The last time I wrote, HB5219 had been reported out of the House Ag
Committee.  It was reported out (2/12/98) with a recommendation with
substitute (H1).  All that substitute does is take out a line that says
"handle the ferret in accordance with current published guidelines of the
centers of disease control and prevention" and replace it with "BE HANDLED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE '1998 COMPENDIUM OF ANIMAL RABIES CONTROL' PUBLISHED
BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIANS, INC.,
WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE." which is fine.  There are 3 other minor
deletions but the one above is the one that counts.
 
Anyway, it was referred to the House for a second reading (2/12/98).
Substitute H1 (the Bill with the revision) was adopted (2/19/98) and it was
place on third reading (2/19/98).  On 2/24/98 it was passed by the House
with a 91 to 9 vote and given immediate effect.
 
The 9 who voted NAY (this is an election year, folks.  You have a chance to
vote NAY yourself) are Patricia Godchaux (R-Birmingham), Dan Gustafson (R-
Williamston), Mark Jansen (R-Grand Rapids)(not my district, tho) , Terry
London,(R-Marysville), Charles Perricone (R-Kalamazoo), Andrew Richner (R-
Grosse Pte.  Park), Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor), Judith Scranton
(R-Brighton), Keith Stallworth (D-Detroit).  Stallworh Schroer, Gustafson,
and London are term limited so consider them gone unless they run for a
Senate seat.  The voting booth is the best place to let them know how YOU
feel about their decision.
 
Next Step: The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Hunting, Fishing and
Forestry.  It was previously the Ag and Forestry Committee but since the
death of one Senator, the Senate Majority Leader did some committee
reorganizations.  The members are: David Jaye (R-Washington Twp.), Joel
Gougeon (R-Bay City), George McManus(R-Traverse City), Dianne Byrum
(D-Onondaga) and Christopher Dingell (D-Trenton).  Jaye and Dingell are new
members.  Gougeon is from the Bay City where the whole Kodo incident
started.  Dingell has his own SB616 languishing before this committee
already.  I hope he has better luck getting HB5219(H1) thru than he's had
with his own bill.
 
If anyone wishes to write to the Senators on this committee, they all have
the same address,
State Capitol
P O Box 30036
Lansing, MI  48909-7536
 
The House Legislative Analysis Section put together a 3 1/2 page analysis on
the House Bill and did a great job.  The bill has the support of the Dept of
Ag, Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and the Great Lakes Ferret
Association.
 
We'll see what happens next.
 
Dee
Beau & Nilla
[Posted in FML issue 2230]