2013 Senate Bill 288 / Public Act 21

Give NRC duty of designating huntable game species

Introduced in the Senate

April 9, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-38)

To give the Natural Resources Commission (in addition to the Legislature) the power to designate a species as game and authorize an open hunting season. Also, to allow members of the military to obtain hunting and fishing licenses for free. The bill also contains a modest appropriation that makes it "referendum-proof".

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes

April 16, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S 1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

April 23, 2013

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

April 25, 2013

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

To prohibit the commission from designating the mourning dove as a huntable game species.

The amendment failed 12 to 24 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To require a statewide referendum on the bill.

The amendment failed 11 to 25 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

To prohibit any species from being designated a huntable game species if it has been the subject of a state referendum held before 2015.

The amendment failed 14 to 22 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To prohibit designating the sandhill crane as huntable game species.

The amendment failed 11 to 25 (details)

Substitute offered

To adopt a version of the bill that does not include a modest appropriation intended to make it "referendum-proof," and which prohibits the commission from designating mourning doves as a game species.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 25 to 11 (details)

To give the state Natural Resources Commission (in addition to the Legislature) the power to designate a species as a huntable game species. Also, to allow members of the military to obtain hunting and fishing licenses for free. The bill was changed on the floor to prohibit the commission from designating mourning doves as a game species, and to remove a modest appropriation intended to make it "referendum-proof".

Received in the House

April 25, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

May 1, 2013

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

Amendment offered by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-18)

To prohibit the commission from allowing hunting on a species rejected by a popular initiative enacted before 2015. This would apply to a potential initiative on wolf hunting.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-18)

To submit the proposal to a vote of the people on the November 4, 2014 ballot.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To prohibit creating a hunting season for cougars.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To prohibit creating hunting seasons on robins, cardinals, kirtland’s warblers, trumpeter swans or sandhill cranes.

The amendment failed by voice vote

May 2, 2013

Passed in the House 72 to 38 (details)

To give the state Natural Resources Commission (in addition to the Legislature) the power to designate a species as a huntable game species. Also, to allow members of the military to obtain hunting and fishing licenses for free. The bill was changed on the floor to prohibit the commission from designating mourning doves as a game species, and to remove a modest appropriation intended to make it "referendum-proof".

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

May 8, 2013