SENATE BILL No. 1226

May 2, 2000, Introduced by Senators KOIVISTO, DINGELL, DE BEAUSSAERT, BYRUM, NORTH, MC MANUS and HOFFMAN and referred to the Committee on Natural

Resources and Environmental Affairs.

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

by amending sections 43553 and 43555 (MCL 324.43553 and

324.43555), section 43553 as amended by 1996 PA 585 and section

43555 as amended by 1998 PA 472.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 43553. (1) Except as provided in sections SECTION

2 43555, and 43556, the department shall transmit all money

3 received from the sale of licenses to the state treasurer,

4 together with a statement indicating the amount of money received

5 and the source of the money.

6 (2) The game and fish protection fund is created as a sepa-

7 rate fund in the department of STATE treasury. Except as

8 provided in subsection (5), the state treasurer shall credit the

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1 money received from the sale of passbooks and licenses to the

2 game and fish protection fund.

3 (3) Except as provided in sections 43524, 43525, 43531,

4 43554, and 43556 and subsection (4), money credited to the game

5 and fish protection fund shall be paid out by the state treasurer

6 pursuant to the accounting laws of this state for the following

7 purposes:

8 (a) Services rendered by the department, together with the

9 expenses incurred in the enforcement and administration of the

10 game, fish, and fur laws of the THIS state, including the nec-

11 essary equipment and apparatus incident to the operation and

12 enforcement of the game, fish, and fur laws, and the protection,

13 propagation, distribution, and control of game, fish, birds,

14 fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife. forms.

15 (b) The propagation and liberation of game, fur-bearing ani-

16 mals, birds, or fish and for their increase at the time, place,

17 and manner as the department considers advisable.

18 (c) The purchase, lease, and management of lands, together

19 with the necessary equipment for the purpose of propagating and

20 rearing game, fur-bearing animals, birds, or fish, and for estab-

21 lishing and maintaining game refuges, wildlife sanctuaries, and

22 public shooting and fishing grounds.

23 (d) Conducting investigations and compiling and publishing

24 information relative to the propagation, protection, and conser-

25 vation of wildlife.

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1 (e) Delivering lectures, developing cooperation, and

2 carrying on appropriate educational activities relating to the

3 conservation of the wildlife of this state.

4 (4) NOT MORE THAN 5% OF THE MONEY CREDITED TO THE GAME AND

5 FISH PROTECTION FUND SHALL BE PAID OUT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE

6 EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT.

7 (5) (4) The department may make direct grants to colleges

8 and universities in this state, out of funds appropriated from

9 the game and fish protection fund, to conduct fish or wildlife

10 research or both fish and wildlife research.

11 (6) (5) The youth hunting and fishing education and out-

12 reach fund is created as a separate fund in the department of

13 treasury. The state treasurer shall credit to the youth hunting

14 and fishing education and outreach fund the money received from

15 the sale of small game licenses and all-species fishing licenses

16 under sections 43523 and 43532, respectively, to persons who are

17 12 years of age through 16 years of age. Money in the youth

18 hunting and fishing education and outreach fund at the close of

19 the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse to

20 the general fund.

21 (7) (6) Money credited to the youth hunting and fishing

22 education and outreach fund shall be paid out by the state trea-

23 surer pursuant to the accounting laws of this state for hunting

24 and fishing education and outreach programs for youth through 16

25 years of age.

26 (8) (7) The department and any other executive department

27 of the state that receives money from the game and fish

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1 protection fund or the youth hunting and fishing education and

2 outreach fund shall submit an annual report to the legislature

3 showing the amount of money received by the department or other

4 executive department from the game and fish protection fund or

5 the youth hunting and fishing education and outreach fund and how

6 that money was spent. An executive department required to submit

7 a report as provided in this subsection shall send a copy of the

8 report to the legislature and to the department.

9 Sec. 43555. (1) Thirty-five cents from each license and

10 stamp fee prescribed in this part, except for fees for licenses

11 described in section 43553(5) 43553(6), shall be transmitted to

12 the department for deposit in the wildlife resource protection

13 fund created in this section.

14 (2) The wildlife resource protection fund is created as a

15 separate fund within the state treasury. The state treasurer

16 shall credit the money received from the department under this

17 section to the wildlife resource protection fund. The money in

18 the wildlife resource protection fund shall be expended by the

19 department for the following purposes:

20 (a) Rewards for information leading to the arrest and prose-

21 cution of poachers and persons who obstruct or interfere in the

22 lawful taking of animals or aquatic species in violation of sec-

23 tion 40112 or 48702a, respectively. If a violation of section

24 40112 or 48702a involved killing a person engaged in lawfully

25 taking an animal or aquatic species, the reward shall be

26 $5,000.00. A person whose lawful taking of an animal or aquatic

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1 species is obstructed or interfered in is not eligible to receive

2 a reward under this subdivision.

3 (b) Hiring conservation officers for the investigation of

4 poaching and the investigation of tips regarding potential

5 poaching.

6 (c) A promotional and educational campaign to inform the

7 general public on 1 or more of the following:

8 (i) The harm and danger of poaching.

9 (ii) The reward for information that leads to the arrest and

10 prosecution of poachers and persons who obstruct or interfere in

11 the lawful taking of animals or aquatic species in violation of

12 section 40112 or 48702a, respectively.

13 (iii) Other antipoaching programs undertaken by the

14 department.

15 (iv) How to identify and report persons who obstruct or

16 interfere in the lawful taking of animals or aquatic species in

17 violation of section 40112 or 48702a, respectively.

18 (3) At the time WHEN a person purchases a license or stamp

19 under this part, he or she may make a voluntary contribution in

20 any amount to the wildlife resource protection fund to be

21 expended for the purposes provided in subsection (2). A person

22 who wishes to make such a contribution may purchase 1 or more

23 conservation law enforcement stamps from a person authorized to

24 issue licenses and sportcards under this part.

25 (4) The department shall annually report to the legislature

26 on the expenditures from the wildlife resource protection fund.

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