State Assembly Sends Two Lyme Disease Bills to Governor Evers
Thursday, January 16th, 2020 -- 7:31 AM
(AP) -The state Department of Natural Resources would have to warn visitors to state properties about Lyme disease and sell them insect repellent under a pair of bipartisan bills the state Assembly overwhelmingly approved Wednesday.The Senate passed the measures in October. The proposals now go to Gov. Tony Evers. The governor plans to sign them as early as Tuesday. The first bill would require the DNR to post at least one sign warning visitors about Lyme Disease at each state park, trail, recreation area and forest. A fiscal estimate projects the DNR would need at least 115 signs at a cost of $12,500. The bill would provide that amount to the department on a one-time basis. The Assembly passed the measure on a 99-0 vote.
The second bill would require the department to sell insect repellent in state parks and forests. A fiscal estimate states that it would cost about $15,000 to set up an information technology system to sell repellent at parks and forests that don’t currently sell anything. The department would need to spend about $20,000 a year on repellent, according to the estimate. The Assembly passed the bill on a voice vote.
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