MILITARY HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE - H.B. 4139 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">House Bill 4139 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Representative Joseph Rivet

House Committee: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation

Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to expand the category of individuals who may obtain a hunting or fishing license for $1 while they are in the military, and to expand the types of documents that may be presented to the Department of Natural Resources for such a license.

Currently, a member of the armed forces must present leave papers in order to obtain a hunting or fishing license for $1. Under the bill, a member of the military would have to present leave papers, duty papers, military orders, or other evidence acceptable to the Department verifying that he or she was stationed outside of the State.

Presently, to receive a $1 hunting or fishing license, a person must be stationed outside of this State and meet the following definition: “a person regularly enlisted or commissioned as an officer in the armed forces of the United States who, at the time of enlistment, was a resident of this state and has maintained his or her residence in this state for purposes of obtaining a driver license or voter registration, or both”. The bill’s definition of “member of the military” would include a person who met the current criteria, as well as a person who was a reserve component soldier, sailor, airman, or marine called to Federal active duty, stationed outside of this State, and a resident of this State, and who had maintained his or her residence in the State for the purpose of obtaining a driver license and/or voter registration.

MCL 324.43536a - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman

FISCAL IMPACT

Currently, regular members of the United States armed forces stationed outside the State are eligible for a reduced fee of $1 for six different hunting and fishing licenses if they maintain residency in Michigan. The bill would expand the eligibility to members of Reserve forces called to Federal active duty. From FY 1996-97 through FY 2000-01, 2,006 military hunting and fishing licenses were purchased. As of March 27, 2003, 1,328 Reservists from Michigan were called for active duty. The fiscal impact of the bill would depend upon the number and type of additional military reduced-rate licenses for which Reservists applied. The licenses to which the reduced fees apply are:

Date Completed: 3-31-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Jessica RunnelsFloor\hb4139 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

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.