News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Friday, a private property sign is posted in a wooded area.

ALPENA — Two bills currently sitting in the Michigan House of Representatives Natural Resources and Tourism committees will limit the power of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers.

According to House Bill 4073, introduced by Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River, the bill would amend Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), prohibiting DNR employees from entering private property without permission from the owner or lessee. The bill stipulates that a peace officer or authorized park and recreation officer would need a warrant to bypass obtaining permission from the owner or lessee.

Within NREPA, Sec. 1606 defines peace officers as department-appointed officers who are “…vested with all the powers, privileges, prerogatives, and immunities conferred upon peace officers by the general laws of this state.”

The proposed bill explains that Sec. 1606 allows park and recreation officers to be commissioned as peace officers (i.e., officers with similar powers as sheriffs) for certain enforcement purposes.

Other stipulations stated in House Bill 4073 would allow officers to enter private property without permission if they are “…in hot pursuit of a criminal suspect, or who reasonably believes a person will be endangered or evidence will be jeopardized if the officer delays for a warrant.”

House Bill 4073 states that it will unlikely affect the DNR budget.

According to House Bill 4074, introduced by Rep. Gregory Markkanen, R-Hancock, the bill will amend the 1986 PA 109 Act to require conservation officers to wear body cameras while on duty.

House Bill 4074 states that conservation officers are appointed by the director of the DNR per the 1986 PA 109 Act. The act stipulates that conservation officers are trained and certified as peace officers under the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) Act.

According to House Bill 4074, the bill would require conservation officers to wear body-worn cameras while exercising their officer responsibilities. As defined in the proposed bill, a body-worn camera is a device that is worn by a law enforcement officer that records audio and video.

Like House Bill 4073, House Bill 4074 states that the amendment is unlikely to affect the DNR budget.

State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, shared the following statement in regards to the proposed bills:

“These bills ensure that our DNR officers have the same rules as every other cop in Michigan. We shouldn’t have separate policies and procedures for our law enforcement officers based on the uniform they wear. It’s common-sense to expect a DNR officer to wear a body camera and get a warrant before entering private property and I’m glad this plan finally puts those expectations in state law.”

If House Bills 4073 and 4074 pass the Michigan House of Representatives, they still must pass the Michigan Senate before being codified into Michigan state law.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.