AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT H.B. 5556 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5556 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment) Sponsor: Representative Mike Green
House Committee: Agriculture and Forestry Senate Committee: Agriculture and Forestry
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to exempt from the Act’s licensing requirements persons involved in the propagation, rearing, possession, or sale of game fish pursuant to a registration or permit issued under the “Michigan Aquaculture Development Act” (proposed by House Bill 5555).
House Bill 5556 (H-1) also specifies that fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, and any other aquaculture species propagated, reared, produced, or possessed pursuant to a registration or permit issued under the proposed Act would not be the property of the State and could be taken, produced, purchased, acquired, lawfully exported or imported, or possessed only in compliance with that Act. The Department of Natural Resources would have to consider a registration under the proposed Act as equivalent to a game fish breeders license for purposes of obtaining a planting permit under the NREPA.
MCL 324.45902 & 324.48702 Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
It is believed that there are 100 aquaculture businesses in Michigan, which would produce revenue to the State of $10,000 (100 x $100) the first year and $7,500 (100 x $75) each year thereafter. The Department of Agriculture would have additional licensing and regulating duties, which would be accomplished through an existing program manager and the addition of about a half clerical position and some contractual services, supplies and materials paid from the new revenues. There would be no fiscal impact on local governments.
Date Completed: 4-24-96 Fiscal Analyst: A. Rich
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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.