Tagz
04-23-2008, 11:12 PM
Taken from Michigan Hawking Club forums....
Today Senate bill 1085 was read to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. In an unpresidented move, the committee voted on the bill and unanimously passed it out of committee to the Senate floor on this same day!! This is a highly unusual happening and shows the support generated for this legislation. A big thanks goes to Kenn Filkins who drove down from the Soo to testify at the committee hearing on behalf of the falconry community. His testimony and the appearance of his Senator - Jason Allen along with Senator Randy Richardville and the backing of the DNR obviously impressed the committee. Great job Kenn !!!
NOW !! is the time to write your Senator and ask that he- she support Senate bill 1085. Please write and then follow up with a phone call to your Senators office asking for a yes vote on this bill. This is moving quicker than we hoped - so do it now!!
Call all the falconers you know and alert them to this bill and get them to write Please get your wife and friends to write and call also.
This is the first major step- we will have to be more assertive when the bill gets to the house floor so lets make sure it is riding a huge wave of support now.
Dave HoganThe number of falconers in Michigan are very few compared to any other sporting group. So please help are voice be heard on allowing us to continue to be able to trap some of the hawks that are used in this great sport.
S.B. 1085 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2007-SFA-1085-S.htm)
Senate Bill 1085 (as introduced 2-6-08)
Sponsor: Senator Randy Richardville
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 4-22-08
CONTENT The bill would amend Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate a January 4, 2009, sunset on a section that governs the taking of live raptors for use in falconry.
Under Section 40107a, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must issue an order establishing a season or seasons for falconers to take a total of up to 25 live raptors per year from any combination of red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, American kestrels, and sharp-shinned hawks for use in falconry. In addition to these 25 raptors, the order must allow the issuance of two permits annually to take northern goshawks during the fall passage season. The order must designate the number of raptors that may be taken and possessed and any other conditions pertaining to the taking and possession of raptors that the DNR considers advisable.
Additionally, the order must prohibit the taking of raptors on national lakeshores, national recreation areas, and all State land. It must require licensed falconers to contact property owners or land managers and obtain written permission before making direct contact with any raptor nest. It must provide that only licensed falconers may have direct contact with the raptor nest and that a licensed falconer must leave in a nest at least two healthy young raptors. A licensed falconer must report the nest location from which a raptor is taken by county, township, range, and section to the DNR within five business days after taking the raptor.
Section 40107a and an order issued under it do not designate any species of raptor as game, nor does the section prohibit the DNR from determining that any species of raptor is a protected animal.
The section is scheduled to be repealed effective January 4, 2009. The bill would delete that sunset.
MCL 324.40107a Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
Today Senate bill 1085 was read to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. In an unpresidented move, the committee voted on the bill and unanimously passed it out of committee to the Senate floor on this same day!! This is a highly unusual happening and shows the support generated for this legislation. A big thanks goes to Kenn Filkins who drove down from the Soo to testify at the committee hearing on behalf of the falconry community. His testimony and the appearance of his Senator - Jason Allen along with Senator Randy Richardville and the backing of the DNR obviously impressed the committee. Great job Kenn !!!
NOW !! is the time to write your Senator and ask that he- she support Senate bill 1085. Please write and then follow up with a phone call to your Senators office asking for a yes vote on this bill. This is moving quicker than we hoped - so do it now!!
Call all the falconers you know and alert them to this bill and get them to write Please get your wife and friends to write and call also.
This is the first major step- we will have to be more assertive when the bill gets to the house floor so lets make sure it is riding a huge wave of support now.
Dave HoganThe number of falconers in Michigan are very few compared to any other sporting group. So please help are voice be heard on allowing us to continue to be able to trap some of the hawks that are used in this great sport.
S.B. 1085 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2007-SFA-1085-S.htm)
Senate Bill 1085 (as introduced 2-6-08)
Sponsor: Senator Randy Richardville
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Date Completed: 4-22-08
CONTENT The bill would amend Part 401 (Wildlife Conservation) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate a January 4, 2009, sunset on a section that governs the taking of live raptors for use in falconry.
Under Section 40107a, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must issue an order establishing a season or seasons for falconers to take a total of up to 25 live raptors per year from any combination of red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, American kestrels, and sharp-shinned hawks for use in falconry. In addition to these 25 raptors, the order must allow the issuance of two permits annually to take northern goshawks during the fall passage season. The order must designate the number of raptors that may be taken and possessed and any other conditions pertaining to the taking and possession of raptors that the DNR considers advisable.
Additionally, the order must prohibit the taking of raptors on national lakeshores, national recreation areas, and all State land. It must require licensed falconers to contact property owners or land managers and obtain written permission before making direct contact with any raptor nest. It must provide that only licensed falconers may have direct contact with the raptor nest and that a licensed falconer must leave in a nest at least two healthy young raptors. A licensed falconer must report the nest location from which a raptor is taken by county, township, range, and section to the DNR within five business days after taking the raptor.
Section 40107a and an order issued under it do not designate any species of raptor as game, nor does the section prohibit the DNR from determining that any species of raptor is a protected animal.
The section is scheduled to be repealed effective January 4, 2009. The bill would delete that sunset.
MCL 324.40107a Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels