Sec. 1607.

(1) The department may appoint persons to function as volunteer conservation officers. A volunteer conservation officer shall be appointed to assist a conservation officer in the performance of the conservation officer's duties. While a volunteer conservation officer is assisting a conservation officer, the volunteer conservation officer has the same immunity from civil liability as a conservation officer, and shall be treated in the same manner as an officer or employee under section 8 of Act No. 170 of the Public Acts of 1964, being section 691.1408 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The volunteer conservation officer shall not carry a firearm while functioning as a volunteer conservation officer.

(2) As used in this section, “volunteer” means a person who provides his or her service as a conservation officer without pay.

(3) To qualify as a volunteer conservation officer, a person shall meet all of the following qualifications:

(a) Have no felony convictions. In determining whether the person has a felony conviction, the person shall present documentation to the department that a criminal record check through the law enforcement information network has been conducted by a law enforcement agency.

(b) Have completed 10 hours of training conducted by the law enforcement division of the department.

(4) Upon compliance with subsection (3) and upon recommendation by the department, a person may be appointed as a volunteer conservation officer. An appointment shall be valid for 3 years. At the completion of the 3 years, the volunteer conservation officer shall comply with the requirements of this section in order to be reappointed as a volunteer conservation officer.

(5) A volunteer conservation officer's appointment is valid only if the volunteer conservation officer is on assignment with, and in the company of, a conservation officer.

History: Add. 1995, Act 60, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA