OBSOLETE LAWS: ICE CUTTING; CONTAMINATED CATTLE

House Bill 5581 as enrolled

Sponsor: Rep. Sandra Caul

House Committee: Conservation and

Outdoor Recreation

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

House Bill 5586 as enrolled

Public Act 433 of 2000

Sponsor: Rep. Paul N. DeWeese

House Committee: Agriculture and Resource Management

Senate Committee: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems

Second Analysis (1-24-01)

THE APPARENT PROBLEM:

A number of bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate to repeal obsolete laws or obsolete provisions in law based on the work done by the Senate Law Revision Task Force. The task force issued its report on December 16, 1999, describing the laws it has targeted for repeal and providing the rationale for repeal.

THE CONTENT OF THE BILLS:

House Bill 5581 would repeal Public Act 221 of 1899 (MCL 752.351-752.353), which requires anyone engaging in "the procuring of ice from any of the streams, ponds, or lakes of this state to erect . . . suitable danger signals and barricades" near where he or she is cutting ice.

House Bill 5586 would repeal Public Act 181 of 1974 (MCL 287.71 to 287.77), which deals with the testing, destruction, and disposal of contaminated cattle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

For a fuller discussion of the wisdom of repealing obsolete laws, consult the report of the Senate Law Revision Task Force.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The House Fiscal Agency reports that the bills would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local governmental units. (HFA fiscal notes dated 4-25-00 and 5-15-00)

ARGUMENTS:

For:

The two bills would repeal laws identified as obsolete by the Senate Law Revision Task Force. One would repeal an act dealing with contaminated cattle that is said to have been superseded by subsequent legislation. The other would repeal an 1899 law regulating people who procure ice by cutting it out of lakes, ponds, and streams, a practice overtaken by the development of refrigeration.

Analyst: C. Couch

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.