HUNTING PROMOTION ON DNR LAND

House Bill 5912

Sponsor:  Rep. Matthew Gillard

Committee:  Conservation, Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation

Complete to 9-12-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5912 AS INTRODUCED 3-28-06

House Bill 5912 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.504) to provide for the promotion of hunting on land controlled by the Department of Natural Resources.

The bill would require that the Department of Natural Resources do all of the following:

o                   Keep land under its control open to hunting unless the department determined that the land should be closed to hunting because of public safety, fish or wildlife management, or homeland security concerns, or as otherwise required by law.

           

o                   Manage land under its control to support and promote hunting opportunities to the extent authorized by law.

           

o                   Manage land under its control to prevent any net decrease in the acreage of land that is open to hunting.

The bill also would require that by April 1, 2007 and each year thereafter, the DNR  submit to the legislature, a report that includes both of the following: 

o                   The location and acreage of land (under its control) previously open to hunting that the department closed to hunting during the one-year period ending the preceding March 1, together with the reasons for the closure.

o                   The location and acreage of land (under its control) previously closed to hunting that the DNR had opened to hunting during the one-year period ending the preceding March 1, to compensate for land closed to hunting.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

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