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

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	SENATE BILL 349, SUBSTITUTE S-1
TOPIC:	Remove discount limit on price of hunting & fishing licenses
SPONSOR:	Senator Barcia
CO-SPONSORS:	Senators Prusi, Allen and McManus
COMMITTEE:	Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation
Analysis Done:	April 2, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) supports this bill.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

The Department is currently limited to discounting hunting and fishing licenses by no more than 15 percent for marketing purposes to increase participation in these activities. The Department also has the authority to reduce or eliminate the fee for antlerless deer licenses to assist in the management of this species. In addition, the Department is able to provide a 15 percent discount to individuals that purchase four or more licenses at the same time.

Over the past 20 years, the number of licensed anglers in our state has dropped 29 percent. The number of hunters has dropped 14.3 percent in the same period. There are many reasons people stop participating in hunting and fishing, and the Department is launching new efforts to retain current hunters and anglers and recruit new ones. Allowing the Department to have more control over the discounting of licenses is one avenue that is being pursued.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

Senate Bill 349 allows the Department to determine the amount of the discount that should be applied to licenses for marketing purposes by eliminating the 15 percent cap that the Department currently operates under. This bill also allows the Department to discount or eliminate fees to achieve harvest or management goals.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

This legislation gives the Department the flexibility to discount license prices, at any level necessary, to encourage the recruitment and retention of hunters and anglers. This change will enable the Department to increase its user base and to allow license prices to reflect current market conditions. Within this bill, the Department also has the flexibility to evaluate its harvest and management objectives related to wildlife and fisheries populations and to discount or eliminate fees to accomplish those objectives.

Con

None

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

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

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

The Department’s intent is to either remain revenue neutral or to increase revenue under the assumption that decreased prices would lead to increased sales. The potential for increased revenue would depend on the nature of the discount and the species affected.

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

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

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Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

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Date

BSS