HOUSE BILL No. 6031

 

 

May 17, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Sneller, Gay-Dagnogo, Chang, Geiss, Wittenberg, Pagan, Yancey, Yanez, Green, Chirkun and Jones and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 18830.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 18830. (1) A veterinarian shall not perform a

 

devocalization procedure on an animal unless the veterinarian

 

determines that the procedure is for a therapeutic purpose.

 

     (2) If a veterinarian determines that a devocalization

 

procedure is for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian shall

 

prepare and file with the board a written statement that states the

 

purpose for performing the procedure and provides the name and

 

address of the animal's owner. The veterinarian shall also provide

 

a copy of the statement to the animal's owner.

 

     (3) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Devocalization" means a procedure on the larynx or vocal

cords of an animal that causes the reduction or elimination of

 

vocal sounds produced by that animal.

 

     (b) "Therapeutic purpose" means a purpose that is medically

 

necessary to treat or relieve an illness, disease, or injury or to

 

correct a congenital abnormality that is causing or may cause the

 

animal physical pain or harm.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.