Act No. 19

Public Acts of 1997

Approved by the Governor

June 11, 1997

Filed with the Secretary of State

June 12, 1997

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 12, 1997

STATE OF MICHIGAN

89TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 1997

Introduced by Senators Gast, Bennett and Dunaskiss

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 51

AN ACT to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, and assessments; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts," by amending section 40113a (MCL 324.40113a), as added by 1996 PA 377.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 40113a. (1) The legislature finds and declares that:

(a) The wildlife populations of the state and their habitat are of paramount importance to the citizens of this state.

(b) The sound scientific management of the wildlife populations of the state, including hunting of bear, is declared to be in the public interest.

(c) The sound scientific management of bear populations in this state is necessary to minimize human/bear encounters and to prevent bears from threatening or harming humans, livestock, and pets.

(2) The commission of natural resources shall have the exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game as defined in section 40103 in this state. The commission of natural resources shall, to the greatest extent practicable, utilize principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of game. Issuance of orders by the commission of natural resources regarding the taking of game shall be made following a public meeting and an opportunity for public input. Not less than 30 days before issuing an order, the commission of natural resources shall provide a copy of the order to each of the following:

(a) Each member of each standing committee of the senate or house of representatives that considers legislation pertaining to conservation, the environment, natural resources, recreation, tourism, or agriculture.

(b) The chairperson of the senate appropriations committee and the chairperson of the house of representatives appropriations committee.

(c) The members of the subcommittee of the senate appropriations committee and the subcommittee of the house of representatives appropriations committee that consider the budget of the department of natural resources.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved

Governor.