HOUSE BILL No. 5784

 

July 18, 2012, Introduced by Reps. Glardon, Daley and Potvin and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 

      A bill to amend 1937 PA 284, entitled

 

"An act to prevent the spread of infectious and contagious

diseases of livestock; to require persons, associations,

partnerships and corporations engaged in the buying, receiving,

selling, transporting, exchanging, negotiating, or soliciting

sale, resale, exchange or transportation of livestock to be

licensed and bonded by the department of agriculture; to keep a

producers' proceeds account; to provide for the refusal,

suspension or revocation of such licenses; to provide for

weighmasters; to provide for the inspection and disinfection of

yards, premises and vehicles; and to provide penalties for the

violation of this act,"

 

by amending sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 (MCL 287.121,

 

287.122, 287.123, 287.124, 287.125, 287.126, 287.127, 287.128,

 

and 287.131), section 3 as amended by 2007 PA 81, and by adding

 

section 7a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

 1        Sec. 1. (a) "Department" as used in this act shall mean the

 

 2  Michigan state department of agriculture.As used in this act:

 

 3        (b) "Director" as used in this act means the director of the


 

 1  department of agriculture.

 

 2        (a) "Agent" means a person that buys, receives, sells,

 

 3  exchanges, or negotiates or solicits the sale, resale, exchange,

 

 4  or transfer of 1 or more animals for or on behalf of another

 

 5  person.

 

 6        (b) (c) "Animals" or "livestock" as used in this act shall

 

 7  mean and include includes horses, ponies, mules, cattle, calves,

 

 8  swine, sheep, poultry, privately owned cervids, ratites,

 

 9  aquaculture species, and goats.

 

10        (c) "Aquaculture species" means aquatic animal organisms,

 

11  including, but not limited to, fish, crustaceans, mullusks,

 

12  reptiles, or amphibians reared or cultured under controlled

 

13  conditions for commercial aquaculture or the pet trade.

 

14  Aquaculture species does not include aquatic animal organisms

 

15  under the authority of the department of natural resources.

 

16        (d) "Buying station" means a facility or location where

 

17  livestock are congregated and purchased by the owner or agent of

 

18  the facility or location for movement for direct slaughter.

 

19  Buying station does not include a livestock auction.

 

20        (e) "Collection point" means a facility or location where

 

21  livestock are congregated by the owner or agent of the facility

 

22  or location for transfer, movement, or sale. Collection point

 

23  does not include a livestock auction.

 

24        (f) "Consignment sale" means a sale in which livestock are

 

25  transferred to an agent for sale, but ownership is retained until

 

26  the animals are sold.

 

27        (g) (d) "Dealer" or "broker" as used in this act shall mean


 

 1  any means a person, copartnership, association or corporation

 

 2  engaged that, as a principal or agent, engages in the business of

 

 3  buying, receiving, selling, exchanging, transporting, buying for

 

 4  slaughter, or negotiating , or soliciting sale, resale, exchange,

 

 5  transportation, or transfer of any such animals. , but it shall

 

 6  not be construed to include: (1) any Dealer or broker does not

 

 7  include any of the following:

 

 8        (i) A railroad or air line airline transporting animals

 

 9  either interstate or intrastate. ; (2) any

 

10        (ii) A person , association, copartnership or corporation who

 

11  or which, that, by dispersal sale, is permanently discontinuing

 

12  the business of farming, dairying, breeding, or feeding animals.

 

13  ; (3) any

 

14        (iii) A person , association, copartnership or corporation

 

15  that sells livestock which has that have been raised on the

 

16  premises of such the person. , association, copartnership or

 

17  corporation; (4) any

 

18        (iv) A butcher, packer, or processor to whom animals are

 

19  delivered and used exclusively for slaughter. , or that

 

20        (v) A farmer with respect to that part of the his or her

 

21  business of a farmer which that consists of buying or receiving

 

22  animals for breeding, grazing, and feeding purposes and the sale

 

23  or disposal of such the animals after the feeding or grazing

 

24  period of not less than 21 45 days. ; (5) terminal livestock

 

25  markets where agricultural research service of the United States

 

26  department of agriculture veterinary inspection is daily

 

27  maintained; (6) occasionally held consignment sales such as


 

 1        (vi) A breed association, 4-H or F.F.A. sales.group county

 

 2  fair, or youth fair sponsoring or conducting an occasionally held

 

 3  consignment sale.

 

 4        (e) "Agent" as used in this act shall mean any person, firm,

 

 5  association, copartnership or corporation buying, receiving,

 

 6  selling, exchanging, transporting, negotiating or soliciting

 

 7  sale, resale, exchange, transportation or transfer of any animals

 

 8  for or on behalf of any dealer or broker.

 

 9        (vii) Other persons subject to exemptions approved by the

 

10  director.

 

11        (h) "Department" means the department of agriculture and

 

12  rural development.

 

13        (i) "Director" means the director of the department or his

 

14  or her authorized representative.

 

15        (j) "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued under

 

16  this act.

 

17        (k) (f) "Livestock auction" as used in this act shall mean

 

18  any means a livestock market congregation point where livestock

 

19  is are accepted on consignment and the auction method is used in

 

20  the marketing of such livestock. A Livestock auction does not

 

21  include a public auction of farm goods. by a farmer is not

 

22  included in this definition of a livestock auction.

 

23        (l) "Livestock trucker" means a person, not otherwise

 

24  licensed under this act, that engages in the business of

 

25  transporting livestock, not owned by the person, from 1 premises

 

26  to another.

 

27        (m) "Occasionally held consignment sale" means a consignment


 

 1  sale that is held not more than 3 times during any state fiscal

 

 2  year.

 

 3        (n) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,

 

 4  association, governmental entity, or other legal entity.

 

 5        (o) (g) "Weighmaster" as used in this act shall mean any

 

 6  means a person registered under this act who that weighs

 

 7  livestock at any a livestock market licensed under this act.

 

 8        Sec. 2. No A dealer, or broker, agent, or livestock trucker

 

 9  shall not engage in or carry on the business of buying,

 

10  receiving, selling, exchanging, transporting, negotiating, or

 

11  soliciting the sale, resale, exchange, transportation, or

 

12  transfer of any animals within the state unless duly the person

 

13  is licensed and bonded as hereinafter provided in this act. Such

 

14  A dealer, or broker, shall be agent, or livestock trucker is

 

15  responsible for acts performed or contracts made by any person or

 

16  individual employed by said the dealer, or broker, agent, or

 

17  livestock trucker in buying, receiving, selling, exchanging,

 

18  transporting, negotiating, or soliciting the sale, resale,

 

19  exchange, transportation, or transfer of livestock.

 

20        Sec. 3. (1) A person desiring to To obtain a license under

 

21  this act to act as a dealer, broker, or agent, or livestock

 

22  trucker, a person shall file submit to the department an

 

23  application with the department for a license. to engage in the

 

24  business of dealer, broker, or agent. The application shall state

 

25  the nature of the business, the mailing post office address of

 

26  the applicant, and the mailing post office address at or from

 

27  which the business is to be conducted, and any additional contact


 

 1  information. If the applicant desires to operate a livestock yard

 

 2  where livestock is kept and sold at public or private sale, the

 

 3  application shall so state. include that information. The

 

 4  application may state shall include additional information as

 

 5  requested by the director.

 

 6        (2) Subject to subsection (7) and until September 30, 2012,

 

 7  the The department shall charge and collect the following

 

 8  nonrefundable fees for initial and renewal license applications:

 

 

     (a) Class I (livestock auction)..............  $  400.00.

10      (b) Class II (collection point/buying

11 station)..........................................  $  250.00.

12      (c) Class III (horse auction)................  $  150.00.

13      (c) (d) Class IV III (dealer/broker/agent)...  $   50.00.

14      (d) Class IV (livestock trucker).............  $   25.00.

 

 

15        (3) Subject to subsection (7) and after September 30, 2012,

 

16  the only fee the department shall charge and collect for the

 

17  issuance and renewal of licenses under this section is a fee of

 

18  $5.00 for a dealer, broker, or agent license.

 

19        (3) Each class of licensing application fee listed in

 

20  subsection (2) allows a person to operate at all classes listed

 

21  below that class without requiring additional licensing. The

 

22  licensee shall provide to the department a list of all persons

 

23  employed by and operating in license classes under the licensee's

 

24  license.

 

25        (4) For each renewal application postmarked or delivered

 

26  after October 1 of each year, a late fee of an additional $10.00


 

 1  shall be imposed for each business day the application is late.

 

 2  The late fee for a new application submitted after a person is

 

 3  operating as a class I, II, III, or IV operation as described in

 

 4  subsection (2) shall be an additional $10.00 per business day the

 

 5  application is late. However, the total late fee shall not exceed

 

 6  $100.00.

 

 7        (5) (4) The department shall deposit administrative and

 

 8  noncriminal fines received under this act and license or other

 

 9  administrative fees received under this section into the

 

10  agriculture licensing and inspection fees fund created in section

 

11  9 of the insect pest and plant disease act, 1931 PA 189, MCL

 

12  286.209, to be used, pursuant to appropriation, by the director

 

13  department in administering and carrying out those duties

 

14  required by law under this act.

 

15        (6) (5) A licensee who buys or sells livestock by weight

 

16  shall employ a registered weighmaster to do all of the weighing.

 

17  The duties, qualifications, and requirements for registration of

 

18  weighmasters shall be established by the director department by

 

19  promulgation of a rule promulgated under section 9.

 

20        (7) (6) Beginning July 23, 2004, the The department shall

 

21  issue an initial or renewal dealer, broker, agent, or livestock

 

22  auction, collecting point/buying station, and horse auction

 

23  trucker license not later than 90 days after the applicant files

 

24  a completed application. Receipt of the application is considered

 

25  the date the a completed application is received by any agency or

 

26  the department. of the state of Michigan. If the application is

 

27  considered incomplete by the department, the department shall


 

 1  notify the applicant in writing , or make the information

 

 2  electronically, available, within 30 days after receipt of the

 

 3  incomplete application, describing the deficiency and requesting

 

 4  the additional information. The 90-day period is tolled upon

 

 5  notification by the department of a deficiency until the date the

 

 6  requested information is received by the department. The

 

 7  determination of the completeness of an application does not

 

 8  operate as an approval of the application for the license and

 

 9  does not confer eligibility of on an applicant determined

 

10  otherwise ineligible for issuance of a license.

 

11        (8) (7) If the department fails to issue or deny a license

 

12  within the time required by this section, the department shall

 

13  return the license fee and shall reduce the license fee for the

 

14  applicant's next renewal application, if any, by 15%. The failure

 

15  to issue a license within the time required under this subsection

 

16  does not allow the department to otherwise delay the processing

 

17  of the application, and that application, upon completion, shall

 

18  be placed in sequence with other completed applications received

 

19  at that same time. The department shall not discriminate against

 

20  an applicant in the processing of the application based upon the

 

21  fact that the license fee was refunded or discounted under this

 

22  subsection.

 

23        (9) (8) Beginning October 1, 2005, the The director shall

 

24  submit a report by December 1 of each year to the standing

 

25  committees and appropriations subcommittees of the senate and

 

26  house of representatives concerned with agriculture issues. The

 

27  director shall include all of the following information in the


 

 1  report concerning the preceding fiscal year:

 

 2        (a) The number of initial and renewal applications the

 

 3  department received and completed within the 90-day time period

 

 4  described in subsection (6).(7).

 

 5        (b) The number of applications denied.

 

 6        (c) The number of applicants not issued a license within the

 

 7  90-day time period and the amount of money returned to licensees

 

 8  and registrants under subsection (7).(8).

 

 9        (10) (9) The application for that a license or the renewal

 

10  of a license and bond proof of bonding requirements shall be

 

11  submitted to the director on or before October 1 of each year.

 

12  Each license issued under this section shall be for a period of 1

 

13  year commencing October 1 and ending the following September 30.

 

14        (11) (10) Each dealer, broker, or agent operating or

 

15  conducting a livestock auction, collection point, or buying

 

16  station shall file with his or her application for a license a

 

17  surety bond effective during the period for which the license is

 

18  issued or other security. The A surety bond shall be issued by a

 

19  surety company registered in this state to indemnify persons from

 

20  whom livestock is purchased or for whom livestock is sold. The

 

21  surety bond or other security and shall be in such amounts, form,

 

22  and sufficiency as approved by the director. The amount of the

 

23  bond security shall be an amount equal to the amount of gross

 

24  dollar volume of livestock business conducted during the average

 

25  week of the previous licensing year by the applicant, but in no

 

26  case shall not be less than $1,500.00. If the average gross

 

27  weekly livestock business conducted by the applicant during the


 

 1  previous licensing year was greater than $25,000.00, the bond

 

 2  shall be increased above $25,000.00, at the rate of $1,000.00 for

 

 3  each $5,000.00 or part thereof above $25,000.00 on the of average

 

 4  gross dollar-volume dollar volume of weekly livestock business

 

 5  conducted during the previous year. A licensee who owns or

 

 6  operates more than 1 livestock yard or livestock auction,

 

 7  collection point, or buying station may file 1 bond in an amount

 

 8  determined by the formula described in this subsection. Any A

 

 9  dealer, broker, or agent operating or conducting a livestock yard

 

10  or livestock auction, collection point, or buying station who has

 

11  filed a surety bond for the livestock yard or livestock auction,

 

12  collection point, or buying station and indemnifies persons from

 

13  whom livestock is purchased or for whom livestock is sold in

 

14  accordance with the terms of any federal act is exempt from the

 

15  bonding requirements of this subsection provided if the bond is

 

16  equivalent in amount to that which would be required by this act.

 

17  The bond shall be for a dealer or broker and his or her agents in

 

18  which the department is the obligee for the benefit and purpose

 

19  of protecting all persons selling or consigning livestock to the

 

20  licensed dealer, broker, or agent against the licensed dealer's,

 

21  broker's, or agent's failure to pay amounts due on livestock

 

22  purchased by or consigned to them.

 

23        (12) (11) Each licensee shall keep records and shall

 

24  furnish, upon request, information concerning his or her

 

25  purchases and sales as may be required by the director for the

 

26  purpose of establishing the amount of bond required under

 

27  subsection (10). (11). The director, in fixing establishing the


 

 1  amount of the bond, shall take into consideration the dollar

 

 2  volume of livestock business and other information furnished by

 

 3  the dealer, broker, or his or her agent. If a dealer, broker, or

 

 4  agent did not operate a livestock auction the previous licensing

 

 5  year, the bond shall be for an amount as shall be established by

 

 6  the director after consideration of all information available on

 

 7  the probable weekly gross dollar volume of business to be

 

 8  conducted by the dealer, broker, or agent during the licensing

 

 9  year.

 

10        (13) (12) If during any licensing year the bond filed by any

 

11  a licensee becomes less than required by this act because of an

 

12  increase in gross dollar volume of livestock sales, the director

 

13  may issue an order requiring the licensee to file an additional

 

14  bond to cover the increase in gross dollar volume of livestock

 

15  sales. Failure to comply with the orders of the director is

 

16  grounds for suspension or revocation of license. A bond or other

 

17  security shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of

 

18  the licensee's duties as a dealer or broker and on the provisions

 

19  of law relating to the purchase of livestock by the dealer or

 

20  broker and for the payment by the dealer or broker of all

 

21  livestock purchased by or consigned to the dealer or broker as a

 

22  dealer or broker in livestock. If a bond or other security

 

23  required under this act is canceled, the license that is approved

 

24  under that bond is considered immediately revoked without notice

 

25  or hearing.

 

26        (14) (13) A license issued under this section allows the

 

27  holder to conduct the business of dealer or broker at or from the


 

 1  place named in the application. A legal entity person engaged in

 

 2  the business of transporting livestock or negotiating or

 

 3  soliciting the transportation or transfer of livestock that is

 

 4  not engaged in the buying, selling, reselling, exchanging,

 

 5  negotiating, or soliciting the sale, resale, or exchange of

 

 6  livestock must shall obtain a license under this section but is

 

 7  not required to comply with bonding security provisions of this

 

 8  section.

 

 9        (14) A dealer, broker, or agent shall keep adequate records

 

10  of the producers' proceeds account in compliance with section 3a

 

11  and of all sales and purchases for a period of 5 years in the

 

12  manner required by the director. The records shall be open to

 

13  reasonable inspection by the department.

 

14        (15) A dealer, broker, livestock trucker, or agent shall

 

15  notify the director of a change of address within 5 days after

 

16  that change.

 

17        (16) Any change in ownership of any a livestock auction or

 

18  market shall be reported to the director within 5 days by the

 

19  licensee. Each dealer or broker shall file with the director on

 

20  January 1 of each year a sworn statement of average weekly sales

 

21  and a statement showing the number, species, and values and kinds

 

22  of livestock purchased and sold during the previous year.

 

23        (17) (16) As used in this section, "completed application"

 

24  means an application complete on its face and submitted with any

 

25  applicable licensing fees as well as any other information,

 

26  records, approval, security, or similar item required by law or

 

27  rule from of a local unit of government, a federal agency, or a


 

 1  private entity but not from of another department or agency of

 

 2  the this state. of Michigan.

 

 3        Sec. 4. For failure or refusal to obey the provisions of If

 

 4  a person fails or refuses to comply with this act, the department

 

 5  may refuse to issue a license or may suspend or revoke the

 

 6  license held by such the licensee. Whenever the director is

 

 7  satisfied of the existence of any one or more of the reasons for

 

 8  refusing, suspending or revoking the license provided for in this

 

 9  act, before Before refusing, suspending, or revoking the license,

 

10  the department shall give written notice of a hearing to be had

 

11  thereon to the licensee affected. The notice shall appoint a time

 

12  of hearing at the department and shall be mailed by certified or

 

13  registered mail to the licensee. On the day of the hearing, the

 

14  licensee may present such evidence to the director as he deems

 

15  fit or she considers appropriate regarding the violations

 

16  charged, and after the hearing the director shall thereupon

 

17  render a decision. Any A licensee who feels aggrieved at the

 

18  decision of the director may appeal from said the decision within

 

19  10 days by writ of certiorari to the circuit court of the county

 

20  where the licensee resides. The following reasons shall be

 

21  construed as just are cause for refusal , to issue a license or

 

22  for the suspension or revocation of a license:

 

23        (a) Where If the applicant or licensee has failed to pay in

 

24  full for any amounts due on livestock purchased, or has violated

 

25  the laws of the state or official regulations rules promulgated

 

26  by the director or other competent authority governing the

 

27  interstate or intrastate movement, shipment, or transportation of


 

 1  animals.

 

 2        (b) Where there have been If the applicant or licensee has

 

 3  made false or misleading statements to the purchaser as to the

 

 4  health or physical condition of the animal or animals with regard

 

 5  to official tests, ownership, or quantity of animals or

 

 6  misrepresentation misrepresents in connection therewith, or in

 

 7  the buying or receiving of animals, or receiving, selling,

 

 8  exchanging, soliciting, or negotiating sale, resale, exchange,

 

 9  transport, transfer, weighing, or shipment of animals.

 

10        (c) Where If the licensee engages in buying or receiving

 

11  animals, or receiving, selling, exchanging, soliciting, or

 

12  negotiating the sale, resale, exchange, transport, or transfer of

 

13  animals affected with a communicable disease or diseases that are

 

14  likely to be transmitted to other animals or human beings:

 

15  Provided, That subdivision (c) of this section shall not apply to

 

16  animals which have reacted to any test used for the detection of

 

17  tuberculosis, and Bang's disease, when said animals are disposed

 

18  of in conformity with state laws and regulations governing

 

19  disposal of such animals and when such animals are killed under

 

20  supervision of a United States department of agriculture research

 

21  service inspector or a regularly authorized inspector of the

 

22  state livestock disease control division.that do not comply with

 

23  official identification, testing, permitting, or intrastate or

 

24  interstate animal movement requirements under the animal industry

 

25  act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.746.

 

26        (d) Where If the licensee fails to practice measures of

 

27  sanitation, disinfection, and dead animal disposal as required in


 

 1  1982 PA 239, MCL 287.651 to 287.683, bodies of dead animals,

 

 2  animal handling, or inspection as required by this act, of

 

 3  related to the premises or vehicles used for the stabling,

 

 4  yarding, or transportation of animals.

 

 5        (e) Where If there has been a failure or refusal on the part

 

 6  of the licensee, upon the request of the department, to produce

 

 7  records of transactions in the carrying on of the business for

 

 8  which such license is granted.required under this act.

 

 9        Sec. 5. Every dealer, broker, livestock trucker, or agent

 

10  licensed under the provisions of this act and carrying on or

 

11  conducting business under such the license shall at all times

 

12  keep in or at the place of business or in each vehicle used by

 

13  such the licensee for the purpose of transporting livestock a

 

14  copy of such the license for inspection by any representative of

 

15  the department, sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, Michigan

 

16  state police or any other law enforcing agency. Each person

 

17  licensed under this act that utilizes a vehicle, trailer, or

 

18  other conveyance for the purpose of transporting livestock shall

 

19  place and visibly maintain the required vehicle permit on the

 

20  upper forward corner of the left side of the vehicle, trailer, or

 

21  other conveyance.

 

22        Sec. 6. (1) Each dealer, broker, livestock trucker, or agent

 

23  leasing, renting, operating, or owning any livestock yards, pens,

 

24  premises, or vehicles in which animals are quartered, fed, held,

 

25  or transported shall keep such the yards, premises, or vehicles

 

26  properly cleaned and disinfected and in adequate repair as

 

27  prescribed by the department. The director may restrict the use


 

 1  of a livestock auction market facility, portion of a facility, or

 

 2  permitted vehicle, trailer, or conveyance until the licensee can

 

 3  demonstrate that it complies with cleaning, disinfecting, and

 

 4  adequate repair required under this act or a rule promulgated

 

 5  under this act.

 

 6        (2) The application for a vehicle permit under this section

 

 7  shall be on forms approved by the director and shall demonstrate

 

 8  that the applicant meets requirements for registration and

 

 9  vehicle licensing required by this state.

 

10        (3) A vehicle, trailer, or other conveyance permitted under

 

11  this act shall comply with all state and federal requirements for

 

12  transport vehicles or livestock conveyances, and shall be

 

13  maintained to ensure the safety and welfare of any animals that

 

14  are transported in the vehicle. The operator of the permitted

 

15  conveyance shall allow inspection of the conveyance at any time

 

16  considered reasonable by the director. The director may revoke a

 

17  permit of an individual vehicle without prior notification for a

 

18  violation of this subsection.

 

19        (4) A licensee shall obtain and maintain during transport

 

20  any official health certificates, movement permits, or testing

 

21  forms required by state or federal law.

 

22        Sec. 7. (1) For the purpose of preventing the spread of

 

23  infection or communicable diseases of livestock, all animals

 

24  sold, transferred or exchanged from any yards or premises by any

 

25  dealer, broker, or agent as designated in this act shall may be

 

26  inspected by a representative of the department. the director.

 

27  The department shall director may prescribe the proper tests or


 

 1  treatment of any such animal sold when such tests or treatment

 

 2  are deemed considered necessary to prevent the spread of a

 

 3  communicable disease or undue suffering of livestock. Such The

 

 4  test or treatment shall be made by a veterinarian approved by the

 

 5  department, director, and the director may require fees for such

 

 6  tests or treatment shall to be paid by the dealer, broker,

 

 7  trucker, or agent.

 

 8        (2) (a) No A dealer, broker, agent, livestock trucker, or

 

 9  owner of any an animal shall not under an assumed or fictitious

 

10  name sell or offer for sale any such the animal under an assumed

 

11  or fictitious name or make any false or misleading statements as

 

12  to the identity or the physical condition of said the animal or

 

13  with regard to any test which that is supposed to establish the

 

14  health status of any the animal offered for sale or sold.

 

15        (3) Animals that enter a livestock auction, collection

 

16  point, or buying station are considered to have moved from 1

 

17  premises to another within this state, and the livestock auction,

 

18  collection point, or buying station is considered the immediate

 

19  point of destination and the licensee is responsible for ensuring

 

20  that requirements for any necessary official identification,

 

21  permitting, testing, or certification as required under the

 

22  animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.746, are met

 

23  prior to allowing animals to be unloaded from the conveyance

 

24  vehicle.

 

25        (4) The department may confer with the licensee of a

 

26  livestock auction, collection point, or buying station and define

 

27  an area surrounding the premises that shall be known as the


 

 1  market zone of the premises. All livestock brought into the

 

 2  market zone and sold or traded shall be handled and sold through

 

 3  the livestock auction, collection point, or buying station within

 

 4  the market zone in compliance with state laws and rules.

 

 5        (5) A licensee of a livestock auction, collection point, or

 

 6  buying station shall assure that pens and buildings are available

 

 7  to reasonably protect livestock from injury and inclement

 

 8  weather. The pens and buildings shall be of such construction as

 

 9  will facilitate cleaning and disinfection and shall be regularly

 

10  cleaned and disinfected and kept free of mud and accumulations of

 

11  manure and filth. A licensee shall assure that all of the

 

12  following are complied with:

 

13        (a) Flooring materials as approved by the director shall be

 

14  installed in all pens and alleys in all livestock auction markets

 

15  and in the loading and unloading areas immediately adjacent to

 

16  the structure.

 

17        (b) All pens, alleys, and dock areas shall be constructed to

 

18  facilitate drainage. Water shall not be permitted to accumulate

 

19  in pens, alleys, or on the premises, except in approved lagoons.

 

20        (c) Manure may be stored on the premises of a collection

 

21  point or buying station and shall be disposed of according to the

 

22  department's generally accepted agriculture and management

 

23  practices for manure management established under the Michigan

 

24  right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.471 to 286.474, or as

 

25  otherwise required by the director.

 

26        (d) The walls of all primary animal enclosures shall be kept

 

27  clean and free of accumulations of filth.


 

 1        (e) The area in front of the unloading dock, for a distance

 

 2  of 15 feet, shall be of concrete or impervious material so as to

 

 3  facilitate the cleaning of manure and debris from the unloading

 

 4  trucks.

 

 5        (f) All auction rings, docks, pens, scales, and alleys used

 

 6  for holding livestock shall be thoroughly cleaned after each sale

 

 7  day and before again being used to hold or move any livestock. In

 

 8  addition, auction rings and pens used to hold animals with an

 

 9  infectious or contagious disease shall also be thoroughly

 

10  disinfected with a disinfectant approved by the director after

 

11  each sale before being used again.

 

12        (g) Water shall be offered to a livestock at least every 12

 

13  hours, or as needed in inclement weather. If an animal is to be

 

14  housed for more than 24 hours, feed must be offered at least once

 

15  a day, or as appropriate for species and age of the animal.

 

16        (h) Livestock housed for more than 24 hours shall be able to

 

17  lie down, turn around, and stand comfortably. Cattle under 3

 

18  months of age shall be removed from the premises by noon the day

 

19  following the sale. Responsibility for the removal of the animals

 

20  shall be on the person who purchased the animal at the sale.

 

21        (6) Trucks or vehicles, and transportation cages, used by

 

22  livestock dealers, brokers, or livestock truckers for

 

23  transportation and handling of livestock shall be properly

 

24  constructed to adequately protect handled livestock from injury

 

25  and undue exposure to inclement weather and shall be regularly

 

26  cleaned and disinfected.

 

27        (7) Animals under quarantine shall not be sold through a


 

 1  livestock auction market unless approved by the director.

 

 2        (8) A licensee shall assure that all pens used for

 

 3  confinement of animals with a contagious or infectious disease

 

 4  are in a location that prevents contact with healthy animals. The

 

 5  pens shall be of smooth tight siding construction and of

 

 6  sufficient height that they will not permit the contact of any

 

 7  other livestock. The pens shall be drained in such a manner as to

 

 8  prevent contamination of the alley. Pens used for livestock

 

 9  infected with contagious or infectious diseases shall be properly

 

10  identified and shall not be used to confine any other livestock.

 

11        (9) Except upon a permit from the director, swine shall not

 

12  be sold or removed from a livestock auction, collection point, or

 

13  buying station unless immediately slaughtered or delivered

 

14  directly to a facility where state or federal veterinary

 

15  inspection is maintained daily. Swine shall not be allowed to

 

16  contact any swine not used for immediate slaughter or delivery as

 

17  indicated in this section.

 

18        (10) Healthy swine not subject to quarantine that are within

 

19  this state and handled in compliance with department rules and

 

20  state law may be sold and removed from livestock market

 

21  facilities referred to in this section for purposes other than

 

22  immediate slaughter when unloaded from vehicles and delivered

 

23  directly to vehicles in which the swine are transported from the

 

24  sale premises.

 

25        (11) As used in this section, "immediate slaughter" means

 

26  killed or delivered at an inspected facility within 72 hours

 

27  following removal from the livestock auction, collection point,


 

 1  or buying station.

 

 2        Sec. 7a. (1) A licensee shall not transport nonambulatory

 

 3  livestock to a livestock auction, collection point, or buying

 

 4  station. Livestock that become nonambulatory in transport, or

 

 5  while present at a livestock auction, collection point, or buying

 

 6  station, shall be humanely euthanized, and the dead animal

 

 7  disposed of as required in subsection (4) or be humanely moved

 

 8  and physically separated from other livestock.

 

 9        (2) A licensee shall assure that nonambulatory livestock are

 

10  not dragged, pulled, pushed, rolled, or otherwise moved except as

 

11  passive passengers on or in slings, mats, floats, carts, pallets,

 

12  or containers, or as directly necessary to facilitate the use of

 

13  these devices. When moved by these devices, the motive force

 

14  shall be attached to the device, not the livestock. Nonambulatory

 

15  livestock moved as provided in this subsection shall receive

 

16  appropriate veterinary care.

 

17        (3) The director may require a licensee to adhere to

 

18  specific methods of euthanasia to ensure the welfare of the

 

19  animal during the euthanasia process.

 

20        (4) A licensee shall dispose of any dead animals as defined

 

21  in 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.651 to 287.683, in the manner required in

 

22  that act.

 

23        Sec. 8. (1) The department or any of the duly authorized

 

24  agents shall have authority to director may inspect the records

 

25  of any licensee at any time to determine the origin and

 

26  destination of any livestock handled by the licensee and to

 

27  determine if any provisions of this act or the rules and


 

 1  regulations promulgated hereunder under this act, or requirements

 

 2  for importation of animals, or movement of animals within the

 

 3  state, have been violated.

 

 4        (2) Each person licensed under this act shall keep the

 

 5  following records, for a minimum of 5 years, on each animal

 

 6  bought, received, sold, exchanged, transported, resold, or

 

 7  transferred:

 

 8        (a) The identity of each animal including species, breed,

 

 9  age, and gender.

 

10        (b) The date and source of each animal including complete

 

11  name and address of the person from whom the animal is acquired.

 

12        (c) Records of all required tests, treatments, movement

 

13  certificates, and permits.

 

14        (d) The date and place of disposition of each animal

 

15  including the complete name and address of the destination and

 

16  the name of the person receiving the animal.

 

17        (3) In addition to the records described in subsection (2),

 

18  a licensee shall keep the following records of each animal

 

19  bought, received, sold, exchanged, transported, resold, or

 

20  transferred:

 

21        (a) The official identification of each animal recorded by

 

22  official eartag, official breed registry tattoo, or official

 

23  backtag number.

 

24        (b) If an animal is sold by weight, the official weight of

 

25  the animal.

 

26        (4) Animals, as determined by the director, at a licensed

 

27  livestock auction, collection point, or buying station consigned


 

 1  for slaughter, or that do not meet intrastate testing

 

 2  requirements for movement from 1 premises to another, shall be

 

 3  sold for slaughter only and shall be moved directly to slaughter.

 

 4  A licensee shall not sell livestock to a buyer of animals not

 

 5  meeting intrastate testing requirements for movement from 1

 

 6  premises to another unless the buyer certifies in a signed

 

 7  statement that the animals removed from the premises shall be

 

 8  moved directly to a slaughter establishment and slaughtered

 

 9  within 5 days after movement. A licensee shall not allow animals

 

10  to be removed from a livestock auction, collection point, or

 

11  buying station premises until the buyer provides the slaughter

 

12  destination information for each animal removed from the

 

13  premises.

 

14        Sec. 11. Whoever violates or refuses to comply with any of

 

15  the provisions of this act shall, upon conviction, be sentenced

 

16  to pay a fine of not less than 25 dollars nor more than 100

 

17  dollars and costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of

 

18  fine and costs, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less

 

19  than 10 nor more than 30 days, and for each subsequent violation

 

20  a fine shall be imposed of not less than 100 dollars nor more

 

21  than 500 dollars, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or

 

22  both, and the costs of prosecution.

 

23        (1) A person that violates section 2 may be ordered to pay a

 

24  civil fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $1,000.00. Each

 

25  day of continuing violation is a separate violation. However, a

 

26  person shall not be subject to a civil fine totaling more than

 

27  $25,000.00.


 

 1        (2) The court may allow the department to recover reasonable

 

 2  costs and attorney fees incurred in an action resulting in the

 

 3  imposition of a civil fine under subsection (1). Costs assessed

 

 4  and recovered under this subsection shall be paid to the state

 

 5  treasury and credited to the department for the enforcement of

 

 6  this act.

 

 7        (3) A person that violates this act is guilty of a

 

 8  misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days

 

 9  or a fine of not less than $300.00 or not more than $1,000.00, or

 

10  both.

 

11        (4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1), the

 

12  director, upon finding that a person has violated this act or a

 

13  rule promulgated under this act, may do any of the following:

 

14        (a) Issue a warning.

 

15        (b) Immediately summarily suspend use of equipment, vehicle,

 

16  or facility with the opportunity for a hearing under the

 

17  administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

18  24.328.

 

19        (c) Impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000.00

 

20  for each violation after notice and an opportunity for a hearing

 

21  pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA

 

22  306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

 

23        (d) Issue an appearance ticket as described and authorized

 

24  by sections 9c to 9g of chapter IV of the code of criminal

 

25  procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 764.9c to 764.9g, for a violation of

 

26  subsection (3).

 

27        (5) The remedies and sanctions under this act are


 

 1  independent and cumulative. The use of a remedy or sanction under

 

 2  this act does not bar other lawful remedies and sanctions and

 

 3  does not limit criminal or civil liability. The department may

 

 4  bring an action to do 1 or more of the following:

 

 5        (a) Obtain a declaratory judgment that a method, act, or

 

 6  practice is a violation of this act.

 

 7        (b) Obtain an injunction against a person who is engaging,

 

 8  or about to engage, in a method, act, or practice that violates

 

 9  this act.

 

10        (6) The director shall advise the attorney general of the

 

11  failure of any person to pay an administrative or civil fine

 

12  imposed under this section. The attorney general shall bring a

 

13  civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the

 

14  fine and costs and fees, including attorney fees. Civil fines and

 

15  administrative fines collected shall be paid to the state

 

16  treasury and credited to the department for the enforcement of

 

17  this act.