State of Michigan

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Lansing

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM

governor

REBECCA  A. HUMPHRIES

director

 

 

 

BILL ANALYSIS

 

BILL NUMBER:

HB 5839 (AS INTRODUCED)

TOPIC:

Eliminate DNR Boat Launch Fees

SPONSOR:

Representative Kevin Elsenheimer

CO-SPONSORS:

N/A

COMMITTEE:

Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Analysis Done:

March 7, 2008

POSITION

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Department) opposes this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

The Department administers over 800 Boating Access Sites (BAS) throughout Michigan.  In some busy locations, there is a need for on-site supervision of boat launching activities for traffic control and ramp use management to avoid user conflicts and misuse of these public facilities.  The BAS permit system is applied at 66 of these sites where site control has been necessary.  Revenue from the sale of those permits is used to help offset the cost of staffing and maintaining those sites for the benefit of the users and protection of the resource.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

This bill removes the authorization for the Department to charge any fees for the use of public Boating Access Sites administered by the Department.   

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

This bill would please a segment of the boating public who feel that these public facilities should be "free" for their use.

Con

This bill would result in an annual loss of approximately $1 million to the boating program, operated by the Parks and Recreation Division of the Department.  This loss would result in staffing reductions that would seriously impact the Department's ability to provide safe, well-managed boating access sites.

 

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a)     Department

Budgetary:

N/A

Revenue:   

This would result in an annual loss of approximately $1 million to the boating program.

Comments:

This action will negatively impact safe boating in Michigan.

(b)     State

Budgetary:

N/A

Revenue:   

N/A

Comments:

None

(c)     Local Government

Comments:

None

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

N/A

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

N/A

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

Rules can be promulgated to provide for administration of the act.

 

 

 

_______________________________

Rebecca  A. Humphries

Director

 

_______________________________

Date

PRD/BSS