HOUSE BILL No. 4597

 

April 12, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Gillard, Lahti, Sheltrown, McDowell and Lindberg and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending section 504 (MCL 324.504), as amended by 2004 PA 130.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 504. (1) The department shall promulgate rules for the

 

protection of the to protect and preserve other lands and property

 

under its control against wrongful use or occupancy as will ensure

 

the carrying out of the intent of this part to protect the lands

 

and property from depredations and to preserve the lands and

 

property from molestation, spoilation, destruction, or any other

 

from depredation, damage, or destruction or wrongful or improper

 

use or occupancy.

 

     (2) The department shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Keep land under its control open to hunting unless the

 


department determines that the land should be closed to hunting

 

because of public safety, fish or wildlife management, or homeland

 

security concerns or as otherwise required by law.

 

     (b) Manage land under its control to support and promote

 

hunting opportunities to the extent authorized by law.

 

     (c) Manage land under its control to prevent any net decrease

 

in the acreage of such land that is open to hunting.

 

     (3) By April 1, 2008 and each year thereafter, the department

 

shall submit to the legislature a report that includes all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The location and acreage of land under its control

 

previously open to hunting that the department closed to hunting

 

during the 1-year period ending the preceding March 1, together

 

with the reasons for the closure.

 

     (b) The location and acreage of land under its control

 

previously closed to hunting that the department opened to hunting

 

during the 1-year period ending the preceding March 1 to compensate

 

for land closed to hunting under subdivision (a).

 

     (4) (2) This section does not allow authorize the department

 

to promulgate a rule that applies to commercial fishing except as

 

otherwise provided by law.

 

     (5) (3) The department shall not promulgate or enforce a rule

 

that prohibits an individual who is licensed or exempt from

 

licensure under 1927 PA 372, MCL 28.421 to 28.435, from carrying a

 

pistol in compliance with that act, whether concealed or otherwise,

 

on property under the control of the department.

 

     (6) (4) The department shall issue orders necessary to

 


implement rules promulgated under this section. These orders shall

 

be effective upon posting.

 

     (7) (5) A person who violates a rule promulgated under this

 

section or an order issued under this section is responsible for a

 

state civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of

 

not more than $500.00.