NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 451 of 1994 Part 441
GAME AND FISH LIFETIME LICENSE TRUST FUND

324.44101 Definitions.

Sec. 44101.

As used in this part:

(a) "Resident" means either of the following:

(i) A person who resides in a settled or permanent home or domicile within the boundaries of this state with the intention of remaining in this state.

(ii) A student who is enrolled in a full-time course of study at a college or university within this state.

(b) "Trust fund" means the game and fish lifetime license trust fund created in section 44104.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA

324.44102 Lifetime hunting or fishing licenses; fees; privileges, responsibilities, and duties; validity; comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license.

Sec. 44102.

(1) From March 1, 1989 to February 28, 1990, certain lifetime hunting or fishing licenses may be purchased by a resident of this state as provided in this part, for the following fees:

(a) The fee for a lifetime small game license, equivalent to the license available annually pursuant to section 43523, is $220.00.

(b) The fee for a lifetime firearm deer license, equivalent to the license available annually to take 1 deer in a season pursuant to section 43526, is $285.00.

(c) The fee for a lifetime bow and arrow deer license, equivalent to the license available annually to take 1 deer in a season pursuant to section 43527, is $285.00.

(d) The fee for a lifetime sportsperson's license, equivalent to the license available pursuant to section 43521, is $1,000.00.

(e) The fee for a comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license is $1,025.00 and shall include all of the following:

(i) Resident small game license.

(ii) Resident firearm deer license.

(iii) Resident bow and arrow deer license.

(iv) Resident fishing license.

(v) Resident trout and salmon license.

(vi) Resident bear hunting license.

(vii) Waterfowl hunting license.

(viii) Resident fur harvester's license.

(f) The fee for a lifetime fishing license, equivalent to the resident annual fishing license issued pursuant to section 43532, is $220.00.

(g) The fee for a lifetime trout and salmon license, equivalent to the annual trout and salmon license issued pursuant to section 43532, is $220.00.

(2) A lifetime license issued pursuant to this section shall allow the holder of that license, throughout his or her lifetime, the same privileges, responsibilities, and duties as would the equivalent annual license or stamp issued pursuant to part 435. However, a lifetime license issued under this part does not guarantee the holder of that license the right to take game except in compliance with harvest regulations and license and permit conditions established for that species by the department.

(3) A lifetime license issued to a person who is a resident of this state at the time the license is purchased continues to be valid even if the holder of that license becomes a nonresident.

(4) A person who holds a lifetime sportsperson license may purchase a comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license for $25.00.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA

324.44103 Submission of application and fee; contents of application; notice of change in name or address; purchase of lifetime license for another person; issuance of certificate; minor child; eligibility of holder of certificate to hunt or fish; review of application; mailing license; denial of application; retention of certain amounts; tender of money and information; report; return of information, unsold license, and money to department; replacement lifetime license; forwarding proceeds to state treasurer.

Sec. 44103.

(1) A resident of this state may purchase a lifetime license by submitting a completed application accompanied by the fee required in section 44102 to a person authorized by the department to sell lifetime licenses between March 1, 1989 and February 28, 1990. The application shall provide information required by the department including:

(a) The name of the applicant.

(b) The age of the applicant.

(d) The address of the applicant.

(e) If the applicant has a driver license, the driver license number of the applicant.

(f) The social security number of the applicant.

(2) The holder of a lifetime license shall notify the department if he or she has a name or address change.

(3) A person may purchase a lifetime license for another person, and upon receipt of full payment, the department shall issue a certificate entitling the designated person to apply for a license as provided for in this part. If a lifetime license is purchased and a certificate issued in the name of a minor child who is under the lawful age to utilize the license, the completed application shall be submitted at a district or regional office of the department when the child is of lawful age to utilize the license. The holder of a certificate is not eligible to hunt or fish pursuant to the lifetime license until he or she completes the application process and receives a license from the department.

(4) Upon receipt of the completed application from the person authorized to sell lifetime licenses and receipt of the fee, the department shall review the application and mail the lifetime license to the applicant within 7 days. However, if the department determines that the applicant is not eligible for the equivalent license or stamp under part 435, the department shall return the fee to the applicant, minus the amount retained by the person authorized by the department to sell lifetime licenses, with notification of the denial of the application for a lifetime license.

(5) A person authorized by the department to sell lifetime licenses may retain the following amount:

(a) Six dollars from each lifetime fishing license, small game license, and trout and salmon license.

(b) Eight dollars from each lifetime firearm and bow and arrow deer license.

(6) A person authorized to sell lifetime licenses shall, before the twenty-fifth day of each month, tender to the department the money received from the fifteenth day of the preceding month to the fifteenth day of the month in which payment is tendered for the lifetime licenses sold during that period, along with any other relevant information required by the department.

(7) A person authorized to sell lifetime licenses, before March 31, 1990, shall file with the department a complete report of all lifetime licenses sold between March 1, 1989 and February 28, 1990. All information required in subsection (1), unsold lifetime licenses, and remaining money, not previously sent to the department, shall be returned to the department.

(8) If a license issued under this part is lost, damaged, or destroyed, the licensee may apply to the department for a replacement lifetime license by filing an affidavit and meeting the requirements of this part for procuring a lifetime license. However, the fee for a lifetime license shall be waived if the licensee presents the department with the damaged license or the facts presented regarding the destruction or loss of the lifetime license are verified by a police report or other verification approved by the department. The department or a conservation officer may require the holder of a lifetime license to obtain a replacement license from the department if the license is mutilated or illegible.

(9) The department shall forward the proceeds of the sale of lifetime licenses to the state treasurer.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA

324.44104 Game and fish lifetime license trust fund; creation; purpose; crediting money received; investment of trust fund.

Sec. 44104.

(1) The game and fish lifetime license trust fund is created within the state treasury for the benefit of the people of this state to assist in providing adequate long-term funding for the game and fish protection account of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided for in section 2010.

(2) The state treasurer shall credit money received from the sale of lifetime hunting and fishing licenses under this part to the trust fund.

(3) The state treasurer shall invest the trust fund in the same manner as surplus funds are invested.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 587, Eff. Dec. 23, 2006
Compiler's Notes: Enacting section 2 of Act 587 of 2004 provides:"Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless House Joint Resolution Z of the 92nd Legislature becomes a part of the state constitution of 1963 as provided in section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963."
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA

324.44105 Maintenance and investment of corpus, interest, and earnings of trust fund; crediting certain amount to game and fish protection account.

Sec. 44105.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) , the corpus of the trust fund and the interest and earnings of the trust fund shall be maintained and invested by the state treasurer as provided in section 44104.

(2) For each lifetime license issued under this part, the state treasurer shall credit annually to the game and fish protection account of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided for in section 2010 from the accumulated interest and earnings of the trust fund, and from the corpus of the trust fund if the accumulated interest and earnings of the trust fund are insufficient, that amount of money that the department would have received had the holder of the lifetime license purchased the equivalent annual license during the license year. For a comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license, the equivalent annual license for purposes of calculations required by this section shall be the annual sportsperson license available pursuant to section 43521.

324.44106 Violation of MCL 324.44103; penalty.

Sec. 44106.

In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person who violates section 44103 shall forfeit the right to issue lifetime licenses and shall forfeit the right to retain the fee provided in section 44103(5) for lifetime licenses not received by the department within 20 days after the date the fees should have been tendered as provided in section 44103.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA

Rendered 8/15/2025 8:29 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov