PACK & SADDLE ANIMAL TRAILWAYS H.B. 4610 (S-3): FLOOR SUMMARY
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House Bill 4610 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Representative Tim Moore
House Committee: Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Senate Committee: Agriculture and Bioeconomy

CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 721 (Michigan Trailways) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate the Michigan Trailways Advisory Council and create the Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). The Council would have to advise the DNRE and the Governor on the creation, development, operation, and maintenance of motorized and nonmotorized trails, seeking to have the trials linked wherever possible. The Council also would assume responsibilities of the existing Trailways Advisory Council.


The proposed Council would consist of 11 members appointed by the Governor, and would have to include the following: at least five licensed off-road vehicle (ORV) owners or registered snowmobile owners; at least three registered snowmobile owners; at least one member with experience as an instructor in a snowmobile safety education and training program or ORV safety education course; at least one resident of the Upper Peninsula; and at least two members of the Equine Trailways Advisory Council.


The bill also would state a legislative finding that, "In providing and developing facilities for outdoor recreation under sections 503 and 70301, the use of trailways and pack and saddle trailways by pack and saddle animals and other nonmotorized users is an allowable recreational use and is permissible under Chapter 21 of Part 522 of the Services Manual of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service." (Section 503 of the Act requires the DNRE to provide and develop facilities for outdoor recreation, among other things. Section 70301 authorizes the DNRE to prepare and maintain a comprehensive plan for the development of the State's outdoor recreation resources.)


The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 578, which would create the Equine Trailways Advisory Council; provide for the development of a statewide trailway network that would include Michigan trailways, pack and saddle trailways, and other recreational use trailways; provide that pack and saddle animals could not be restricted from access to public land previously open to their use, except as described in the bill; and require the Natural Resources Commission to review current restrictions on access in three areas of the State.


MCL 324.72101 et al. Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would replace the Michigan Trailways Advisory Council with a new council called the Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council. Since this new council would serve uncompensated, members having only their expenses reimbursed, the bill would introduce no new costs to the State.


Date Completed: 2-2-10 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton

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. hb4610/0910 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.