LRB-3290/1
EHS:emw
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
May 17, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Testin, Vukmir, Harsdorf, Kapenga,
LeMahieu, Olsen and Tiffany, cosponsored by Representatives Jarchow,
Stafsholt, Bernier, R. Brooks, Edming, Felzkowski, Katsma, Kleefisch,
Kulp, Quinn, Ripp, Skowronski, Tittl, Zimmerman and Milroy. Referred to
Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry.
SB257,1,3 1An Act to repeal 29.184 (6) (b) 1. and 2.; and to renumber and amend 29.184
2(6) (b) (intro.) of the statutes; relating to: the cumulative preference system
3for issuing Class A bear hunting licenses.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows a person of any age to apply for a preference point under the
cumulative preference system for issuing Class A bear hunting licenses.
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources issues a Class A bear
hunting license, which allows the license holder to shoot, shoot at, take, catch, or kill
a bear or pursue, with or without the use of dogs, a bear for the purpose of shooting,
shooting at, taking, catching, or killing the bear. Under current law, if the number
of applicants for the license exceeds the number of licenses available, DNR
administers a cumulative preference system for issuing Class A bear licenses. Under
the system, an applicant may apply for a license or may apply for only a preference
point if he or she is not seeking a license for the upcoming bear hunting season. DNR
gives a preference point to each person who applies for a preference point and to each
person who applies for a license but who is not selected. The more preference points
an applicant has, the higher priority he or she is given in issuing the licenses.
Under current law, an applicant seeking a preference point must be at least ten
years old on the first day of the upcoming bear hunting season and be eligible for a
hunting license on that date. Under this bill, a person of any age may apply for a
preference point and eligibility for a hunting license is not a prerequisite.

For further information see the state 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:
SB257,1 1Section 1. 29.184 (6) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 29.184 (6) (b)
2and amended to read:
SB257,2,213 29.184 (6) (b) Cumulative preference system; random selection. If the number
4of qualified applications for Class A bear licenses exceeds the number of available
5licenses, the department shall select applicants to be issued Class A bear licenses
6based upon a cumulative preference system. This system shall establish preference
7categories for those applicants who applied for but who were not issued Class A bear
8licenses or bear harvest permits under s. 29.1085 (3) (b), 1993 stats., in the previous
9season, with higher priority given to those categories with more preference points
10than those with fewer preference points. For each season, the department shall
11allow each applicant under the system to apply for a preference point or for a license.
12The department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a
13preference point and to each applicant who applies for a license but who is not
14selected. Applicants who fail to apply for either a preference point or a license at least
15once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference
16points. If the number of applicants within a preference category exceeds the number
17of Class A bear licenses available in the category, the department shall select at
18random the applicants to be issued licenses within the preference category.
19Beginning on April 18, 2002, an applicant for a preference point must meet all of the
20following requirements on the first day of the bear hunting season that immediately
21follows the date of application:
A person of any age may apply for a preference point.
SB257,2
1Section 2. 29.184 (6) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are repealed.
SB257,3 2Section 3. Initial applicability.
SB257,3,43 (1) This act first applies to a person who applies for a preference point under
4section 29.184 (6) (b) of the statutes on the effective date of this subsection.
SB257,3,55 (End)
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