HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE DISCOUNTS

Senate Bill 349 (Substitute S-3)

Sponsor:  Sen. Jim Barcia

House Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation

Complete to6-1-09

A SUMMARY OF SENATEBILL 349 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE5-12-09

The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1) to remove certain restrictions on discounts for hunting and fishing licenses; and (2) to encourage the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish discounts for members of hunting and fishing organizations. 

Discounts.  Currently, theDNR may offer the following discounts on hunting or fishing licenses: 

·                        A marketing discount of up to 15 percent to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities.

·                        A discounted fee or no fee for an antlerless deer license in a specific area as needed to increase the harvest of antlerless deer.

·                        A sportsperson discount of 15 percent when someone buys four or more licenses at the same time for the same person.  (Waterfowl hunting and limited fishing licenses are not eligible for the sportsperson discount.)

Under Senate Bill 349, theDNR could (1) provide a marketing discount of any amount to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities; and (2) provide a discounted fee or no fee for any license or application (not just antlerless deer) to achieve a harvest or management objective for that species. (Specific provisions for sportsperson and antlerless deer discounts would be eliminated.)

 

Partnerships; report.  In addition, theDNR would be encouraged to create a partnership program with organizations that promote hunting and fishing inMichigan and to report to the Legislature within a year on how many such partnerships it has established. Members of partner organizations would receive discounts.

MCL 324.43521

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist          

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.