April 8, 2008, Introduced by Rep. LeBlanc 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 43520 (MCL 324.43520), as amended by 2006 PA
282.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 43520. (1) Subject to other requirements of this part,
the department may issue a hunting license to a minor child if all
of the following requirements are met:
(a) A parent or legal guardian of the minor child applies for
the license on behalf of the minor child.
(b) The parent or guardian represents that the requirements of
section 43517(a), (b), or (c), as applicable, will be complied
with.
(c) The minor child is at least 10 years old or, if the
license is a license to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm, at
least 12 years old.
(d) The license fee is paid.
(2) A person authorized to sell hunting licenses shall not
issue a hunting license to a person born after January 1, 1960,
unless the person presents proof of previous hunting experience in
the form of a hunting license issued by this state, another state,
a province of Canada, or another country, presents proof that the
person is licensed by this state or another state to carry a
concealed weapon, or presents a certification of completion of
training in hunter safety issued to the person by this state,
another state, a province of Canada, or another country. If an
applicant for a hunting license does not have proof of such a
previous license, concealed weapon license, or a certification of
completion of training in hunter safety, a person authorized to
sell hunting licenses may issue a hunting license if the applicant
submits a signed affidavit stating that the applicant has completed
a course in hunter safety, that the applicant has a license to
carry a concealed weapon, or that the applicant possessed such a
hunting license previously. The person selling a hunting license
shall record as specified by the department the form of proof of
the previous hunting experience, license to carry a concealed
weapon, or certification of completion of hunter safety training
presented by the applicant. This subsection does not apply to the
issuance of an apprentice license. An apprentice license or the
equivalent does not satisfy the requirements of this subsection
concerning proof of previous hunting experience.
(3) A person who does not meet the requirements of subsection
(2) may obtain an apprentice license for the same price as the
corresponding regular license that the person would otherwise be
qualified to obtain. A person 17 years old or older shall not hunt
game under an apprentice license unless another person at least 21
years old who possesses a license, other than an apprentice
license, to hunt that game accompanies that apprentice licensee and
does not accompany more than 1 other apprentice licensee. For the
purposes of this subsection and section 43517(b), a person shall
not go along with more than 2 apprentice licensees of any age for
the purpose of accompanying those apprentice licensees while those
apprentice licensees are hunting. If a person has represented to an
apprentice licensee or, if the apprentice licensee is a minor
child, to the apprentice licensee's parent or legal guardian that
the person would accompany the apprentice licensee for the purposes
of this subsection, the person shall not go along with the
apprentice licensee while the apprentice licensee is hunting unless
the person actually accompanies the apprentice licensee and
possesses a license, other than an apprentice license, to hunt the
same game as the apprentice licensee. A person is not eligible to
obtain a specific type of apprentice license, such as a firearm
deer license, an archery deer license, a combination deer license,
a small game license, or a turkey license, for more than 2 license
years. An apprentice license shall be distinguished from a license
other than an apprentice license by a notation or other means.
(4) By October 1, 2008, the department shall submit to the
standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
primary responsibility for conservation and outdoor recreation
issues a report on the effect of the apprentice hunter program and
the
reductions in minimum hunting age enacted by the 2006
amendatory
act that amended this section 2006
PA 282 on recruitment
of new hunters and other relevant issues, such as hunter safety.