LRB-2299/1
ZDW:jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
July 14, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Murphy,
Hintz, Berceau, Ripp,
Bowen, Spreitzer and Thiesfeldt, cosponsored by Senator L. Taylor.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.
AB441,1,2
1An Act to create 29.237 (6) of the statutes;
relating to: issuance of sturgeon
2spearing licenses via raffle by the Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., organization.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to issue five certificates
for sturgeon spearing licenses to an organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow,
Inc., to be awarded by the organization as prizes at a raffle.
Under current law, DNR is required to issue a sturgeon spearing license to any
person applying for the license who is at least 12 years old. Each license issued by
DNR is required to be accompanied by sturgeon carcass tags in a quantity
corresponding with the season bag limit for spearing lake sturgeon. A sturgeon
spearing license authorizes the spearing of lake sturgeon, subject to any limits
established by DNR, only during the open season for spearing sturgeon.
This bill requires DNR to issue five certificates for sturgeon spearing licenses
to an organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., if the organization applies
for the certificates. The bill authorizes the organization to award the certificates as
prizes at a raffle. If the person who receives a certificate presents the certificate to
DNR with the appropriate required fees, the bill requires DNR to issue the person
a sturgeon spearing license that authorizes the taking of sturgeon on lakes upriver
of Lake Winnebago and applicable carcass tags. A person may be issued only one
sturgeon spearing license under this program in his or her lifetime. This bill also
requires the organization to use the proceeds from the raffle to further sturgeon
management and research.
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:
AB441,1
1Section
1. 29.237 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB441,2,52
29.237
(6) (a) In addition to any other sturgeon spearing license that the
3department issues under this section, the department shall issue 5 certificates for
4sturgeon spearing licenses to an organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc.,
5if the organization applies for the certificates for that season.
AB441,2,86
(b) The organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., shall award each
7certificate issued under par. (a) as a prize in a raffle conducted by a subunit of the
8organization that is licensed to conduct raffles under ch. 563.
AB441,2,169
(c) The organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., shall transfer the
10certificates awarded under par. (b) only to persons who are qualified to receive a
11sturgeon spearing license. A person who receives a certificate may present that
12certificate to the department and request a sturgeon spearing license that authorizes
13the taking of sturgeon on lakes upriver of Lake Winnebago. Upon receipt of the
14certificate and appropriate required fees, the department shall issue the holder of the
15certificate the appropriate sturgeon spearing license and applicable carcass tags
16under sub. (2).
AB441,2,1817
(d) If the organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., fails to transfer
18the certificates under par. (c), the certificates shall become invalid.
AB441,2,2119
(e) The organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., shall use the
20proceeds from the raffle under par. (b) in this state to further sturgeon management
21and research.
AB441,3,4
1(f) A person may be issued under par. (c) only one sturgeon spearing license in
2his or her lifetime, and the sturgeon spearing license shall be valid for only one
3sturgeon spearing season. The issuance under par. (c) of a license to the person is
4subject to ss. 29.024 (2g), 29.192 (4) (b) 1., and 29.569 (3) (b).
