2023 Michigan Compiled Laws › Chapter 285 - Agriculture › Act 141 of 1939 - Grain Dealers Act (285.61 - 285.89) › Section 285.88 - Grain Merchandiser or Farm Produce Trucker; Surety Bond; Requirements.

285.88 Grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker; surety bond; requirements.
Sec. 28.
(1) Before a license is issued to a grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker, the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker shall provide a bond to the department in the amount of $100,000.00.
(2) A bond provided under this section shall name the department as payee, be executed by the applicant as principal, and be issued by a surety authorized to conduct business in this state. The department shall prescribe the form and terms and conditions of the bond.
(3) A bond provided under this section shall secure the faithful performance of the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker of his or her obligations in any farm produce transaction outstanding on or after the effective date of the bond and outstanding at the time the license of the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker is revoked or the bond is canceled as provided in this act, whichever occurs first. The bond shall secure the faithful performance by the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker of those obligations whether the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker is licensed or not.
(4) The total aggregate liability of a surety under a bond provided under this section is limited to the amount of the bond without regard to the number of claimants involved in a transaction in which a claim on the bond is made. The liability of a surety on a bond provided under this section shall not accumulate for any successive license period.
(5) A grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker required to provide a bond to the department under this section may at his or her option provide the department with a certificate of deposit or other security acceptable to the department in lieu of all or part of the bond, payable to the department as trustee. The principal amount of the certificate of deposit or other security provided, or the aggregate amount of the bond provided and the principal amount of the certificate of deposit or other security provided, shall be the same as the amount of the bond otherwise required under this section. The interest on the certificate of deposit or other security provided under this subsection shall be made payable to the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker or other purchaser of the certificate of deposit or other security. The certificate of deposit or other security shall remain on deposit until it is released, canceled, or discharged as provided for by rule of the department. The provisions of this section that apply to a bond required under this section apply to a certificate of deposit or other security provided under this subsection.
(6) If the department determines that a bond previously provided under this section is insufficient, the department shall require that the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker provide an additional bond. The additional bond shall be in an amount determined by the department and conform with all other requirements of this section.
(7) A grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker shall not cancel a bond required by this section without the consent of the department and the department's prior approval of a substitute bond.
(8) The surety on a bond required by this section may not cancel the bond unless it sends a notice of intent to cancel to the department more than 60 days before it cancels the bond. If the department receives a notice from a surety under this subsection, it shall promptly notify the grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker that provided the bond. The department shall revoke the license of a grain merchandiser or farm produce trucker who fails to provide a new bond within 60 days after the department receives notice of intent to cancel from a surety.
History:
Add. 2002, Act 80, Eff. Mar. 31, 2003