HB 4111 DNR Volunteers

[Tallbear]

HB 4111 of 2011 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2011-HB-4111)
Natural resources; other; use of certain volunteer groups for habitat work on state lands; allow.
Last Action: 1/20/2011 referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation

[Tallbear]

In this bill they have said a volunteer may NOT carry a firearm. I'd like to see that removed.

Civil Service Commission allows each department to determine which employee's may carry, and the same should be true for volunteers.

[PDinDetroit]

In this bill they have said a volunteer may NOT carry a firearm. I'd like to see that removed.

Civil Service Commission allows each department to determine which employee's may carry, and the same should be true for volunteers.

Yes, we should work to make sure that provision is removed.

[Tallbear]

Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation, Rep. Frank Foster, Chair

Date: 03/08/2011

Time: 9:00 AM

Place: 307 House Office Building, Lansing, MI

Agenda:
HB 4111 (Rendon) Natural resources; other; use of certain volunteer groups for habitat work on state lands; allow.

Testimony only

(This is the second hearing on this bill)

[Quaamik]

In this bill they have said a volunteer may NOT carry a firearm. I'd like to see that removed.

Civil Service Commission allows each department to determine which employee's may carry, and the same should be true for volunteers.

Personally, I think it should be taken out of the civil service commissions hands.

If they want to require a volunteer to have a CPL to carry (so they went throuhg the background checks) then fine. If they want to make anyone who volunteers sign somethignt hat they are soley responsible for thier actions (boilerplate to protect the department from possible lawsuits) that would be fine too.

But no goverment department should have the right to prohibit someone from carrying. Yes, it's a volunteer thing, but it still shouldn't be in there. We are either safe to carry a firearm or we aren't. Period.

[Tallbear]

Look for changes in the bill before it is voted on.

[Tallbear]

H.B. 4111 was brought before committee and an amendment to strike the firearm language was introduced. Much discussion ensued about the “safety” of volunteers carry a firearm and if it could/would be used for taking game “while” the volunteer was doing the work.



It was a close vote 6 for and 5 against removing the language, but we got it passed. So, volunteers “may” carry while doing volunteer work. There was also an amendment to “require” training for volunteers. This amendment was defeated soundly by a vote of 8 to 2.


Out of committee and on to the floor for a vote.

[Quaamik]

Cool. Thank you.

[Tallbear]

HB 4111 of 2011 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2011-HB-4111)
Natural resources; other; use of certain volunteer groups for habitat work on state lands; allow. Amends sec. 503 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.503).
Last Action: 3/8/2011 referred to second reading

[Tallbear]

This bill is ready to be passed and will hit the Gov. desk on Tues. June 14.

I'll be in the Gov. office to witness the signing and hope to see many of you out in the field as volunteers.

[Almostnoddedoff]

That is great news Mike!

Now the question becomes how extensively and in what areas will this volunteer work be performed?

Either way, some work is better than no work.

[Tallbear]

That is great news Mike!

Now the question becomes how extensively and in what areas will this volunteer work be performed?

Either way, some work is better than no work.

Volunteers have been allowed in some areas on a limited basis is the past.

Soon there will be more volunteer activities in more areas as long as "WE" step up to the opportunity.