Senate Bill 617 (Sen.

Casperson) Internal Document HIGHLIGHTS: Current law allows the state to cede lands and waters within the state to the federal government for specific purposes of conserving natural resources and providing recreational access to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This legislation will allow for the federal government to obtain concurrent jurisdiction over certain parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that are currently subject to control by the state

SHORT SUMMARY: This legislation will allow for the federal government to obtain concurrent jurisdiction over certain parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that are currently subject to control only by the state.

BACKGROUND: Current law allows the state to cede lands and waters within the state to the federal government for specific purposes of conserving natural resources and providing recreational access to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Since the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was initially designated in 1967, there have been subsequent additions to the lakeshore area. Federal jurisdiction over these areas has not kept pace with the physical expansion. At the same time, there are several lighthouses in the area that are under exclusive federal jurisdiction that could be shared with local law enforcement agencies. SENATE ANALYSIS: This legislation will allow for the federal government to obtain concurrent jurisdiction over certain parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that are currently subject to control only by the state while still reserving certain authority and preserving the rights of citizens residing within that area. The bill sets out a process for the federal government to request that concurrent jurisdiction and for the Governor to grant such a request. It specifically reserves and protects certain rights in those lands for the state and its citizens and also provides a process for the federal government to relinquish or share jurisdictional control over certain parts of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Committee Substitute (S-1): The committee substitute merely makes a technical change to more accurately describe the jurisdictional zone.