DNR HUNTING LAND ACREAGE H.B. 4286:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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House Bill 4286 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Judy Nerat
House Committee: Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Senate Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation
Date Completed: 3-23-09
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 5 (Department of Natural Resources) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to prevent a net decrease in the acreage of land under its control open to hunting, and submit to the Legislature an annual report on land closed and land opened to hunting. Additionally, the bill would revise the description of the rules the DNR must promulgate.
Hunting Land & Annual Report
The bill would require the DNR to do all of the following:
-- Keep land under its control open to hunting unless the Department determined that it should be closed to hunting because of public safety, fish or wildlife management, or homeland security concerns or as otherwise required by law.
-- Manage land under its control to support and promote hunting opportunities to the extent authorized by law.
-- Manage land under its control to prevent any net decrease in the acreage of land open to hunting.
Beginning April 1, 2010, the DNR would have to submit to the Legislature an annual report that included all of the following:
-- The location and acreage of land under its control previously open to hunting that the Department closed to hunting during the one-year period ending the preceding March 1, together with the reasons for the closure.
-- The location and acreage of land under its control previously closed to hunting that the Department opened to hunting during the one-year period ending the preceding March 1 to compensate for land closed to hunting.
These requirements would not apply to commercial forestland.
Rule-Making
Currently, the DNR must promulgate rules for the protection of the land and property under its control against wrongful use or occupancy as will ensure the carrying out of the intent of
Part 5 to protect the land and property from depredations and to preserve the land and property from molestation, spoilation, destruction, or any other improper use or occupancy.
Under the bill, instead, the DNR would have to promulgate rules to protect and preserve and land and other property under its control from depredation, damage, or destruction or wrongful or improper use or occupancy.
MCL 324.504 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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. hb4286/0910