S.B. 963 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS - DEER HUNTING: AGE REQUIREMENT

DEER HUNTING: AGE REQUIREMENT - S.B. 963 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 963 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to permit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue to a child at least 12 years old a license to hunt deer with a firearm. Currently, the DNR may issue a hunting license to a child who is at least 14 upon payment of a license fee and upon application by a parent or legal guardian, if the minor, when hunting on lands upon which the minor's parents are not regularly domiciled, will be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an authorized person who is at least 17. Under the bill, the DNR could issue a hunting license to a minor child upon payment of a license fee and upon application by a parent or legal guardian. The bill also would delete deer from the provision that prohibits a firearm license to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm from being issued to a person who is under 14. The bill would retain a provision that a license to hunt may not be issued to a person who is under 12 years old.

In addition, a parent or legal guardian of a minor currently may not permit the minor to hunt under the authority of a license on land upon which the parent or guardian is not regularly domiciled without being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized person who is at least 17 years of age. Under the bill, a parent or legal guardian of a minor would have to ensure that if the minor hunted under the authority of a license, the minor was accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized person who was at least 17 years either if the minor were hunting on land not regularly domiciled by a parent or guardian, and/or if the license were a license to hunt deer with a firearm.

MCL 324.43517 & 324.43520 - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would generate an indeterminate increase in revenues to the Game and Fish Protection Fund, depending upon the number of 12- and 13-year-olds who purchased a deer hunting license.

Date Completed: 11-16-98 - Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutlerfloor\sb963 (S-2) - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.