Legislative Update
#1
Before I review bills we are watching, let me offer some encouragement for your involvement. I enjoy working the session and I hope to be as effective as I can be, but the truth is that you have more influence as a constituent than I have as a lobbyist. I strongly recommend that you check out the legislature's website: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/. This is the best resource for reviewing proposed bills, finding out who's on which committee, and keeping tabs on things in general. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Legislators can be contacted by e-mail. For the e-mail address, go to the website and click on "House Members/Senate Members/Committee Members" in the center of the screen. You can also use the "E-mail Your Senator" or "E-mail your Representative" button in the center of the screen.
Now let's look at some bills we will be tracking in this session. For each one, I'll provide a link for anyone who would like to read the introduced version of the bill:
HB0076 - Game and fish -turkey pioneer license - This bill amends the statue dealing with pioneer licenses to include a reduced price turkey license. The numbers of these licenses are very low, and any loss incurred by the Game and Fish Department can be addressed in a recoupment bill. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0076.pdf
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - This bill would prohibit the Commission from acquiring land through adverse possession or proscriptive easement. It probably would not change the way they acquire land now, and there may be some constitutional questions here. For now, I'd suggest not taking a position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0100.pdf
HB0101 - Vicious animals-interference with game wardens - This bill provides criminal penalties (low misdemeanor) for anyone who fails to control a vicious animal that hinders a game warden in the performance of his or her duties. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0101.pdf
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species-reciprocity - This bill empowers the Game and Fish Commission to establish reciprocal agreements with neighboring state on AIS inspection fees on shared waters. This is similar to the existing reciprocal licensing agreement between UT and WY on Flaming Gorge. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0039.pdf
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - This bill amends the statute that establishes terms for WNRT board members to establish staggered board terms, similar to those of Game and Fish commissioners. We should support it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0048.pdf
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses -This bill would amend the existing statute to allow a person to surrender a valid big game license for reissuance to a disabled veteran selected and sponsored by a charitable organization. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0063.pdf
SF0071 - Education-hunter safety courses - This bill would mandate Wyoming schools to offer hunter education in the 5th or 6th grade. With the existing demands on educators, this bill is unlikely to go anywhere. We should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0071.pdf
SF0080 - Game and fish-complimentary licenses - This bill would limit the number of Commissioner's tags that could be issued in any given area to no more than 10% of the total license quota in that area. We should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0080.pdf
SF0083 - Game and fish-resident preference points - This bill would establish a system for resident preference points in the issuance of elk, deer, and antelope licenses similar to that currently used for nonresidents. The most recent survey data by the Department suggests that resident hunters are most evenly split on this topic. As such, we should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0083.pdf
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish, and trap - This is the bill that if passed, would put before the voters a proposal to amend the state constitution to forever preserve the right to hunt, fish and trap while not creating a right to trespass, diminish other private rights or diminish the duty of the state to manage wildlife. We are working very closely with the sponsors on this one, and I am satisfied that it is a good bill. It will be my first priority this session. I have attached a white paper that we produced to provide more information. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf
If you're wondering about the State of the State address, that's scheduled for 10 AM tomorrow.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
11
January 2011
Before I review bills we are watching, let me offer some encouragement for your involvement. I enjoy working the session and I hope to be as effective as I can be, but the truth is that you have more influence as a constituent than I have as a lobbyist. I strongly recommend that you check out the legislature's website: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/. This is the best resource for reviewing proposed bills, finding out who's on which committee, and keeping tabs on things in general. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Legislators can be contacted by e-mail. For the e-mail address, go to the website and click on "House Members/Senate Members/Committee Members" in the center of the screen. You can also use the "E-mail Your Senator" or "E-mail your Representative" button in the center of the screen.
Now let's look at some bills we will be tracking in this session. For each one, I'll provide a link for anyone who would like to read the introduced version of the bill:
HB0076 - Game and fish -turkey pioneer license - This bill amends the statue dealing with pioneer licenses to include a reduced price turkey license. The numbers of these licenses are very low, and any loss incurred by the Game and Fish Department can be addressed in a recoupment bill. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0076.pdf
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - This bill would prohibit the Commission from acquiring land through adverse possession or proscriptive easement. It probably would not change the way they acquire land now, and there may be some constitutional questions here. For now, I'd suggest not taking a position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0100.pdf
HB0101 - Vicious animals-interference with game wardens - This bill provides criminal penalties (low misdemeanor) for anyone who fails to control a vicious animal that hinders a game warden in the performance of his or her duties. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0101.pdf
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species-reciprocity - This bill empowers the Game and Fish Commission to establish reciprocal agreements with neighboring state on AIS inspection fees on shared waters. This is similar to the existing reciprocal licensing agreement between UT and WY on Flaming Gorge. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0039.pdf
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - This bill amends the statute that establishes terms for WNRT board members to establish staggered board terms, similar to those of Game and Fish commissioners. We should support it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0048.pdf
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses -This bill would amend the existing statute to allow a person to surrender a valid big game license for reissuance to a disabled veteran selected and sponsored by a charitable organization. We should support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0063.pdf
SF0071 - Education-hunter safety courses - This bill would mandate Wyoming schools to offer hunter education in the 5th or 6th grade. With the existing demands on educators, this bill is unlikely to go anywhere. We should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0071.pdf
SF0080 - Game and fish-complimentary licenses - This bill would limit the number of Commissioner's tags that could be issued in any given area to no more than 10% of the total license quota in that area. We should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0080.pdf
SF0083 - Game and fish-resident preference points - This bill would establish a system for resident preference points in the issuance of elk, deer, and antelope licenses similar to that currently used for nonresidents. The most recent survey data by the Department suggests that resident hunters are most evenly split on this topic. As such, we should take no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0083.pdf
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish, and trap - This is the bill that if passed, would put before the voters a proposal to amend the state constitution to forever preserve the right to hunt, fish and trap while not creating a right to trespass, diminish other private rights or diminish the duty of the state to manage wildlife. We are working very closely with the sponsors on this one, and I am satisfied that it is a good bill. It will be my first priority this session. I have attached a white paper that we produced to provide more information. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf
If you're wondering about the State of the State address, that's scheduled for 10 AM tomorrow.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation