SB396: Bill Text

LRB-0501/1

MGG:bjk:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Senate BILL 396

November 18, 2009 - Introduced by Senators Decker, Holperin, Grothman, Taylor, Lehman and Schultz, cosponsored by Representatives Danou, Hebl, Turner, Zigmunt, Sinicki, Gunderson, Petrowski, A. Ott, Staskunas and Montgomery. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.

SB396,1,2 An Act to amend 29.193 (1m) (b) of the statutes; relating to: fishing and trolling in boats with electric motors.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources must issue a special permit to a physically disabled person holding a fishing license if his or her disability meets certain criteria. A person with a special permit may fish or troll in a boat with an electric motor on waters where motorized boats are prohibited. This bill expands this provision to include a disabled person who is exempt from having a fishing license. Under current law, persons under the age of 16 and certain elderly residents are exempt from having fishing licenses.

Also, under the bill, a person who is in the same boat and who is assisting a disabled person holding a special permit with fishing or trolling may also fish or troll if the person has a fishing license or is exempt from having a license.

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:

SB396, s. 1 Section 1. 29.193 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB396,2,9 29.193 (1m) (b) A disabled person holding who holds a current fishing license issued under this chapter or who is exempt from holding a fishing license under this chapter and who holds either a trolling permit issued under par. (a) or a Class A permit issued under sub. (2) may fish or troll in the waters of this state using an electric motor,. A person who assists the disabled person in the same boat may also fish or troll if he or she also holds a current fishing license or is exempt from holding a license. A person may use an electric motor under this subsection notwithstanding any ordinances enacted under s. 30.77 (3) that prohibit the use of motor boats on navigable waters and. The use of such motor is subject to any rules promulgated by the department regarding the use of electric motors for fishing or trolling by disabled persons.

SB396,2,10 (End)