HOUSE BILL NO. 5665
April 25, 2024, Introduced by Reps. Hoadley and Rigas and referred to the Committee on
Judiciary.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 43520 (MCL 324.43520), as amended by 2018 PA 4.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 43520. (1) Subject to other requirements of this part,
2 the department may issue a hunting license to a minor child if all
3 of the following requirements are met:
4 (a) A parent or legal guardian of the minor child applies for
5 the license on behalf of the minor child.
6 (b) The parent or guardian represents that the requirements of
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1 section 43517, as applicable, will be complied with.
2 (c) The license fee is paid.
3 (2) A Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a
4 person authorized to sell hunting licenses shall not issue a
5 hunting license to an individual born after January 1, 1960, unless
6 the individual presents proof of previous hunting experience in the
7 form of a hunting license issued by this state, another state, a
8 province of Canada, or another country, or presents a certification
9 of completion of training in hunter safety issued to the individual
10 by this state, another state, a province of Canada, or another
11 country, presents a valid concealed pistol license issued under
12 section 5b of 1927 PA 372, MCL 28.425b, or presents proof that the
13 individual was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the
14 United States. If an applicant for a hunting license does not have
15 proof of such a previous license, or a certification of completion
16 of training in hunter safety, a valid concealed pistol license, or
17 proof that the individual was honorably discharged, a person
18 authorized to sell hunting licenses may issue a hunting license if
19 the applicant submits a signed affidavit stating that the applicant
20 has completed a course in hunter safety, or that the applicant
21 possessed such a hunting license previously, that the individual
22 has a valid concealed pistol license, or that the individual was
23 honorably discharged. The person selling a hunting license shall
24 record as specified by the department the form of proof of the
25 previous hunting experience, or certification of completion of
26 hunter safety training, valid concealed pistol license, or proof
27 that the individual was honorably discharged presented by the
28 applicant. This subsection does not apply to the issuance of an
29 apprentice license. An apprentice license or the equivalent does
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1 not satisfy the requirements of this subsection concerning proof of
2 previous hunting experience.
3 (3) An individual who does not meet the requirements of
4 subsection (2) may obtain an apprentice license for the same price
5 as the corresponding regular license that the individual would
6 otherwise be qualified to obtain. An individual 17 years old or
7 older shall not hunt game under an apprentice license unless
8 another individual at least 21 years old who possesses a license,
9 other than an apprentice license, to hunt that game accompanies
10 that apprentice licensee and does not accompany more than 1 other
11 apprentice licensee. For the purposes of this subsection and
12 section 43517(1)(b), an individual shall not go along with more
13 than 2 apprentice licensees of any age for the purpose of
14 accompanying those apprentice licensees while those apprentice
15 licensees are hunting. If an individual has represented to an
16 apprentice licensee or, if the apprentice licensee is a minor
17 child, to the apprentice licensee's parent or legal guardian that
18 the individual would accompany the apprentice licensee for the
19 purposes of this subsection, the individual shall not go along with
20 the apprentice licensee while the apprentice licensee is hunting
21 unless the individual actually accompanies the apprentice licensee
22 and possesses a license, other than an apprentice license, to hunt
23 the same game as the apprentice licensee. An individual is not
24 eligible to obtain a specific type of apprentice license, such as a
25 deer license, a base license, or a turkey license, for more than 2
26 license years. An apprentice license must be distinguished from a
27 license other than an apprentice license by a notation or other
28 means.
29 (4) Only a minor who is less than 10 years old may obtain a
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1 mentored youth hunting license. A minor who is less than 10 years
2 old shall not hunt game under a mentored youth hunting license
3 unless that minor complies with all requirements of the mentored
4 youth hunting program established by the commission under section
5 43517.
6 (5) The fee for a mentored youth hunting license is $7.50 and
7 includes all of the privileges conferred by all of the following:
8 (a) Base license.
9 (b) Deer license.
10 (c) All-species fishing license.
11 (d) Spring wild turkey hunting license and fall wild turkey
12 hunting license.
13 (e) Fur harvester's license.
14 (6) An individual who purchases a mentored youth hunting
15 license may apply for or purchase additional licenses pursuant to
16 in accordance with current regulations, including, but not limited
17 to, all of the following:
18 (a) Antlerless deer licenses under section 43527a.
19 (b) A bear hunting license under section 43528.
20 (c) An elk hunting license under section 43529.
21 (7) An individual hunting with a license purchased under
22 subsection (6) must comply with all requirements of the mentored
23 youth hunting program established by the commission under section
24 43517.
25 (8) By September 1, 2015 and every 4 years after that date,
26 the department shall submit a report to the standing committees of
27 the senate and house of representatives with primary responsibility
28 for conservation and outdoor recreation issues evaluating whether
29 the fee revenue received by the department from mentored youth
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1 hunting licenses under subsection (5) is adequate to administer the
2 mentored youth hunting program.
KHS Final Page 03634'23


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.43520