State of Michigan
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor	DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing	REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER: HOUSE BILL 6119, AS INTRODUCED

TOPIC: ID Requirement for hunting/fishing structures or equipment

SPONSOR: Representative Rick Baxter

CO-SPONSORS: Representatives Gosselin, Shaffer, Hoogendyk, Gleason, Robertson, Hildenbrand and Nitz

COMMITTEE: Conservation, Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation

Analysis Done: June 7, 2006

POSITION

The Department supports legislation to make these changes to Part 465 (Fishing Shanties) and Part 487 (Sport Fishing), of PA 451 of 1994.

The Department is preparing an amendment to the Wildlife Conservation Order to allow use of valid Michigan hunting license numbers to meet identification requirements for hunting structures and equipment left afield. The Department and Natural Resources Commission have the authority to regulate the taking of game.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

Individuals have expressed concern with current requirements to affix name and address to structures intended to be left afield such as hunting blinds, tree stands and fishing shanties. A preference to use hunting or fishing license numbers to identify ownership has been stated.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

HB 6119 proposes to amend Part 465, Fish Shanties, and add language to Part 401, Wildlife Conservation, of PA 451 of 1994, to require use of a person’s kill tag, hunting license, raptor capture permit, nuisance control permit, or fishing license number instead of name and address to identify the individual that has placed the equipment or structure afield.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

Valid Michigan hunting and fishing license numbers can be checked through the Retail Sales System (RSS) at any time by conservation officers while afield.

Con

The Department is already moving to make these changes within the Wildlife Conservation Order for hunting blinds, tree stands, traps, etc.

HB 6119 does not include changes to identification requirements for ice fishing equipment such as tip-ups currently contained within Part 487.

Certain permit numbers included in HB 6119 cannot be checked through the RSS.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

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

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(b) State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(c) Local Government

Comments:

None

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

None

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

_______________________________

Date

LED