TAKING REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS                                                          H.B. 5200 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5200 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Gary Howell

House Committee:  Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Natural Resources

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:

-- Prohibit an individual from taking, trapping, catching, or fishing for reptiles or amphibians for commercial purposes.

-- Allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue a permit to take amphibians and reptiles at any season of the year for scientific or educational use.

-- Provide that reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, and crustaceans could be taken only in a manner and during the times prescribed by the Natural Resources Commission (rather than the DNR).

-- Require a person to have a fishing license to take reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, or crustaceans (rather than turtles or frogs) for personal use.

-- Delete a provision that prohibits the use of a landing net more than five and one half feet in circumference or with a handle longer than 14 inches in a trout stream during April, May, and June.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 316, which would repeal Part 455 of the Act. (Part 455 permits the DNR to issue permits to take frogs at any season of the year for scientific or experimental purposes; prohibits a person from killing or taking any species of frogs from November 16 in any year until the Friday before the opening of black bass season the following year; and prohibits a person from spearing a frog with the aid of an artificial light at any time.)

MCL 324.1301 & 324.48075                                        Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would not have a fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources or local units of government. The permit fees the bill would remove have not generated revenue for the DNR in recent years. Removing them, therefore, would not result in a loss of revenue for the Department.

Date Completed:  1-24-18                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

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.