SB 869 tracker

[Mojo]

Daniel Kimmel's very own newborn, with it's much deserved attention, can be tracked to birth here:

http://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/501445

An otherwise quiet voice in this world has set change in motion ...... Owe you a debt of gratitude Dan..THE MAN ! !

[Mojo]

FROM DAN KIMMEL 4/16/2014:

   There's a 2nd assessment that clarifies the actual intent of SB 869 which is to fix state law so the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has the proper legal authority last year's Public Act 21 gave them to set the bass season based on sound science and input from the MDNR and fishing groups.

    Public Act 451 of 1994 is very big and has sections that already cover our other needs about game fish species and authorities. I have actually gone through large chunks of the existing law twice in the past two weeks looking for issues, conflicts and things that are already allowed along with study related to many other issues that are coming and going as we go through lots of discussion about lots of change. Plus, most CO's I talk to are pretty reasonable people. I've had great discussions with the Law Enforcement Division chief and assistant chief.

We do have to remove the language from state law (Public Act 451 of 1994) that specifically limits the regular Michigan bass season to Memorial weekend statewide and the 3rd Friday in June for Lake St. Clair first. Public Act 21 of 2013 gave the NRC the authority equal to the Michigan Legislature to name fish and game species but it did not fix a number of technical issues still in state law such as the specific bass season limits. Passing SB 869 into law would fix the bass season limit problem giving the NRC legal and technical authority to create a different bass season.

SB 869 is now in the Michigan House Natural Resources Committee after being passed unanimously by the Michigan Senate 37-0 (1 excused) and so far it is not scheduled to be heard before the committee yet. I've been told by Rep. LaFontaine's (the committee chair) legislative aide they will let me know when it is scheduled so MUCC, the MDNR, Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation, etc. can go testify. MUCC's legislative liaison Matt Evans is helping keep an eye on things for us.

SB 869 has to be passed out of committee to the full House, and then passed by the House, and then signed by the Governor before the NRC can create a longer bass season, hopefully this fall in time for 2015.

Once you see the testimony from the March 20th Senate Outdoor Recreation and Tourism committee you will see we have very good support from the Senate, MUCC AND the MDNR leadership.

I'm as positive as ever that we are getting a longer Michigan bass season in 2015. The Senators definitely support it. I still don't know exactly what it will be. There's still lots of work to do.

NOW - if you want the NRC to KEEP the authority we are fixing for them to give us the longer bass season you need to get all the registered Michigan voters you know to sign - one time only before the end of this month - our The Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act petition! Otherwise Michigan citizens could vote that authority away in November thinking they are saving the wolves, and all this hard work goes out the #$%#$% window!

Go to www.citizenswildlife.com and get a petition to sign. Do it now if you haven't done it yet! Get your friends, neighbors, family, whomever you can, to sign it too!

[Mojo]

Here is the initiative mentioned above. I'm in. This is a good activity. If Dan can do it, we all can. Send an email to:  Drew YoungeDyke <dyoungedyke@mucc.org> - give him your name and address and he'll send you a petition. You have until May 15th to help gather as many signatures as possible OR volunteer to sit a BPS for 2 - 4 hours and gather signatures there. He is what you would fight to keep  / gain :

The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act is a citizen-initiated law to:

* Ensure that decisions affecting the taking of fish and game are made using principles of sound scientific fish and wildlife management

* Provide for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for active members of the military

* Provide appropriations for fisheries management activities within Michigan necessary for rapid response, prevention, control and/or elimination of aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp

* A citizen-initiated law requires over 258,000 valid signatures to present the law to the Michigan Legislature. If the Legislature passes the law without change within 40 days, then it becomes law.

Features of the Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act:

* The bipartisan Natural Resources Commission may take testimony from DNR biologists and other experts, and review scientific literature and data to support its duty to use sound science.

* Only the Legislature or Natural Resources Commission may establish the first open season for game.

* Only the Legislature may remove wildlife from the game species list, but the Natural Resources Commission may decline to authorize a hunting season if it conflicts with sound science.

* Declare that the fish and wildlife populations and their habitats are important to the citizens of Michigan.

* Declare that the conservation of fish and wildlife populations depend upon the wise use and sound scientific management of natural resources.

* Allow active duty members of the military may obtain hunting, fishing and trapping licenses free of charge.

* Declare that aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp, represent a significant threat to the state's fisheries, aquatic resources, outdoor recreation and tourism economies, and public safety.

* The Natural Resources Commission has the exclusive authority to regulate fishing. It must use principles of sound science and may take testimony from DNR personnel, experts and others, and review scientific literature, data and other sources in support of its duty to use sound science.

* Appropriates $1 million to the DNR for rapid response, prevention, control and/or elimination of aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp.


Why is this citizen-led legislation needed?

Out-of-state radical anti-hunting groups, led by the Humane Society of the United States, have launched two referendum drives in Michigan seeking to overrule Michigan's wildlife biologists on game management decisions. With their deep pockets, they know that once they get on a statewide ballot, it's just a matter of spending millions of dollars in misleading advertising. They're trying the same strategy in Maine, just as they tried it here in 1996 and 2006. Without this citizen-initiated legislation, fish and game decisions made by our state's professional wildlife biologists will be subject to endless expensive referendums run by deep-pocketed out-of-state activists.

There's a better way. The bipartisan Natural Resources Commission was created in 1922 to separate conservation from politics. In 1996, the people of Michigan voted to give the NRC exclusive authority to issue game orders and required that it use sound science. This initiative makes sure that fish and game decisions can be made by the only public body in Michigan required by the people to use sound science: the Natural Resources Commission. It also protects free licenses for active military members and provides funding to make sure the DNR can respond rapidly to keep Asian carp out of Michigan's fisheries.

The anti-hunters are collecting signatures to take away hunting rights and turn Michigan conservation decisions over to whoever buys the most television commercials. We're collecting signatures to protect hunting and fishing rights and make sure that our fish and wildlife are managed by sound science, not sound bites.

OK guys, this is how America works. Inspite of what you think, you have NO rights .... unless you fight for them. So put up your Dukes and lets do this.

Send an email to:  Drew YoungeDyke <dyoungedyke@mucc.org> - give him your name and address and he'll send you a petition. You have til May 15th to gather as many signatures as possible OR volunteer to sit a BPS for 2 - 4 hours and gather signatures there.

[djkimmel]

Thank you very much for posting all of this Mojo! Very helpful!