0717: COMMITTEE SUMMARY (Date Completed: 10-19-11) - HUNTERS HELPING FARMERS PROGRAM

HUNTERS HELPING FARMERS PROGRAM S.B. 717: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 717 (as introduced 10-4-11)
Sponsor: Senator John Proos
Committee: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Date Completed: 10-19-11

CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish a "Hunters Helping Farmers" program for the harvest of antlerless deer.
The program would have to allow an individual who was willing to harvest antlerless deer to submit to the DNR an application to participate. The person could select up to two counties where he or she would be willing to harvest the deer. The program also would have to allow landowners or farmers who felt they needed additional antlerless deer harvested on their property to contact the Department and request a list of the individuals who indicated a willingness to harvest deer in the landowner's or farmer's county.

Proposed MCL 324.43526a Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in a very modest increase in administrative costs for the Department. The Department would likely have to promote the program in some manner, compile a list of interested hunters for each county, and then distribute the list of interested hunters to interested farmers. No additional resources would be appropriated or made available to the Department for this program, so whatever resources the Department dedicated to fulfilling the requirements of the bill would come from existing resources.

Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb717/1112