LRB-2251/1
RNK:jld:cph
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
October 27, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Johnsrud, Ott, Albers, Hines,
LeMahieu, Ainsworth, Hahn
and Schneider, cosponsored by Senators
Schultz and M. Meyer. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AB623,1,4 1An Act to amend 29.024 (2g) (a) 2. and 29.971 (1) (a); and to create 29.403,
229.971 (1) (ag) and 29.971 (1) (ar) of the statutes; relating to: regulating
3fishing tournaments, granting rule-making authority, and providing
4penalties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to promulgate
rules to establish a program to authorize and regulate fishing tournaments. Under
the bill, DNR is authorized to require a person to obtain a permit to conduct a fishing
tournament. The bill specifies certain rules that DNR may promulgate regulating
fishing tournaments, including rules specifying the circumstances under which a
waiver for a permit may be granted, rules establishing training requirements for
persons who seek a permit, and rules specifying the location of the bodies of water
on which fishing tournaments may be held. The bill provides that DNR may not
allow a fishing tournament participant to engage in an activity if it would not allow
an angler who is not a tournament participant to engage in that activity. The bill
requires DNR to deny an application for a fishing tournament permit or suspend or
revoke such a permit if the applicant engages in certain conduct, such as making a
misrepresentation on a permit application or failing to adequately supervise a
fishing tournament. The bill requires DNR to appoint an advisory committee to
advise DNR in promulgating rules regulating fishing tournaments.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB623, s. 1 1Section 1. 29.024 (2g) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB623,2,32 29.024 (2g) (a) 2. Any permit issued under s. 29.403, 29.537, 29.733, 29.735,
3or 29.736.
AB623, s. 2 4Section 2. 29.403 of the statutes is created to read:
AB623,2,7 529.403 Fishing tournaments. (1) The department shall promulgate rules
6to establish a program to authorize and regulate fishing tournaments. The rules
7shall establish the scope and applicability of the program.
AB623,2,12 8(2) The department may require a permit under the program to conduct a
9fishing tournament and may impose terms and conditions that apply to a specific
10permit. The department may issue a specific permit under terms and conditions that
11vary from the requirements of the rules promulgated by the department under sub.
12(1).
AB623,2,14 13(3) The rules promulgated by the department under sub. (1) may include any
14of the following:
AB623,2,1615 (a) Rules governing the circumstances under which a waiver for a permit may
16be granted under s. 29.197.
AB623,2,1817 (b) Rules establishing training or educational requirements for persons who
18seek a permit under sub. (2).
AB623,3,219 (c) Rules for controlling crowding, preventing unsafe conditions, or preventing
20conflicts among the users of the body of water on which fishing tournaments are held

1or at facilities for public access to those bodies of water, including boat ramps and
2parking lots.
AB623,3,33 (d) Rules relating to the prevention of the waste of a natural resource.
AB623,3,54 (e) Rules relating to the protection of the bodies of water of this state, fish, and
5other aquatic resources in those bodies of water.
AB623,3,76 (f) Rules specifying the number of fishing tournaments that may be held on a
7body of water.
AB623,3,98 (g) Rules governing the frequency with which fishing tournaments may be held
9and the dates on which they may be held.
AB623,3,1110 (h) Rules specifying the number of days over which fishing tournaments, or
11practices for fishing tournaments, may be held.
AB623,3,1212 (i) Rules governing the hours during which fishing tournaments may be held.
AB623,3,1413 (j) Rules specifying the location of the bodies of water on which fishing
14tournaments may be held.
AB623,3,1615 (k) Rules specifying the species of fish that may be targeted by fishing
16tournaments.
AB623,3,1817 (L) Rules specifying bag and size limits for fish that are caught at fishing
18tournaments.
AB623,3,1919 (m) Rules governing the time of year when fishing tournaments may be held.
AB623,3,2120 (n) Rules specifying the qualities that the bodies of water on which fishing
21tournaments may be held must have.
AB623,3,2222 (o) Rules governing the reporting of the results of fishing tournaments.
AB623,3,2523 (p) Rules specifying fees for fishing tournament permits and for training or
24educational programs, including rules specifying reduced fees in appropriate
25circumstances.
AB623,4,4
1(4) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), the department may not, under the
2program established under sub. (1), allow a participant in a fishing tournament to
3engage in any activity in which the department would not allow an angler who is not
4a participant to engage at the same time on the same body of water.
AB623,4,7 5(5) (a) The department shall deny an application for a fishing tournament
6permit or suspend or revoke a fishing tournament permit if the permit applicant or
7holder does any of the following:
AB623,4,88 1. Makes a material misrepresentation on a permit application.
AB623,4,109 2. Violates this section, a rule promulgated under this section, or a term or
10condition of a permit.
AB623,4,1211 3. Violates this chapter as it relates to fishing in connection with a fishing
12tournament.
AB623,4,1313 4. Fails to adequately supervise a fishing tournament.
AB623,4,1714 (b) If the department denies a person's application for a fishing tournament
15permit or if the permit is revoked under par. (a), the department may not issue a
16fishing tournament permit to that person for a period of 2 years after the denial or
17revocation.
AB623,4,20 18(6) Any person who participates in a fishing tournament shall comply with the
19terms and conditions imposed by any permit issued for that fishing tournament
20under sub. (2).
AB623,4,23 21(7) This section does not apply to any fishing tournament that is conducted on
22a body of water where persons who are normally required to have fishing approvals
23are exempt from having such approvals.
AB623, s. 3 24Section 3. 29.971 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB623,5,3
129.971 (1) (a) For the violation of any requirement of this chapter relating to
2fishing or fish dealing, by a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 except as provided
3under pars. (ag), (ar), (b), and (c) and sub. (5m).
AB623, s. 4 4Section 4. 29.971 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
AB623,5,75 29.971 (1) (ag) For conducting a fishing tournament without a permit as
6required by the department, by a forfeiture of not less than $1,000 nor more than
7$2,000.
AB623, s. 5 8Section 5. 29.971 (1) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
AB623,5,119 29.971 (1) (ar) For participating in a fishing tournament and failing to comply
10with a term or condition imposed by a permit issued for that fishing tournament
11under s. 29.403, by a forfeiture of not more than $500.
AB623, s. 6 12Section 6. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB623,5,1713 (1) The department of natural resources shall appoint an advisory committee
14under section 227.13 of the statutes for the purpose of advising the department in
15promulgating rules under section 29.403 of the statutes, as created by this act. The
16advisory committee shall include members representing the following groups or
17interests:
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