AB131: Bill Text

LRB-1002/1

MGG:wlj:ch

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 131

February 22, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Gunderson, Moulton, Pettis, Ainsworth, Gronemus, Hahn, Hines, Jeskewitz, Lothian, Ott, Petrowski, Towns and Townsend, cosponsored by Senators Olsen, Cowles and Grothman. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB131,1,4 An Act to amend 29.235 (2m), 29.241 (1), 29.597 (5) (a), 29.597 (6) (b) 1., 29.597 (6) (b) 2. and 29.597 (6) (b) 3.; and to create 29.192 (4m) and 29.563 (6) (am) of the statutes; relating to: trapping licenses and permits issued to certain nonresidents.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may issue trapping licenses only to state residents. To be issued a license, most residents must successfully complete instruction under the trapper education program administered by DNR. Residents who are exempt from this requirement include persons who held state trapping licenses on or before May 12, 1992, and farmers.

This bill creates a nonresident trapping license and establishes a fee for the nonresident license that is substantially higher than the fee for the resident license. Under the bill, DNR may issue a trapping license only to a nonresident who successfully completes the trapper education course in this state or a similar course in another state. The bill provides no exemptions for nonresidents from this licensing requirement.

Under current law, DNR may limit the number of bobcats, fishers, or otters that may be trapped in any area of the state and may do so by issuing trapping permits, with higher priority for persons given to those persons who apply for such permits in previous seasons but who do not receive any permit. This bill allows DNR in administering the issuance of these trapping permits to impose greater or stricter limitations on trapping by nonresidents than on trapping by state residents and to give greater preference to state residents over nonresidents.

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:

AB131, s. 1 Section 1. 29.192 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB131,2,4 29.192 (4m) If the department establishes a permit system under sub. (3) or (4) that affects the trapping of bobcats, fishers, or otters, the department may do any of the following:

AB131,2,6 (a) Impose greater or stricter limitations on trapping by nonresidents than on trapping by residents.

AB131,2,7 (b) Give greater preference to residents over nonresidents in issuing permits.

AB131, s. 2 Section 2. 29.235 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,2,16 29.235 (2m) Authorization; nonresident hunting and, fishing, and trapping privileges. A nonresident conservation patron license confers upon the licensee all the combined privileges conferred by a nonresident small game hunting license, a nonresident deer hunting license, a nonresident wild turkey hunting license, a nonresident archer hunting license, a waterfowl hunting stamp, a pheasant hunting stamp, a wild turkey hunting stamp, a nonresident annual fishing license, an inland waters trout stamp, and a Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp, and a trapping license.

AB131, s. 3 Section 3. 29.241 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,3,2 29.241 (1) Issuance. A trapping license shall be issued subject to s. 29.024 by the department to any resident applying for this license or to any nonresident of this state who applies for this license and who resides in a state that allows nonresidents of that state to trap within that state.

AB131, s. 4 Section 4. 29.563 (6) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB131,3,4 29.563 (6) (am) Nonresident license. Trapping: $149.25.

AB131, s. 5 Section 5. 29.597 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,3,10 29.597 (5) (a) The department shall issue a certificate of accomplishment without charge to a person who successfully completes the course of instruction under the trapper education program and who pays the instruction fee. The certificate may be used by a resident the person to whom it is issued in place of a trapping license for the period specified by the department.

AB131, s. 6 Section 6. 29.597 (6) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,3,13 29.597 (6) (b) 1. A person resident who holds held on May 12, 1992, a valid approval authorizing trapping.

AB131, s. 7 Section 7. 29.597 (6) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,3,15 29.597 (6) (b) 2. A person resident who is a farmer, as defined in s. 102.04 (3).

AB131, s. 8 Section 8. 29.597 (6) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB131,3,18 29.597 (6) (b) 3. A person resident who has held a valid approval authorizing trapping that expired before May 12, 1992, and that was not suspended or revoked.

AB131, s. 9 Section 9. Effective date.

AB131,3,21 (1) This act takes effect on March 10, 2005, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

AB131,3,22 (End)