Tracking The Capitols February 1, 2011
Tracking the Capitols is a weekly source of legislation currently being tracked by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation federal and state policy teams to keep you informed on the most pertinent and timely federal and state legislation affecting hunting, fishing, and conservation issues. Inclusion in Tracking the Capitols does not necessarily constitute support or opposition to legislation by CSF and/or the CSF States Program. For additional information on legislation included in this report please contact States Program Director Bethany O’Donovan, Eastern States Manager Jennifer Lundy, or Midwestern States Director Chris Horton.
ON CAPITOL HILL
HR 510 would amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to prohibit treatment of gray wolves in Idaho and Montana as endangered species, and HR 509 would amend the ESA to provide that the Act shall not apply to the gray wolf.
IN THE STATES
LEAD SINKER BAN (Issue Brief)
Connecticut SB 59 is a bill that would prohibit the sale or use of fishing sinkers, jigs and tire weights that contain lead.
SUNDAY HUNTING (Issue Brief)
Connecticut HB 5127 would authorize Sunday hunting on private property and Connecticut HB 5128 would permit Sunday bow hunting on private lands, and Connecticut HB 5158 would also authorize bow and arrow hunting on Sunday under certain circumstances. Connecticut HB 5372 would authorize municipalities to allow Sunday hunting on private lands within their boundaries while Connecticut HB 5129 would repeal the state Sunday hunting ban.
Maryland HB 129 attempts to authorize the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt deer on private property in specified counties on specified Sundays under specified circumstances. Maryland SB 45 is a companion bill filed in the Maryland Senate by NASC Executive Council member and Maryland Caucus Chair, Sen. John Astle.
APPRENTICE HUNTING (Issue Brief)
New Hampshire LSR 642, sponsored by Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Rep. Dennis Reed, would institute an apprentice hunting license program in the state.
VOTER REGISTRATION (Issue Brief)
Missouri HB 277 would require the Office of the Secretary of State to provide voter registration application forms to the Department of Conservation for distribution to its local offices and resident hunting and fishing permit vendors. The offices and vendors must make the registration forms available to all resident applicants for permits including telephone requests. The permit applicant is responsible for mailing the completed voter application form to the appropriate election authority.
OTHER
Kentucky SB 10 is legislation proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to adopt a 21st Century Bill of Rights in order to claim sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; establish that no law or rule shall compel certain persons to participate in health care systems or to provide abortion services; prohibit laws that prevent the severing of coal, that restrict posting of the Ten Commandments, that restrict hunting and fishing, or that infringe upon the lawful possession or use of firearms or ammunition; prohibit expansion of gambling unless it is permitted by a constitutional amendment; establish that governmental agencies should promote the use of Kentucky coal and make public information available on the Internet, and that the General Assembly should provide a reasonable period of time for public review and comment on any appropriation or revenue measure.
South Carolina SB 122, sponsored by Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Sen. George Campsen, is a bill to amend South Carolina code by adding section 50-11-108 to provide that a person may use a firearm to kill or attempt to kill any animal during any season in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of domestic animals, and to provide that a person who uses deadly force against a big game animal or alligator must report the incident to the department of natural resources, to provide that certain animal carcasses taken pursuant to this section may not be retained, and to provide a penalty for failure to report the incident or surrender the carcass.
Nebraska LB 229 would provide for a $7 million per year transfer from the Environmental Trust Fund to the Water Resources Cash Fund for ten years. The bill also broadens the use of the Water Resources Cash Fund to allow funds to be used for studies and grants to facilitate compliance with the Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act.
Alaska HB 55, sponsored by NASC Executive Council Member Rep. Mark Neuman, is a bill to add definitions of 'gravity knife' and 'switchblade' to the criminal law.
Hawaii HB 192 would create an ocean board to develop and implement, in consultation with relevant county, state, and federal agencies, a pilot project as a precursor to a comprehensive ocean zoning master plan that incorporates ideas from the traditional Ahupua`a system and the Hawaii ocean resources management plan, and addresses user conflicts in Hawaiian ocean waters through the designation of discrete ocean zones for Maunalua Bay.
Hawaii HB 456 directs the state to designate not less than 5% of the shoreline on each Hawaiian island as a marine life conservation district.
Indiana SB 265 attempts to establish the fishing, hunting, and trapping commission and provide the commission with authority over fish and wildlife laws. Provides that before a final fish or wildlife rule is adopted that the proposed rule must be approved by the commission and receive final approval from the director of the department of natural resources (director).
Iowa SB 83, sponsored by Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Sen. Dick Dearden, is a bill for an act allowing the establishment of an open season for hunting mourning doves.
Connecticut HB 5205 is legislation to create parity between the hunting and fishing license fees paid by out-of-state residents to this state and the hunting and fishing license fees that Connecticut residents are required to pay in other states.