Enact HB 4610 - Michigan Right to Ride

Horse Riders and Outdoorsmen of Michigan - Your support of trails and public land use throughout Michigan is urgently needed. Representative Tim Moore submitted House Bill 4610 for consideration which was then referred to the committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.
On April 28th, 2009, HB 4610 will be discussed by members of the committee. This petition and your presence in Lansing, is VERY IMPORTANT to getting this bill approved and adopted. 

This petition, signed by citizens of the State of Michigan, Petition the State to enact Right to Ride legislation - HB 4610 - to preserve and promote horseback riding and the use of pack animals on Michigan's public lands. 
We believe Right to Ride legislation is necessary to prevent - and reverse - current land manager practices that restrict equestrian and other trail user access to our public lands.
We urge you to approve and adopt HB 4610 in its entirety.


HOUSE BILL No. 4610
March 18, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Moore, Sheltrown, Kurtz, Polidori, Elsenheimer, Stamas, Hildenbrand and Genetski and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.
     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural resources and environmental protection act," by amending section 72101 (MCL 324.72101), as amended by 1997 PA  129, and by adding section 72114.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
     Sec. 72101. As used in this part::
     (a) "Advisory council" means the Michigan trailways advisory council created in section 72110.
     (b) "Council" means a Michigan trailway management council established pursuant to section 72106.
     (c) "Fund" means the Michigan trailways fund created in section 72109.
     (d) "Governmental agency" means the federal government, a  county, city, village, or township, or a combination of any of these entities.
     (e) "Michigan trailway" means a trailway designated by the commission pursuant to section 72103.
     (f) "Rail-trail" means a former railroad bed that is in public ownership and used as a trailway.
     (g) "Trailway" means a land corridor that features a broad trail capable of accommodating a variety of public recreation uses.
     (h) "Trailways and other areas" includes trailways, open access roads, management roads, forestry access roads, and established 2-track and single-track trails.
     Sec. 72114. (1) The department shall preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle animals on all state owned land where there is a historical tradition of use of pack and saddle animals. All trailways and other areas on state owned land that were open on May 7, 2008 and available for use by pack and saddle animals shall remain open and accessible for use by pack and saddle animals. Additionally, all trailways and other areas on state owned land that, prior to this date, were available for use by pack and saddle animals shall be reopened and made accessible for use by pack and saddle animals.
     (2) Not later than July 31, 2009, the commission shall establish a network of trailways on state owned lands that may be used by pack and saddle animals. In establishing the network of pack and saddle trailways under this section, the commission shall include those trailways and other areas of state land in which there is a historical tradition of use of pack and saddle animals.
     (3) The designation of a trailway for pack and saddle animals under subsection (2) does not preclude the use of the trailway for other uses as designated by the commission.
     (4) The commission shall facilitate the inclusion of other public and private lands within a statewide network of pack and saddle trailways to provide for a comprehensive network of pack and saddle trailways throughout the state.

Please write to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing MI 48909. 
And call or write your district representatives. 
To find your's ...
http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp
www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm

HB 4610 was referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources. Which meets on Tuesdays, at 10:30 am in Room 521 of the House Office Building
Committee Clerk: David Mead    Ph: 517.373.2013 
Reps. Sheltrown (C), Slezak (Maj. VC), Ebli, Huckleberry, Lindberg, Simpson, Stanley, Stamas (Min. VC), Bolger, Hansen, Horn
517-373-3817   joelsheltrown@house.mi.gov
 517-373-3906  JimSlezak@house.mi.gov
517-373-1791  JimStamas@house.mi.gov
517-373-2617  KateEbli@house.mi.gov
517-373-1775  mikesimpson@house.mi.gov
517-373-0834  MikeHuckleberry@house.mi.gov
517-373-7317  goeffhansen@house.mi.gov
517-373-0498  stevenlindberg@house.mi.gov
517-373-0837  kennethhorn@house.mi.gov
517-373-1787  JamesBolger@house.mi.gov
517-373-8808  WoodrowStanley@house.mi.gov