NRC AUTHORITY/MILITARY LICENSE                                                         S.B. 288 (S-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

Senate Bill 288 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Senator Tom Casperson

Committee:  Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes

CONTENT

The bill would amend Parts 401 (Wildlife Conservation) and 487 (Sport Fishing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:

-- Authorize the Natural Resources Commission (in addition to the Legislature) to designate a species as game and authorize the establishment for the first open season for an animal designated as game.

-- Specify that only the Legislature could remove a species from the list of game.

-- Appropriate $1.0 million to the Department of Natural Resources for fiscal year 2012-13 to implement management practices for fish and game animals and perform research, education, and outreach related to hunting, fishing, game animals, predators, and prey.

-- Grant the Natural Resources Commission the exclusive authority to regulate the taking of fish in Michigan, and require it to issue related orders following a public meeting and an opportunity for public input and notify the Legislature before doing so.

-- Require the Commission, to the greatest extent possible, to use principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of fish.

The bill also would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) to revise provisions pertaining to hunting and fishing licenses issued to members of the military, by eliminating the $1 fee, deleting a provision that limits validity of the license to a two-week period, and deleting a requirement that a member be stationed outside the State.

MCL 324.40103 et al.                                                     Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would appropriate $1.0 million to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and also have a significant negative fiscal impact on the DNR. 

Under the bill, the DNR would receive a $1.0 million fiscal year (FY) 2012-13 GF/GP appropriation to implement management practices for fish and game, and to perform research, education and outreach.  The bill does not specify a fund source, but many past statutory appropriations have been assumed to be from the General Fund.  This appropriation would be carried forward into subsequent fiscal years if it were not spent during FY 2012-13. 

The bill also would allow members of the military to obtain hunting and fishing licenses for free.  Currently, there are fee exemptions in Part 435 of the Act for disabled veterans and members of the military who are stationed out-of-State.  These exemptions allow for free or reduced-price licenses for veterans who meet certain criteria.  The bill would allow any member of the military who was a Michigan resident at the time he or she enlisted to obtain

a hunting or fishing license free of charge.  This would result in the loss of an unknown amount of revenue that would normally be credited to the Game and Fish Protection Fund.  It also would reduce Federal apportionment of Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds that are distributed based on the number of paid hunting and fishing license holders.  By making members of the military nonpaying license holders, the bill would prevent these hunting and fishing licenses from counting toward Michigan's Federal apportionment and would result in the loss of an unknown amount of Federal revenue.

Date Completed:  4-23-13                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.