MENTORED YOUTH HUNTING PROGRAM

FOR CHILDREN IN STATE CARE

House Bill 5226 as reported without amendment                  (Enacted as Public Act 250 of 2012)

Sponsor:  Rep. Harold Haugh

First Committee: Families, Children, and Seniors

Second Committee: Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

Complete to 2-1-12

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5226 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

The bill would amend Section 9 of 1935 PA 220 to specify that the Superintendent of the Michigan Children's Institute, or a designee, is authorized to allow a child that has been committed to the Institute to hunt through the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.

Public Acts 109 and 120 of 2011 established the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which allows for a mentored youth hunting license to be issued to a child under 10 years old.  The child is required to hunt with a mentor who is at least 21 years old, and both the child and the mentor are required to follow the provisions of the program as established by the Natural Resources Commission.

[According to the Department of Human Services website:  The Michigan Children's Institute was created to assure the proper care of children needing services from the state . . . The law established the MCI superintendent as the legal guardian for children committed to MCI when parental rights have been terminated.  The Superintendent is authorized to consent to adoption, emancipation, and marriage of MCI wards. Children who have been committed to MCI, whose permanency plan is other than adoption, usually remain under the MCI supervision until age 19.  (Note: While the Institute was once a physical place, it is now a division within the Department of Human Services.)]

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5226 should have little to no fiscal impact on the Department of Human Services.

POSITIONS:

The Department of Natural Resources supports the bill. (1-31-12)

The Department of Human Services supports the concept of the bill. (1-31-12)

Michigan United Conservation Clubs supports the bill. (1-24-12)

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Kevin Koorstra

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.