ALLOW PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL LICENSES

WITH MENTORED YOUTH HUNTING LICENSE

House Bill 4957 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Gary Howell

Committee:  Natural Resources

Complete to 10-3-17

SUMMARY:

                                             

House Bill 4957 would amend Sections 43502 and 43520 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by allowing individuals with a mentored youth hunting license to purchase additional hunting licenses.

Currently, a mentored youth hunting license includes all of the following:

·         Base hunting license

·         Deer license

·         All-species fishing license

·         Spring and fall wild turkey hunting license

·         Fur harvester's license

The bill would add that an individual who purchases a mentored youth hunting license may also purchase additional licenses, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

·         Antlerless deer licenses under Section 43527a

·         A bear hunting license under Section 43528

·         An elk hunting license under Section 43529

The bill would also update language throughout the two sections for clarity, including striking obsolete language that was last amended in Public Act 108 of 2013.

MCL 324.43502 and MCL 324.43520

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4957 is likely to increase revenues for the Department of Natural Resources, though the extent of this increase is uncertain.  The bill would allow individuals holding a mentored youth hunting license to be eligible to apply for an antlerless deer license, a bear hunting license, and an elk hunting license.  However, all three of these big game licenses are subject to a lottery system to varying degrees, with the bear and elk hunting licenses being in very limited supply.  In 2017 there were a total of 7,140 bear licenses awarded from 56,501 total applicants; 200 elk licenses were awarded from 40,892 total applicants.  Increasing the pool of individuals eligible to apply for bear and elk licenses would not increase the number of these licenses available to be awarded.  However, antlerless deer licenses are not as limited as bear and elk licenses, so the department may realize increased sales as a result of the bill.  The sale of hunting and fishing licenses generated approximately $63.2 million in FY 2016-17.

The bill in unlikely to affect costs for the department and would have no fiscal impact on local units of government.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Emily S. Smith

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Austin Scott

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