YOUTH HUNTING S.B. 207 (S-3): FLOOR SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 207 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Joe Hune
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 do the following:

-- Eliminate the minimum hunting age (which is 10 or, to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm, 12).
-- Require the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to issue an order establishing a mentored youth hunting program within one year after the bill took effect.
-- Require a mentor to be at least 21; have a valid hunting license, other than an apprentice license; and present proof of previous hunting experience.
-- Establish a mentored youth hunting license for a person younger than 10, and allow a licensee to hunt with a mentor who was at least 21 in accordance with the program.
-- Require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue to the Legislature every four years a report evaluating whether the fee revenue from mentored youth hunting licenses was adequate to administer the program.


The fee for a mentored youth hunting license would be $7.50, and would include all of the privileges conferred by all of the following:

-- Resident small game license.
-- Combination deer license.
-- All species fishing license.
-- Spring and fall turkey hunting licenses.
-- Resident fur harvester's license.

A parent or legal guardian could allow a minor child younger than 10 to hunt only with a mentor in compliance with the mentored youth hunting program.


The bill would take effect on September 1, 2011.


MCL 324.43517 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would require the NRC to establish, and the DNR to administer a youth hunting program. The $7.50 fee for youth hunting licenses would bring some unknown amount of revenue into the Department. The revenue would be credited to the Game and Fish Fund. The bill also would require the Department to report to the Legislature every four years on the adequacy of the fee. The DNR also would experience some increased costs as a result of administering the program. It is unknown whether the new revenue would exceed the additional costs; therefore, the fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminate.


Date Completed: 3-22-11 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton

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. sb207/1112