REGULATION OF SPORT FISHING; REVISE                                               H.B. 5866 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5866 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Joseph Bellino

House Committee:  Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 487 (Sport Fishing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:

-- Authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue permits for the removal of fish, except for game fish, instead of certain specified species.

-- Allow the DNR to issue a permit authorizing the donation of fish, except game fish, taken during a fishing tournament to a person who had registered with the Department as a fishing tournament.

-- Eliminate a provision pertaining to the number of hooks used for the taking of smelt, alewife, or other bait fish, and a provision pertaining to the use of artificial light to take white bass.

-- Change certain references to "Department" and "person" to refer to "Commission" and "individual", respectively.

The bill would repeal Sections 48704, 48708, 48714, 48715, 48716, 48717, 48718, 48719, 48720, 48725, 48727, and 48733 of the Act. (These sections pertain to various fishing gear restrictions, and open and closed seasons based on location and fish species, among other things.)

MCL 324.48703 et al.                                                 Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a very minor, likely negative, fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would remove the requirement for individuals from out-of-State who operate under a permit to remove nongame fish also to pay the fee for a nonresident commercial fishing license. It is unknown how much revenue would be lost under this provision.

Date Completed:  12-7-18                                                     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.