S.B. 1258: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - HUNTING BY BLIND PERSON

Senate Bill 1258 (as introduced 9-15-98)

Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry

Date Completed: 11-12-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow a blind person to use a laser sighting device to take an animal if all of the following conditions were met:

-- The blind person held a hunting license under the Act and complied with all other laws and rules for the taking of the animal.

-- The blind person was accompanied and assisted by a sighted person, who would have to be at least 18 years of age and possess a hunting license or a certificate of completion of training in hunter safety issued by this State, another state, a province of Canada, or another country. The sighted person would have to furnish the license or certificate upon the request of a peace officer.

-- The blind person possessed proof of blindness in the form of an official State personal identification card issued under the authority of the Secretary of State, and furnished the proof of blindness upon the request of a peace officer.

-- If the animal were a deer, bear, elk, or turkey, the arrow, bolt, or quarrel used had a broadhead hunting type of point at least 7/8 of an inch wide and at least 14 inches long.

The term "blind person" would mean an individual who had a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with a correction, or had a limitation of his or her field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtended an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees, as determined by the Commission for the Blind.

MCL 324.40102 et. al - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could result in a minimal indeterminate increase in revenue to the Game and Fish Protection Fund from sales of bow hunting permits to blind persons.

- Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

S9798\S1258SA

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.