REQUIRE NRC MEMBERS TO HOLD

HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSES FOR 5 YEARS

House Bill 5994

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Sheltrown

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 4-19-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5994 AS INTRODUCED 3-24-10

In general, the bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to:

(1) Add new eligibility criteria for appointment to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC or Commission); this would include requiring a person to have purchased at least two licenses to take game or fish for five consecutive calendar years ─ the year of the appointment and the four immediately preceding years ─ to qualify for appointment (or reappointment) to the NRC.

(2) Reflect certain changes made in Executive Reorganization Order No. 2009-31, issued by the Governor on December 9, 2009.  Among other things, that order combined the Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Quality (DEQ) into a single department called the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE).

The bill would amend Parts 3 (Definitions) and 5 (Department of Natural Resources) of NREPA.

More specifically, the bill would do the following things:

·                    Change references to the "Department of Natural Resources" (DNR) to the "Department of Natural Resources and Environment" (DNRE) "as created in Executive Reorganization Order No. 2009-31" (MCL 324.99919).

·                    Change the "Commission on Natural Resources" to the "Natural Resources Commission," and delete language describing the Commission as the "head of the [DNR]."

·                    Allow, but not require, the Commission to "provide advice to the director on matters relating to conservation policy" rather than allowing, but not requiring, it to "establish general policies related to the natural resources management and environmental protection for the guidance of the director."

·                    Require Commission members to be selected based on training, experience, ability, and fitness as to "matters relating to conservation policy and the taking of game and fish" instead of as to "at least [one] of the principal lines of activities vested in the [DNR]." (Commission members are called "members" in some places, and "commissioners" in others.)

·                    Require a person to have purchased at least two licenses to take game or fish for five consecutive calendar years ─ the year of the appointment and the four immediately preceding years ─ to qualify for appointment (or reappointment) to the NRC.

·                    Require the DNRE to verify to the Governor and to the majority and minority leaders of the Senate that this requirement was met.

·                    Require the DNRE to include a list of the game and fish licenses purchased by NRC commissioners as part of their biographies posted on the DNRE website. 

·                    Require one NRC commissioner to be someone who is also a member of the Commission of Agriculture by December 31, 2010. 

·                    Require the Governor to appoint the DNRE director to serve at the pleasure of the Governor, rather than having the NRC appoint the director. (This is consistent with Executive Reorganization Order No. 2009-31.)

MCL 324.301 & 324.501

FISCAL IMPACT: 

House Bill 5994 would have no fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment or local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ 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.