ELECTRONIC HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES

Senate Bill 1073 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Arlan Meekhof

Senate Bill 1074 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Dale W. Zorn

Senate Bill 1075 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Wayne Schmidt

House Committee:  Tourism

Senate Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Complete to 11-28-16

SUMMARY:

Each of the bills 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 develop electronic licenses that individuals could display using electronic devices, no later than March 1, 2018.

Senate Bill 1073 would refer to a base license for hunting, fur harvesting, or fishing.  Senate Bill 1074 would refer to a waterfowl license.  Senate Bill 1075 would apply to an all-species fishing license, a 24-hour or 72-hour fishing license, or senior all-species fishing license.

Each of the bills would specify that an individual who displayed an electronic copy of a license would not be presumed to have consented to a search of the device.  They also specify that the state or a law enforcement agency, or its employees, and a tribal conservation officer or the owner or occupant of the land would not be liable for damage to an electronic device that occurred as a result of viewing an electronic copy of the license.

      The bills also require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to continue to explore the expanded use of electronic technology to provide additional services that will enhance hunting and fishing experiences for individuals in Michigan.

In addition to those provisions, Senate Bill 1073 also would (1) allow the DNR to develop an electronic license that allowed an individual to display an electronic copy of a kill tag for various hunting licenses using an electronic device and (2) repeal Section 43545, which prohibits the department, beginning March 1, 2019, from assessing or collecting any license or permit fees authorized under Part 435.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The electronic hunting license provisions included in Senate Bills 1073 through 1075 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources.  The cost of issuing hunting and fishing licenses electronically is difficult to determine.  It is unclear whether changing from a paper-based system to an electronic system would create an additional strain on existing departmental resources or whether such a change would be covered by existing levels of funding and personnel.  Senate Bill 1073 would also repeal a March 1, 2019, sunset for all hunting and fishing licenses which would have a positive impact on departmental revenue.  This change would allow DNR to continue to collect license revenue beyond the current sunset without an end date.  The department estimates that hunting and fishing licenses generated $63.2 million in revenue for FY 2015-16.  These bills would not affect costs or revenues for local units of government.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Austin Scott

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