LIMITED NONRES. SMALL GAME LICENSE H.B. 4533 (H-1):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4533 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Curtis S. VanderWall
House Committee: Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Senate Committee: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Allow the purchaser of a seven-day limited nonresident small game license to also purchase a waterfowl hunting license.
-- Allow a nonresident to purchase a three-day limited nonresident small game license for a $50 fee.
-- Specify that, except for the purchase of a waterfowl hunting license, the purchase of a three-day limited nonresident small game license would not entitle the holder to purchase any additional licenses.
Except as otherwise provided, the Act prohibits an individual from hunting small game, unless he or she possesses a current base license. A base license authorizes the individual named in the license to hunt for small game, except for animals or birds that require a special license. The Act also permits a nonresident to purchase a limited nonresident small game license that allows him or her, for a seven-day period, to hunt all species of small game that are available to hunt under a nonresident base license. The fee for a limited nonresident small game license is $80. The purchase of a seven-day limited nonresident small game license does not entitle the holder to purchase any additional licenses. Under the bill, this would apply except for the purchase of a waterfowl hunting license under Section 43525b. (Section 43525b prohibits an individual 16 years of age or older from hunting waterfowl without a current waterfowl hunting license issued by the State, a base license, and a Federal migratory bird hunting stamp.)
Beginning March 1, 2018, a nonresident could purchase a three-day limited nonresident small game license, which would entitle that individual to hunt for a three-day period all species of small game available to hunt under a nonresident base license. The fee for a three-day limited nonresident small game license would be $50. Except for the purchase of a waterfowl hunting license, the purchase of the three-day limited nonresident small game license would not entitle the holder to purchase any additional licenses.
MCL 324.43523a Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate, but likely negative, fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would create a new three-day nonresident hunting license for $50, and would allow the holder of
either a seven-day nonresident hunting license or the new three-day nonresident hunting license to purchase an additional waterfowl hunting license for $12. It is unknown how many nonresident hunters would purchase the $50 three-day license rather than the $80 seven-day license, but the net fiscal impact is likely to be negative since the three-day license would be available at a 37.5% discount from the cost of the seven-day license. Some of this revenue loss would be offset by the sale of additional waterfowl licenses and by the sale of $50 three-day licenses to potential nonresident hunters who were not willing to buy a seven-day license for $80.
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.