State of Michigan
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor	DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing	K. L. COOL director

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER: House Bill 5141

TOPIC: A bill to amend the definition of “Resident” as it relates to purchasing Michigan hunting and fishing licenses.

SPONSOR: Representative Adamini

CO-SPONSORS: Representatives Brown, Gillard, Casperson, Shackleton, Sheltrown, Gleason, and Gieleghem

COMMITTEE: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation

Analysis Done: October 24, 2003

POSITION

The Department opposes this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

The law currently does not include foreign exchange students living with Michigan residents in its definition of residency as it pertains to buying Michigan hunting and fishing licenses; however, the Michigan Hunting and Fishing License Act already allows any youth under 17 to buy resident hunting and fishing licenses. The definition of a nonresident means a person who is not a resident and is 17 years of age or older. Any foreign exchange student who is under 17 can already buy Michigan resident licenses.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

The bill would amend the definition of “resident” in the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to include foreign exchange students who are living with Michigan residents during the school year and are enrolled in an elementary or secondary institution of learning in this State for any grade through 12.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

HB 5141 would ease the financial burden to foreign exchange student’s (who are 17 and over) parents or the Michigan residents they are living with if the student decides he or she wants to go hunting in Michigan.

Con

The Michigan Hunting and Fishing License Act already provides for youth discounts to any youth (resident or nonresident) that is under 17. Nonresident youths must purchase resident licenses if they are under 17. Further, children do not even need a fishing license until they are 17 years of age. This law will only affect foreign exchange students in a secondary institution that are 17 years of age or over.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

(a) Natural Resources

Budgetary:

There will be minimal impact. We would estimate that a very limited number of 17 year olds or older foreign exchange students in high school would purchase a hunting or fishing license.

Revenue:

Revenue impact will be minimal, if we assume that the exchange student would have purchased a nonresident license, the impact would be the difference between the nonresident and the resident fee. For firearm deer licenses, the difference would be $115.00.

If we assume that the student would not purchase a nonresident license, the Department would see a gain of the resident license fee.

Since, such a small population is affected (exchange students over the age of 17), the revenue implications are minimal.

(b) State

Comments:

No impact.

(c) Local Government

Comments:

No Impact.

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

The bill would create no concerns or issues for other State Departments.

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None.

_______________________________

K. L. Cool

Director

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Date

GCCS/BSS