HOUSE BILL No. 4333


     February 25, 1999, Introduced by Reps. Richardville, Ehardt, Garcia and Allen and referred to the Committee on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation.


        A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

   "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

   by amending section 74117 (MCL 324.74117), as added by 1995 PA

   58.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 74117.  (1) The department may require park permits and

 2    collect park permit fees for entry into a state park or portion

 3    of a state park posted in the manner prescribed by this part.

 4    The department shall prepare and distribute park permits to

 5    implement this part.

 6         (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an annual

 7    park permit shall be issued and shall authorize the entry of the

 8    motor vehicle to which it is originally attached within the

 9    confines of any state park or recreation area during the calendar

10    year in which issued.  The fee for the annual park permit is


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 1     $18.00 in 1994, and  $20.00,  in 1995 and thereafter,  except

 2    that an owner of a resident motor vehicle who is 65 years of age

 3    or older OR WHO IS A VETERAN shall be issued a special annual

 4    park permit for 1/4 the amount of the annual park permit.  A VET-

 5    ERAN SHALL PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION TO THE DEPARTMENT IN A MANNER

 6    PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT HE OR SHE IS ELIGIBLE FOR A

 7    SPECIAL ANNUAL PARK PERMIT UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.

 8         (3) A daily park permit, valid for 1 day only, shall be

 9    issued for a fee to be fixed by the department, but in an amount

10    not to exceed $4.00 for resident motor vehicles and $6.00 for

11    nonresident motor vehicles.  The fee for nonresident motor vehi-

12    cles may be $4.00 in all parks except where nonresident day use

13    is extremely high.  The department shall identify parks where

14    nonresident day use is extremely high and set the nonresident fee

15    at $6.00.  The daily permit shall authorize the entry of the

16    motor vehicle to which it is originally attached within the con-

17    fines of a state park during the day in which issued.

18         (4) A resident motor vehicle is a vehicle that is registered

19    as a motor vehicle in this state.

20         (5) This part applies only to the entry of motor vehicles

21    into the state parks and to the park permits authorized in this

22    part and does not obviate the necessity of obtaining additional

23    permits for special services or park privileges as  previously or

24     subsequently may be  required by law or by rules promulgated by

25    the department.  The department shall designate each person in

26    the state authorized to sell park permits and shall require as a

27    condition of the designation that a surety bond be furnished in



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 1    an amount and in a form and with the surety as is acceptable to

 2    the department.  A person designated by the department  after

 3     being designated  may issue park permits in accordance with this

 4    part.

 5         (6) Commercial motor coaches or vans are not eligible to

 6    enter a state park with an annual park permit.  The department

 7    may establish a daily fee not to exceed $15.00 to allow commer-

 8    cial motor coaches or vans with a capacity of over 12 passengers

 9    daily entry into a state park.

10         (7) The department may add to the cost of a reservation or

11     for  THE payment for a motor vehicle entrance or camping fee the

12    charges that the state incurs because of the use of a credit

13    card.

14         (8) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO

15    HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY, NAVAL, MARINE, OR COAST GUARD FORCES,

16    OR IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, OF THE UNITED STATES AND WHO WAS

17    RELEASED OR DISCHARGED UNDER HONORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.























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