GRASS SEED SALE & TESTING S.B. 637:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 637 (as reported without amendment)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Seed Law to do the following:
-- Require cool season lawn and turf seed and mixtures to include a "sell by" date, which would have to be within 15 months from the date of the germination test, excluding the month of the test.
-- Prohibit a person from selling any cool season lawn and turf seed and mixtures if the germination test were not completed within 15 months immediately before the sale.
-- Require seed treated with an irritating or poisonous substance, harmful to humans or vertebrate animals, to be labeled with warning and caution statements in at least 8-point, rather than 12-point, font.
"Cool season lawn and turf grass" would mean grasses including Kentucky Bluegrass, Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue, Hard Fescue, Tall Fescue, Intermediate Ryegrass, Annual Ryegrass, Colonial Bentgrass, Annual Bentgrass, and mixtures of any of these.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 286.702 et al. Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could have a negative fiscal impact on State and local government. A person who violates the Seed Law is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least $100 but not more than $2,000 for each offense, or imprisonment for up to 90 days. The additional provisions in the bill could lead to more misdemeanor charges and convictions for violations. An increase in misdemeanor arrests and convictions could place incremental resource demands on local court systems, law enforcement, and jails. Any associated increase in fine revenue would be dedicated to public libraries.
Date Completed: 4-18-16 Fiscal Analyst: Ryan Bergan
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.