ELEC. WATERFOWL HUNTING LICENSE S.B. 1074:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 1074 (as reported without amendment)
Committee: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources, by March 1, 2018, to develop an electronic license that an individual could use to display his or her waterfowl license on an electronic device.
The bill also would require an individual who held a hunting, fur harvester's, or fishing license, beginning March 1, 2018, to carry it (as currently required) or, if applicable, an electronic copy of the license, and to exhibit it upon demand under certain conditions.
The bill specifies that an individual who displayed an electronic copy of his or her license would not be presumed to have consented to a search of the device. The State or a law enforcement agency, or its employees, would not be liable for damage to an electronic device that occurred as a result of a conservation officer or law enforcement officer viewing an electronic copy of the license.
MCL 324.43516 & 324.43525b Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and no fiscal impact on local units of government. It is not clear how much the development of an electronic waterfowl hunting license would cost, or if development such a license would be possible within existing contracts. Any additional costs would likely be borne by existing appropriations from the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
Date Completed: 9-27-16 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton
This 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.