TRANSPORTING BOW, CROSSBOW                                                         H.B. 5417 (H-2):

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Bill 5417 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Steven Johnson

House Committee:  Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Date Completed:  4-24-18

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) and Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:

-- Allow a bow or crossbow to be transported or possessed in vehicle if it were unloaded and uncocked, instead of unstrung.

-- Allow an individual to carry or possess a slingshot, bow, or crossbow without a hunting license if it were unloaded and uncocked, instead of unstrung.

Part 401, except as otherwise provided, prohibits an individual from transporting or possessing a bow or crossbow in a vehicle while it is operated on public land or on a highway, road, or street in the State unless the bow or crossbow is unstrung, enclosed in a case, or carried in the vehicle's trunk. Under the bill, an individual could transport or possess a bow or crossbow under those circumstances if the bow or crossbow, instead of "unstrung", were unloaded and uncocked.

"Uncocked" would mean the following: a) for a bow, that the bow was not in the drawn position; b) for a crossbow, that the crossbow was not in the cocked position. Currently, "unloaded" means that a firearm does not have ammunition in the barrel, chamber, cylinder, clip, or magazine when the barrel, chamber, cylinder, clip, or magazine is part of or attached to the firearm. Under the bill, "unloaded" also would mean, for a bow, that an arrow is not nocked, and for a crossbow, that a bolt is not in the flight groove. 

Under Part 435, an individual may carry, transport, or possess a slingshot, bow and arrow, or crossbow without a hunting license if the slingshot, bow, or crossbow is unstrung, enclosed in a vase, or carried in a vehicle in a location that is not readily accessible to any occupant of the vehicle. The bill would refer to a bow, rather than bow and arrow, and, instead of unstrung, the bill would refer to "unloaded and uncocked". "Uncocked" would mean, for a slingshot, that the slingshot is not in the drawn position. For a bow or crossbow, "uncocked" would be defined as described above. "Unloaded" would mean, for a slingshot, that the slingshot does not have ammunition in the projectile pouch. For a firearm, bow, or crossbow, "uncocked" would be defined as described above.

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

MCL 324.40111 & 324.43513                                              Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                        Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This 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.