CORMORANT CONTROL & MGMT. H.B. 4471 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4471 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Darwin Booher
House Committee: Tourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Natural Resources
Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to define the terms "cormorant damage" and "cormorant depredation order".
"Cormorant damage" would mean adverse impacts of double-crested cormorants on fish, fish hatchery stock, wildlife, plants, and their habitats and on manmade structures. "Cormorant depredation order" would mean the depredation order for double-crested cormorants to protect public resources, 50 CFR 21.48, issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4614 and Senate Bill 354. House Bill 4614 would create the "Cormorant Control Fund". Senate Bill 354 would require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to administer a program to control and manage double-crested cormorants in order to reduce damage caused by the birds, participate in a federally recognized organization of states to coordinate a regional effort to reduce cormorant damage, and seek funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund for deposit in the Cormorant Control Fund.
MCL 324.40102 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. However, the bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 354, which would require the Department of Natural Resources to administer a program to control and manage double-crested cormorants. Senate Bill 354 (H-1) would direct the DNR to seek funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund for deposit into the Cormorant Control Fund proposed by House Bill 4614 (H-1), but a specific amount is not identified. Michigan's Great Lakes Protection Fund is appropriated in the Department of Environmental Quality budget primarily to support the Office of the Great Lakes and for research grants. A distribution from the Great Lakes Protection Fund to the Cormorant Control Fund would reduce the funds available for current uses of the Great Lakes Protection Fund.
Date Completed: 6-29-07 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
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. hb4471/0708