HOUSE BILL No. 5504

 

December 1, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Opsommer, Horn, Meekhof, Hildenbrand, Rick Jones, Rocca, Meltzer and Emmons 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 sections 504 and 43509 (MCL 324.504 and 324.43509),

 

section 504 as amended by 2004 PA 130 and section 43509 as amended

 

by 1996 PA 585.

 

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 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 keep land under its control open to

 

hunting regardless of whether there is adequate staff or funding to

 

manage that land.

 

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

 

to promulgate a rule that applies to commercial fishing except as

 

otherwise provided by law.

 

     (4) (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.

 

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

 

implement rules promulgated under this section. These orders shall

 

be effective upon posting.

 

     (6) (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.

 

     Sec. 43509. (1) A Except as otherwise provided in this

 

section, a person 17 years of age or older shall not take aquatic

 

species, except aquatic insects, in or upon any waters over which

 

this state has jurisdiction or in or upon any lands within the

 

state, or possess aquatic species, except aquatic insects, without

 

having in his or her possession a valid license as provided in this

 

part.

 


     (2) A Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person

 

shall not hunt, trap, or possess a wild animal without having in

 

his or her possession a valid license as provided in this part.

 

     (3) If, because of a state government shutdown, an individual

 

is not able to purchase a hunting, fur harvester's, or fishing

 

license, that individual may hunt, trap, or fish during that state

 

government shutdown and for 1 day following that shutdown without

 

purchasing a license. This subsection does not apply to any license

 

for which a lottery is required.

 

     (4) An individual who hunts, traps, or fishes during a state

 

government shutdown pursuant to subsection (3) has the same

 

privileges and is subject to the same rules and regulations as the

 

holder of a valid license under this part.

 

     (5) The department shall notify the public of a government

 

shutdown in at least 1 newspaper in each county in this state.

 

     (6) As used in this section, "state government shutdown" means

 

any of the following:

 

     (a) A circumstance where, by order of the governor or by

 

operation of law, a complete or partial suspension or cessation of

 

state government occurs.

 

     (b) An electricity outage occurs that lasts at least 24 hours

 

and affects more than 49% of the population of this state.

 

     (c) A shutdown of the state's computer system occurs that

 

lasts at least 24 hours and affects more than 49% of the population

 

of this state.