HUNTING BY BLIND PERSON - S.B. 628: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 628 (as introduced 6-1-99)
Sponsor: Senator Christopher D. Dingell
Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry
Date Completed: 5-17-00
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow a blind person to use a laser sighting device to take an animal if all of the following conditions were met:
-- The blind person held a hunting license under the Act and complied with all other laws and rules for taking the animal.
-- The person was accompanied or assisted by a sighted person who was at least 18 years of age and possessed a hunting license or a certificate of completion of training in hunter safety issued by this State, another state, a province of Canada, or another country. The sighted person would have to furnish the license or certificate upon the request of a peace officer.
-- The blind person possessed an official State personal identification card issued under the authority of the Secretary of State indicating that the person was legally blind, and furnished the identification card upon the request of a peace officer.
-- If the animal were a deer, bear, elk, or turkey, the arrow, bolt, or quarrel used had a broadhead hunting type of point at least seven eighths of an inch wide and at least 14 inches long.
The bill would incorporate the definition of "blind person" in Public Act 260 of 1978, which provides for the Commission for the Blind. That Act defines "blind person" as "an individual who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction, or has a limitation of his or her field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than 20 degrees, as determined by the commission".
MCL 324.40102 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: P. GrahamS9900\s628sa
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.