Congressional Sportsmen Foundation: Tracking The Capitols Feb 24th 2009
Weekly update on federal and state legislation affecting sportsmen.
Any Capital City, USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Welcome to this weeks issue of the weekly “Tracking the Capitols” report. Tracking the Capitols is intended to keep you informed on the most pertinent and timely federal and state legislation affecting hunting, fishing, and conservation issues currently being tracked by the CSF and NASC policy team. Subscribers to the CSF electronic mailing list will receive this report in their email inbox every Tuesday morning.
IN THE STATES
Georgia HB 326 sponsored by Rep. Bob Lane makes a change that expands apprentice hunting opportunities for resident hunters and provides a discount for license holders who renew an annual license before it expires.
Georgia SB 75 from Sen. Bill Heath amends Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, to limit liability of certain landowners who permit persons to hunt or fish on their property or allow persons on such property for agriculture tourism and requires the posting of specific signs
Georgia HB 416 by Rep. Clay Cox would regulate the use of certain drugs on wildlife; to establish a permit application for administering fertility control drugs to wildlife; to require a permit for administering fertility control drugs to wildlife; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for penalties; to repeal conflicting laws.
Iowa HJR 1 is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa to dedicate a portion of state revenue from the tax imposed on certain retail sales of tangible personal property and services for the benefit of the state’s natural resources. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the constitution of the state of Iowa to dedicate a portion of state sales and service tax revenue for the benefit of water quality, natural areas, and agricultural soils in this state. The joint resolution establishes a natural resources and outdoor recreation trust fund. The joint resolution credits the fund with an amount equal to the amount generated by a sales tax rate of three=eighths of 1 percent as may be imposed upon the retail sales price of tangible personal property and the furnishing of enumerated services sold in this state. The joint resolution provides that no revenue is to be credited to the fund until the tax rate in effect on the effective date of the joint resolution is increased. After the increased tax rate becomes effective, an amount equal to the amount generated by the increase in the tax rate is credited to the fund, not to exceed the amount generated by the tax rate of three=eighths of 1 percent. The proposed amendment to the constitution of the state of Iowa in this joint resolution was previously passed as senate joint resolution 2002 by the eighty=second general assembly, 2008 session (2008 Iowa acts, chapter 1194). If adopted and agreed to by the eighty=third general assembly, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the state electorate at the general election held in November 2010, for ratification.
Illinois SB 1269 prohibits any person from selling, supplying, distributing or offering to sell, supply, or distribute lead sinkers and lead jigs. Prohibits the use of lead sinkers and lead jigs to take fish in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, brooks, and similar bodies of water over which the Department of Natural Resources (“the Department”) has jurisdiction under the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Requires the Department, after consulting with the Illinois State Board of Education, to institute an educational program that meets certain requirements, and requires the Department to (i) notify the public about the Act’s prohibitions; (ii) enforce the Act; (iii) confiscate, under certain circumstances, lead jigs or lead sinkers that it finds in the course of enforcing the Act; and (iv) suspend, for not more than 6 months, the hunting and fishing privileges of a person who uses a lead sinker or lead jig to take fish in violation of the Act. This bill also provides fines for violations and would become effective one year after becoming law.
New York AB 2960 by Assemblymen William A. Barclay allows any qualified person to apply for voter registration and enrollment by application made with an application for any hunting or fishing license.
Ohio HB 18 sponsored by Rep. Matt Huffman would establish hunting/fishing licenses for nonresident college students.
Pennsylvania HB 419 introduced by Rep. Matthew E. Baker is a Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for the right to hunt, fish and harvest game.
Tennessee SB 1908 from Sen. Doug Jackson would enact the “Second Amendment Protection Act” prohibiting the sale of microstamped firearms or ammunition in this state. This bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor criminal offense for any licensed firearms dealer to transfer, deliver, sell, or offer for transfer, delivery, or sale in Tennessee any new firearm or any firearm ammunition knowing that the firearm or ammunition was microstamped. For purposes of this bill, “microstamped” means the technology by which a laser or other device is used to engrave the internal mechanisms of a firearm for ballistic imprinting, or the casing of a cartridge, so that when the firearm is fired, information identifying the firearm or the purchaser of the ammunition can be matched to a specific firearm or purchaser. This bill does not prohibit the owner of a firearm or ammunition lawfully acquired from having the firearm or ammunition microstamped.
Vermont HB 240 sponsored by Rep. Steven Adams proposes to direct the department of fish and wildlife to maintain baseline acreage of department-Controlled hunting lands.
Vermont HB 243 also sponsored by Rep. Adams proposes to create a mentored hunting license. The license will allow an individual of any age to hunt for two seasons without taking a hunter education course or having a hunting license. This bill would allow mentored-Hunter license holders to hunt under the direct control and supervision of any fully licensed individual over the age of 21 subject to the fully licensed hunter’s bag limit.
About:
We can have the best wildlife habitat imaginable and a record number of people who buy fishing and hunting licenses, but it won’t matter if misguided laws and regulations are made at the federal and state levels that negatively impact our outdoor traditions. Keeping sportsmen’s issues front and center is what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation does. Day in and day out, our sole focus is on providing a voice for sportsmen in the political arena. Serving as the first line of defense in protecting America’s outdoor traditions as well as promoting the sportsmen’s agenda through the collective muscle of sportsmen’s caucuses.