RAPTORS - S.B. 1283: FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1283 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.

Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 365 (Endangered Species Protection) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to allow, subject to any permits required by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the possession, transfer, transportation, importation, or exportation or the transport or receipt for shipment by a common or contract carrier of a raptor or the captive-bred progeny of a raptor, a raptor egg, or raptor semen acquired in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations allowing raptors, raptor eggs, or raptor semen to be used in falconry or in the captive propagation of raptors for use in falconry.

In addition, subject to any permit required by the DNR, the bill would allow a person to sell, offer for sale, buy, or offer to buy a raptor that was captive-bred or semen from a raptor that was captive-bred in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations allowing raptors or raptor semen to be used in falconry or in captive propagation of raptors for use in falconry.

The bill also would add a provision to Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the NREPA to require the DNR to issue an order in the manner provided in the Act, establishing a season or seasons for falconers to take live raptors for use in falconry. The order would have to designate the species and numbers of raptors that could be taken and possessed and any other conditions pertaining to the taking and possession of raptors that the DNR considered advisable. The bill's provision and an order issued under it, would not designate any species of raptor as game. The bill, however, would not prohibit the DNR from determining that any species of raptor was a protected animal.

MCL 324.36505 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 9-22-98 - Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler floor\sb1283 - 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.