnivore for the purpose of providing food, fur, pelts, body parts, organs, or bodily fluids, or transferred a large carnivore to a person who would use the carnivore for any of those purposes.
-- The person did not perform disfiguring procedures, including declawing or canine tooth removal, unless considered medical necessary by a licensed veterinarian.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 287.1122 Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill, which would allow the breeding of not more than four black bear sows per year under certain conditions, would have little fiscal impact on State and local government. It would require MDARD to determine if a person who received the transfer from a potential breeder of large carnivore was not qualified or capable of safely maintaining a large carnivore or ensuring its well-being.
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.