REDUCED DNR FEES FOR VETERANS & P.O.W.s

House Bill 4203 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Gary McDowell

Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Complete to5-13-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4203 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON5-12-09

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.43537 et al):

·                     To make disabled veterans or a residents who were prisoners of war eligible to purchase any resident hunting or fishing license under the act for $2.  The department could demand proof of eligibility from the licensee when hunting or fishing and the licensee would need to furnish that proof upon request of a peace officer.  (Currently, disabled veterans can purchase senior hunting licenses and fishing licenses.) 

·                     To require the department to waive state park entry and camping fees and state forest camping fees for disabled veterans and prisoners of war.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the Game and Fish Protection Fund and the State Park Improvement Fund.  Actual revenue losses created through this bill would depend on the number of prisoners of war and disabled veterans purchasing hunting licenses or visiting state parks.  Potentially there would be some loss of camping revenue if any of the 66,000 disabled veterans asked for reduced camping fees.  If 20 percent chose to take advantage of this reduced fee, the Park Improvement Fund could see a loss of about $100,000 per year in lost day use and camping fee revenue.  There are no current estimates of the number of prisoner of war survivors living inMichigan.  There would be no fiscal impact on local governmental units.

POSITIONS:

The American Legion, The Marine Corps League, & The Commanders Group support the bill. (5-12-09)

The Military Order of the Purple Heart supports the bill. (5-12-09)

Department of Natural Resources does not support the bill.  (5-13-09)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                   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.