Legislative Update
#3
21
January 2011
OK, let's get caught up here. Some of the bills we're tracking are moving along pretty quickly, others are not. The good news is that I think we are up to date on new bills - there aren't any that we're tracking that you haven't heard about yet. Here's the latest status report on the ones that are in the pipeline:
HB0076 - Game and fish-turkey pioneer license - Passed second reading in the House. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0076.pdf
HB0088 - Guides and outfitters - Heard early this morning in House Judiciary. There are some amendments to the bill. The committee will meet to work those amendments today at noon. We'll be there. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0088.pdf
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - Passed third reading in the House yesterday on a 54-4-2 vote; has been received for introduction in the Senate. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0100.pdf
HB0101 - Vicious animals-interference with game wardens - On General File in the House. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0101.pdf
HB0133 - Special limited fishing permits - Introduced and referred to House Travel. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0133.pdf
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species-reciprocity - Came out of Senate Travel yesterday with a Do Pass recommendation, on General File in the Senate. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0039.pdf
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - Introduced and referred to Senate Appropriations. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0048.pdf
SF0062 - Large projects - Passed out of Senate Travel yesterday - Do Pass. On General File in the Senate. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0062.pdf
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses - Heard in Senate Travel yesterday - unanimous Do Pass. On General File in the Senate. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0063.pdf
SF0071 - Education-hunter safety courses - After a number of second reading amendments - all pretty much friendly - this bill passed third reading in the Senate yesterday on a 21-9 vote, received for introduction in the House. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0071.pdf
SF0080 - Game and fish-complimentary licenses - Introduced and referred to Senate Travel. Likely to be heard next week. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0080.pdf
SF0083 - Game and fish-resident preference points - Introduced and referred to Senate Travel. Lifely to be heard next week. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0083.pdf
SF0085 - Game and fish violations-penalties - Introduced and referred to Senate Travel. We will be working with the Game Wardens Association and others to support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0085.pdf
SF0091 - Wildlife/livestock disease research disease partnership-funding - Introduced and referred to Senate Appropriations. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0091.pdf
SF0111 - Game animals damages - This bill was heard late last night in Senate Agriculture. Thanks to some excellent staff work on the art of the WGFD, Director Ferrell was able to pick a number of problematic parts to the bill. The committee chose to lay the bill back, and it is likely dead for this. The topic may come up later as an interim study. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0111.pdf
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish and trap - We are working this bill very hard, and enlisting a lot of support. You should see an op-ed (attached)in the Casper Star-Tribune this weekend. I was interviewed on this bill yesterday by Bob Beck from Wyoming Public Radio. That should be on "Open Spaces" this afternoon. There have been a number of friendly amendments discussed. The organizations supporting this bill now are: WWF, BoW, WYOGA, AFL-CIO, WY-SFW, and TU. More organizations (i.e. Game Wardens Assn., etc.) will likely sign on. I expect it to be heard in Senate Travel on Tuesday. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf
A fair bit of discussion taking place on Game and Fish Commission appointments, especially in the wake of the announcement re: Director Ferrell's reassignment.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation