Legislative Update
#4
4 February 2011
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
OK, let's get
caught up here. I've been wanting to get you
updated info on some of the bills you've seen
for some time. There are also some bills you
haven't seen, but need to know about. Here's
the latest status report on the ones that are
in the pipeline:
HB0076 - Game and fish-turkey pioneer license - Passed the House, was heard and passed Tuesday morning in Senate Travel on a 4-0-1 vote. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0076.pdf
HB0088 - Guides and outfitters - Passed the House, received for introduction in the Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0088.pdf
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - Passed the House, was heard and passed Tuesday on a 3-1-1 vote in Senate Travel. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0100.pdf
HB0101 - Vicious animals - interference with game wardens - Passed the House, heard and passed 3-2 today in Senate Travel. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0101.pdf
HB0133 - Special limited fishing permits - Passed the House, was heard and passed 3-2 today in Senate Travel. We support the bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0133.pdf
HB0171 - Corner crossings at intersecting public and private lands - Sponsored by Rep. Steve Harshman from Casper, this bill sought to legalize "corner jumping" under certain conditions. Well intentioned but problematic, it had almost no chance. We testified in support of the intent of the bill. It went down yesterday at noon in House Agriculture in a 0-9 vote. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0171.pdf
HB0222 - Recreational consideration in public land exchanges - Also sponsored by Rep. Harshman, this bill came out of the Muddy Mountain controversy this summer. We had no position on this bill. It also went down on a 3-6 vote in House Ag yesterday. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0222.pdf
HB0236 - Complimentary hunting licenses - persons with disabilities - This bill changes one small section in the statute that allows WGFD to issue these licenses, making them complimentary. It allows for WGFD to recoup their costs through their recoupment bill. It has been introduced and referred to House Travel. We should be supportive of this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0236.pdf
HB0258 - Game and fish - pioneer licenses - This bill would modify the existing statutes for pioneer and heritage licenses to do away with the requirement for continuous residence and the phrase "immediately preceding application for the license". It has been introduced and referred to House Travel. We should have no position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0258.pdf
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species - reciprocity - Has passed the Senate, and been introduced in the House with a referral to House Travel. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0039.pdf
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - Has passed the Senate on a 30-0 vote and been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0048.pdf
SF0062 - Large projects - Has passed the Senate and been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We strongly support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0062.pdf
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses - Has passed the Senate, been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We support this bill. 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 Monday on a 21-9 vote, received for introduction in the House. It has been referred to House Education. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0071.pdf
SF0080 - Game and fish - complimentary licenses - This bill was heard twice and postponed twice in Senate Travel. On the third time, it was indefinitely postponed when WGFD said they could do the same thing through Commission regulation. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0080.pdf
SF0083 - Game and fish - resident preference points - This bill made it to the Senate floor, but failed Committee of the Whole once it was there. We have taken no position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0083.pdf
SF0091 - Wildlife/livestock disease research disease partnership-funding - This bill passed the Senate and been received for introduction in the House. We have no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0091.pdf
SF0105 - State control of certain land - This is a "sagebrush rebellion" bill, requiring the Office of State Lands and Investments to prepare a plan for the transfer and management of federal lands. It has been received by the Senate for introduction. We have no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0105.pdf
SF0111 - Game animals damages - This bill was indefinitely postponed in the Senate Ag Committee, and is likely dead for this session. We opposed it. The topic may come up later as an interim study. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0111.pdf
SF0148 - Game fish - collection of social security numbers - This bill would have prohibited Game and Fish from collecting SSN from license buyers. They do so under the direction of the federal government and in cooperation with Department of Family Services to facilitate collection of back child support. It would hahve cost WGFD $13.5 million in federal funding and over 100 jobs. It would have cost DFS over twice that. We opposed the bill. It failed in Senate Travel on a vote of 1-4. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0148.pdf
SF0151 - Grizzly bear season - This was a "shot over the bow" bill, sponsored by folks understandably frustrated with our inability to get bears delisted and under state management. It would have mandated the WGF Commission to establish a grizzly bear season and issue 40 licenses. It failed in Senate Travel, on a 2-3 vote. We opposed it, prompting a sharp disagreement between your ED and the leader of another organization outside the meeting room. I am unrepentant. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0151.pdf
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish and trap - This is currently our highest legislative priority. We have enlisted the support of BoW, WYOGA, AFL-CIO, WY-SFW, TU, and the WY Game Wardens Assn. We have worked on a daily basis with the sponsor and WGFD to move this bill. Our fact sheet is attached. CLICK HERE! It has been amended several times, and will be heard for the third time in the Senate today. We need a 2/3 majority, and I am cautiously pessimistic. Should it fail, I will attempt to get it considered as an interim topic. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf
We have been successful in lining up some good candidates for Game and Fish Commission vacancies. Selection will take place this month, with confirmation by the Senate in the final days of the session.
On a related matter, there are some deadlines for this session that we should keep in mind. the deadline for submitting new bills has passed. Other deadlines include:
4 February - Last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in house of origin.
7 February - Last day for Committee of the Whole in house or origin.
8 February - Last day for second reading in house of origin.
9 February - Last day for third reading in the house of origin.
21 February - President's Day recess.
Reminder: We will be sponsoring a Legislative Breakfast on Friday, February 11. Board members and staff are invited to attend. To view the invitation, CLICK HERE!
Walt Gasson,
Executive DirectorHB0076 - Game and fish-turkey pioneer license - Passed the House, was heard and passed Tuesday morning in Senate Travel on a 4-0-1 vote. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0076.pdf
HB0088 - Guides and outfitters - Passed the House, received for introduction in the Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0088.pdf
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - Passed the House, was heard and passed Tuesday on a 3-1-1 vote in Senate Travel. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0100.pdf
HB0101 - Vicious animals - interference with game wardens - Passed the House, heard and passed 3-2 today in Senate Travel. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0101.pdf
HB0133 - Special limited fishing permits - Passed the House, was heard and passed 3-2 today in Senate Travel. We support the bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0133.pdf
HB0171 - Corner crossings at intersecting public and private lands - Sponsored by Rep. Steve Harshman from Casper, this bill sought to legalize "corner jumping" under certain conditions. Well intentioned but problematic, it had almost no chance. We testified in support of the intent of the bill. It went down yesterday at noon in House Agriculture in a 0-9 vote. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0171.pdf
HB0222 - Recreational consideration in public land exchanges - Also sponsored by Rep. Harshman, this bill came out of the Muddy Mountain controversy this summer. We had no position on this bill. It also went down on a 3-6 vote in House Ag yesterday. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0222.pdf
HB0236 - Complimentary hunting licenses - persons with disabilities - This bill changes one small section in the statute that allows WGFD to issue these licenses, making them complimentary. It allows for WGFD to recoup their costs through their recoupment bill. It has been introduced and referred to House Travel. We should be supportive of this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0236.pdf
HB0258 - Game and fish - pioneer licenses - This bill would modify the existing statutes for pioneer and heritage licenses to do away with the requirement for continuous residence and the phrase "immediately preceding application for the license". It has been introduced and referred to House Travel. We should have no position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/HB0258.pdf
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species - reciprocity - Has passed the Senate, and been introduced in the House with a referral to House Travel. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0039.pdf
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - Has passed the Senate on a 30-0 vote and been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0048.pdf
SF0062 - Large projects - Has passed the Senate and been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We strongly support this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0062.pdf
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses - Has passed the Senate, been received by the House. Referred to House Travel. We support this bill. 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 Monday on a 21-9 vote, received for introduction in the House. It has been referred to House Education. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0071.pdf
SF0080 - Game and fish - complimentary licenses - This bill was heard twice and postponed twice in Senate Travel. On the third time, it was indefinitely postponed when WGFD said they could do the same thing through Commission regulation. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0080.pdf
SF0083 - Game and fish - resident preference points - This bill made it to the Senate floor, but failed Committee of the Whole once it was there. We have taken no position on this bill. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0083.pdf
SF0085 - Game and fish violations -
penalties - This bill has passed the
Senate, where it was significantly amended. We
have made this one of our highest priorities
and worked with the Wyoming Game Wardens
Association to support it. Our fact sheet is
attached. CLICK
HERE! http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0085.pdf
SF0091 - Wildlife/livestock disease research disease partnership-funding - This bill passed the Senate and been received for introduction in the House. We have no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0091.pdf
SF0105 - State control of certain land - This is a "sagebrush rebellion" bill, requiring the Office of State Lands and Investments to prepare a plan for the transfer and management of federal lands. It has been received by the Senate for introduction. We have no position on it. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0105.pdf
SF0111 - Game animals damages - This bill was indefinitely postponed in the Senate Ag Committee, and is likely dead for this session. We opposed it. The topic may come up later as an interim study. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0111.pdf
SF0148 - Game fish - collection of social security numbers - This bill would have prohibited Game and Fish from collecting SSN from license buyers. They do so under the direction of the federal government and in cooperation with Department of Family Services to facilitate collection of back child support. It would hahve cost WGFD $13.5 million in federal funding and over 100 jobs. It would have cost DFS over twice that. We opposed the bill. It failed in Senate Travel on a vote of 1-4. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0148.pdf
SF0151 - Grizzly bear season - This was a "shot over the bow" bill, sponsored by folks understandably frustrated with our inability to get bears delisted and under state management. It would have mandated the WGF Commission to establish a grizzly bear season and issue 40 licenses. It failed in Senate Travel, on a 2-3 vote. We opposed it, prompting a sharp disagreement between your ED and the leader of another organization outside the meeting room. I am unrepentant. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SF0151.pdf
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish and trap - This is currently our highest legislative priority. We have enlisted the support of BoW, WYOGA, AFL-CIO, WY-SFW, TU, and the WY Game Wardens Assn. We have worked on a daily basis with the sponsor and WGFD to move this bill. Our fact sheet is attached. CLICK HERE! It has been amended several times, and will be heard for the third time in the Senate today. We need a 2/3 majority, and I am cautiously pessimistic. Should it fail, I will attempt to get it considered as an interim topic. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf
We have been successful in lining up some good candidates for Game and Fish Commission vacancies. Selection will take place this month, with confirmation by the Senate in the final days of the session.
On a related matter, there are some deadlines for this session that we should keep in mind. the deadline for submitting new bills has passed. Other deadlines include:
4 February - Last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in house of origin.
7 February - Last day for Committee of the Whole in house or origin.
8 February - Last day for second reading in house of origin.
9 February - Last day for third reading in the house of origin.
21 February - President's Day recess.
Reminder: We will be sponsoring a Legislative Breakfast on Friday, February 11. Board members and staff are invited to attend. To view the invitation, CLICK HERE!
Wyoming Wildlife Federation