CROP DAMAGE FUND
House Bill 5779
Sponsor: Rep. David Mead
Committee: Agriculture and Resource Management
Complete to 3-8-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5779 AS INTRODUCED 3-7-02
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to create a Crop Damage Fund within the Department of Treasury. Money in the fund would be expended, in the form of grants, by the Department of Agriculture (MDA) to help farmers construct new fences and maintain existing fences and other devices intended to reduce crop damage caused by deer. The MDA would promulgate the necessary rules to set the qualification requirements of grant recipients.
The Department of Natural Resources would deposit into the new fund $1 per each firearm deer hunting license, bow and arrow deer hunting license, and combination hunting license (firearm and bow and arrow) issued. In addition, the state treasurer could receive other money or assets for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer would direct to the investment of the fund and would credit to the fund any interest and earnings from fund investments. Finally, any money remaining in the fund at the close of the fiscal year would remain in the fund and not lapse to the general fund.
MCL 324.43556a
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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.