MI HB4699

Director of agriculture may order entry onto property and authorize seizure, slaughter, or destruction of livestock or domestic animals to control or eradicate disease, with notification to the attorney general, house and senate appropriations committees, and the department of technology, management, and budget.

Indemnification available at 100% of fair market value (not to exceed $4,000 per animal) for individual animals or average of $4,000 per animal for herd/flock depopulations, reduced by compensation from other sources including federal indemnity, insurance, and salvage value.

Department indemnity payments limited to $100,000 per order from existing budget; agreements exceeding $100,000 must include provision that payment is subject to specific legislative appropriations, not department funds.

Indemnification does not apply to sporting swine at sporting swine livestock operations, animals imported without proper health certificates or testing, illegally moved animals, or animals acquired with owner's knowledge of disease exposure; however, depopulation plans for sporting swine may allow normal harvest techniques.

Acceptance of compensation constitutes full release of claims against the state; depopulated premises must be cleaned and disinfected; director must report annually to legislative committees on bovine tuberculosis eradication expenditures and status, as must the department of natural resources.