Act No. 541

Public Acts of 2014

Approved by the Governor

January 10, 2015

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 15, 2015

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 2015

STATE OF MICHIGAN

97TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2014

Introduced by Senators Walker, Kowall, Jansen, Casperson, Emmons, Green, Moolenaar, Hansen, Meekhof, Schuitmaker, Richardville and Bieda

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 800

AN ACT to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to protect the people’s right to hunt and fish; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, assessments, and donations; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 41309, 47361, and 48738 (MCL 324.41309, 324.47361, and 324.48738), section 41309 as amended by 2009 PA 52, section 47361 as added by 1995 PA 57, and section 48738 as amended by 2003 PA 270.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 41309. (1) A person who violates section 41303(2) is subject to a civil fine of not more than $100.00.

(2) A person who violates section 41303(1), or a condition of a permit issued under this part, with respect to a restricted species is subject to a civil fine of not more than $5,000.00. A person who violates section 41303(1), or a condition of a permit issued under this part, with respect to a prohibited species is subject to a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00.

(3) A person who violates section 41303(1) knowing the possession is unlawful or who willfully or in a grossly negligent manner violates a condition of a permit issued under this part is guilty as follows:

(a) For a violation involving a restricted species, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned for not more than 1 year and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000.00.

(b) For a violation involving a prohibited species that is not an aquatic species, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 2 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $20,000.00.

(c) For a violation involving a prohibited species that is an aquatic species, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $100,000.00.

(4) A person who, with intent to damage natural, agricultural, or silvicultural resources or human health:

(a) Violates section 41303(1) with respect to a restricted species or possesses a nonnative bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 2 years and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $250,000.00.

(b) Violates section 41303(1) with respect to a prohibited species or possesses a genetically engineered bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 4 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $500,000.00.

(5) A person who sells or offers to sell a restricted species is subject to a civil fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000.00. A person who sells or offers to sell a prohibited species or who violates section 41303(3) is subject to a civil fine of not less than $2,000.00 or more than $20,000.00.

(6) A person who violates section 41305 is guilty as follows:

(a) For a violation involving a restricted species or a nonnative bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned for not more than 6 months and shall be fined not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00.

(b) For a violation involving a prohibited species or a genetically engineered bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned for not more than 1 year and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000.00.

(7) A person who violates section 41305 with respect to a restricted species or nonnative bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant and who has actual or constructive knowledge of the identity of the restricted species or that the organism, whether a restricted species or other bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, is nonnative is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned for not more than 1 year and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $10,000.00.

(8) A person who violates section 41305 with respect to a prohibited species that is not an aquatic species or with respect to a genetically engineered bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant and who has actual or constructive knowledge of the identity of the prohibited species or that the bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant is genetically engineered, respectively, is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 2 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $20,000.00.

(9) A person who violates section 41305 with respect to a prohibited species that is an aquatic species and who has actual or constructive knowledge of the identity of the prohibited species is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $100,000.00.

(10) A person who violates section 41305 knowing the introduction is unlawful, is guilty as follows:

(a) For a violation involving a restricted species or nonnative bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 2 years and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $250,000.00.

(b) For a violation involving a prohibited species or a genetically engineered bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 4 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $500,000.00.

(11) A person who, with intent to damage natural, agricultural, or silvicultural resources or human health, violates section 41305 is guilty as follows:

(a) For a violation involving a restricted species or nonnative bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 or more than $500,000.00.

(b) For a violation involving a prohibited species or a genetically engineered bird, crustacean, fish, insect, mammal, mollusk, or aquatic plant, the person is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not more than 5 years and shall be fined not less than $2,000.00 or more than $1,000,000.00.

(12) If a person commits a criminal violation of this part or a rule promulgated or permit issued under this part or knowingly commits a violation described in subsection (5) and if the violation involves a prohibited species that is an aquatic species, the court shall order that any permit or license issued to the person under part 473 or 487 be suspended for 1 year, and that the person is not eligible to be issued any permit or license under part 473 or 487 for 1 year. If the remaining term of an existing permit or license under part 473 or 487 is less than 1 year, the court shall order that the permit or license be revoked and that the person is not eligible to be issued any permit or license under part 473 or 487 for 1 year. For a second violation described in this subsection, the court shall order that any permit or license issued to the person under part 473 or 487 be revoked and that the person is permanently ineligible to be issued any permit or license under part 473 or 487. An order under this subsection is self-effectuating. The clerk of the court shall send a copy of the order to the department of natural resources.

(13) In addition to any other civil or criminal sanction imposed under this section, a person who violates this part is liable for any damages to natural resources resulting from the violation, including, but not limited to, costs incurred to prevent or minimize such damages.

(14) This part does not apply to activities authorized under the Michigan aquaculture development act, 1996 PA 199, MCL 286.871 to 286.884.

Sec. 47361. (1) A person who violates sections 47335 to 47360 is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or a fine of not less than $10.00 or more than $100.00 and costs of prosecution, or both. The license of any person convicted of 3 violations of this part or other acts or parts regulating commercial fishing in any 1 license year shall be automatically revoked and canceled for the balance of the license year for which issued, and such a revocation prohibits the use of boats, nets, or other gear by any person during the balance of the year for which the license was issued.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), if any permit or license under this part is ordered to be suspended or revoked under section 41309 and if the department maintains a database of suspensions or revocations of permits or licenses under this part, the department shall not issue a permit or license under this part to the person for the period provided in the order.

(3) If a permit or license under this part is ordered to be suspended under section 41309, the suspension remains in effect until all of the following occur:

(a) The suspension period set forth in the court order has elapsed.

(b) The person pays the department a reinstatement fee of $125.00.

(4) Unless a person’s permit or license is otherwise suspended, revoked, or denied, the permit or license is immediately reinstated on satisfaction of the requirements of subsection (3).

Sec. 48738. (1) A person who violates this part or rules or orders issued to implement this part, if a penalty is not otherwise provided for that violation in this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

(2) A person convicted of using dynamite, nitroglycerin, any other explosive substance, lime, electricity, or poison for the purpose of taking or killing fish, convicted of using nets not authorized by law for taking game fish, or convicted of buying or selling game fish or any parts of game fish is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not less than $250.00 or more than $1,000.00, or both.

(3) A person who takes or possesses sturgeon in violation of this part or rules or orders issued to implement this part is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 30 days or more than 180 days and a fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $2,000.00, or both, and the costs of prosecution.

(4) A person who knowingly violates section 48735(2) or (4) or a permit issued under section 48735(2) or (4) with respect to a genetically engineered variant of a fish species is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $250,000.00, or both. In addition, the person is liable for any damages to the natural resources resulting from the violation, including, but not limited to, costs incurred to prevent or minimize such damages.

(5) If a person is convicted of a violation of this part or rules or orders issued to implement this part and it is alleged in the complaint and proved or admitted at trial or ascertained by the court at the time of sentencing that the person has been previously convicted 3 or more times of a violation of this part within the 5 years immediately preceding the last violation of this part, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both, and the costs of prosecution. This subsection does not apply to the following violations:

(a) Failing to possess or display a valid fishing license issued pursuant to part 435.

(b) Taking or possessing an overlimit of bluegill, sunfish, crappie, perch, or nongame fish.

(c) Taking or possessing not more than 5 undersized fish.

(d) Fishing with too many lines.

(e) Failing to attach the person’s name and address to tip-ups or minnow traps.

(f) Fishing with lines not under immediate control.

(6) In addition to the penalties provided in this section, a fishing license issued to a person sentenced pursuant to subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5) shall be revoked, and the person shall not be issued a license during the remainder of the year in which convicted or during the next 3 succeeding license years.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), if any permit or license under this part is ordered to be suspended or revoked under section 41309 and if the department maintains a database of suspensions or revocations of permits or licenses under this part, the department shall not issue a permit or license under this part to the person for the period provided in the order.

(8) If a permit or license under this part is ordered to be suspended under section 41309, the suspension remains in effect until all of the following occur:

(a) The suspension period set forth in the court order has elapsed.

(b) The person pays the department a reinstatement fee of $125.00.

(9) Unless a person’s permit or license is otherwise suspended, revoked, or denied, the permit or license is immediately reinstated on satisfaction of the requirements of subsection (8).

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 97th Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 795.

(b) Senate Bill No. 796.

(c) Senate Bill No. 797.

(d) Senate Bill No. 799.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor