Legislative Update #9
3 March 2011
This will be our last legislative update of the session. In total, we had active involvement on 23 bills. Our success was significant. Our three highest legislative priorities - the right to hunt bill (SJ0001), the felony bill (SF0085) and the large projects bill (SF0062) all passed. bills we strongly opposed - the damage bill (SF0111), the social security number bill (SF0148) and the grizzly bear season bill (SF0151) - all failed. Perhaps as important as any of these, I think we worked effectively with a number of different to groups to advance our legislative agenda.
I have reviewed each bill we worked on and summarized its final status below:
HB0076 - Game and fish-turkey pioneer license - This bill added the turkey license available to qualified pioneer license holders. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
HB0088 - Guides and outfitters - This bill made some significant changes to the statutes that govern guides and outfitters. Some of those changes were aimed at reducing illegal outfitting. We supported the bill, and worked with WYOGA to get it passed. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature.
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - This bill prohibits the Game and Fish Department from acquiring land through adverse possession or proprietary easement. It has assed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We were neutral on this bill.
HB0101 - Vicious animals - interference with game wardens - This bill would have created penalties for dog owners whose animals interfered with wildlife law enforcement law officers in performance of their duties. It passed the House, but failed Committee of the Whole in the Senate. We supported it.
HB0133 - Special limited fishing permits - This bill created special short-term fishing licenses for young people enrolled in accredited courses which include fishing as a course topic. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported it.
HB0171 - Corner crossings at intersecting public and private lands - 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 failed in the House Agriculture Committee.
HB0222 - Recreational consideration in public land exchanges - This bill came out of the Muddy Mountain land exchange controversy last summer. It also failed in the House Agriculture Committee.We had no position on this bill.
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 failed in the House. We supported the intent of the bill.
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 also failed in the House.
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species - reciprocity - This bill empowered the Game and Fish Commission to enter into reciprocity agreements with neighboring states for purposes of AIS inspection and compliance. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We supported this bill.
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - This bill made some changes in the statutes governing the Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Board. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
SF0062 - Large projects - This is one of the most important bills considered in the session. It provides $5.8 million in funding for large projects approved by the Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Board and Select Committee. It has passed both houses and was to be signed by the governor today. We strongly supported this bill.
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses - This bill enables an individual who has legally purchased a license to return it to the Game and Fish Department, who could then re-issue it to an organization that sponsors hunting experiences for disabled veterans. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
SF0071 - Education - hunter safety courses - In its original form this bill would have mandated schools in Wyoming to teach hunter education in the 5th or 6th grade. Heavily amended, it finally died when the Senate failed to concur with House amendments. We supported the bill.
SF0080 - Game and fish - complimentary licenses - This bill sought to limit the number of Commissioners licenses that could be issued in any one hunt area. It was indefinitely postponed in the Senate Travel Committee when WGFD said they could do the same thing through Commission regulation. We were neutral on it.
SF0083 - Game and fish - resident preference points - This bill would have established a resident preference points system for resident elk, deer. antelope license drawings, similar to that employed in the nonresident draw now. It failed the Committee of the Whole in the Senate. We took no position on this bill.
SF0091 - Wildlife/livestock disease research disease partnership-funding - This bill appropriates funding for disease research. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We had no position on it.
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. Died in the House. We had no position on it.
SF0111 - Game animals damages - This bill would have amended the damage sections of Title 23 (W.S. 23-1-901) to make the Game and Fish Commission, that in the event of a disease, to:
This bill died in the Senate Ag Committee. We opposed it.
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 have 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 died in the Senate Travel Committee.
SF0151 - Grizzly bear season - This was supported by folks frustrated with the ongoing issue of grizzly bear delisting. It would have mandated the WGF Commission to establish a grizzly bear season and issue 40 licenses. It died in the Senate Travel Committee. We opposed it.
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish and trap - This was our highest legislative priority. It has passed both houses and will be signed by the governor today. It creates a constitutional amendment that protects Wyoming citizens' opportunity to hunt, fish and trap in perpetuity. That amendment will appear on the general election ballot in the 2012 election. We led a coalition of groups including Bowhunters of Wyoming, Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Wyoming AFL-CIO, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wyoming Game Wardens Association to support it. We will be seeking funding for an outreach program to be implemented in the months leading up to the general election.
The Joint Travel Committee has recommended the following wildlife-related interim study topics:
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife FederationI have reviewed each bill we worked on and summarized its final status below:
HB0076 - Game and fish-turkey pioneer license - This bill added the turkey license available to qualified pioneer license holders. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
HB0088 - Guides and outfitters - This bill made some significant changes to the statutes that govern guides and outfitters. Some of those changes were aimed at reducing illegal outfitting. We supported the bill, and worked with WYOGA to get it passed. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature.
HB0100 - Game and fish-land acquisition - This bill prohibits the Game and Fish Department from acquiring land through adverse possession or proprietary easement. It has assed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We were neutral on this bill.
HB0101 - Vicious animals - interference with game wardens - This bill would have created penalties for dog owners whose animals interfered with wildlife law enforcement law officers in performance of their duties. It passed the House, but failed Committee of the Whole in the Senate. We supported it.
HB0133 - Special limited fishing permits - This bill created special short-term fishing licenses for young people enrolled in accredited courses which include fishing as a course topic. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported it.
HB0171 - Corner crossings at intersecting public and private lands - 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 failed in the House Agriculture Committee.
HB0222 - Recreational consideration in public land exchanges - This bill came out of the Muddy Mountain land exchange controversy last summer. It also failed in the House Agriculture Committee.We had no position on this bill.
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 failed in the House. We supported the intent of the bill.
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 also failed in the House.
SF0039 - Aquatic invasive species - reciprocity - This bill empowered the Game and Fish Commission to enter into reciprocity agreements with neighboring states for purposes of AIS inspection and compliance. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We supported this bill.
SF0048 - Wildlife and natural resources trust account board - This bill made some changes in the statutes governing the Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Board. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
SF0062 - Large projects - This is one of the most important bills considered in the session. It provides $5.8 million in funding for large projects approved by the Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Board and Select Committee. It has passed both houses and was to be signed by the governor today. We strongly supported this bill.
SF0063 - Game and fish-donation of hunting licenses - This bill enables an individual who has legally purchased a license to return it to the Game and Fish Department, who could then re-issue it to an organization that sponsors hunting experiences for disabled veterans. It has passed both houses and been signed by the governor. We supported this bill.
SF0071 - Education - hunter safety courses - In its original form this bill would have mandated schools in Wyoming to teach hunter education in the 5th or 6th grade. Heavily amended, it finally died when the Senate failed to concur with House amendments. We supported the bill.
SF0080 - Game and fish - complimentary licenses - This bill sought to limit the number of Commissioners licenses that could be issued in any one hunt area. It was indefinitely postponed in the Senate Travel Committee when WGFD said they could do the same thing through Commission regulation. We were neutral on it.
SF0083 - Game and fish - resident preference points - This bill would have established a resident preference points system for resident elk, deer. antelope license drawings, similar to that employed in the nonresident draw now. It failed the Committee of the Whole in the Senate. We took no position on this bill.
SF0085 - Game and fish violations - penalties - This bill makes repeated offenses of the statutes governing wanton destruction of a big of trophy game animal and violations of the "winter range statute" a felony. It was our second highest priority this session. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We worked closely with the Wyoming Game Wardens Association on this bill, and supported it strongly.
SF0091 - Wildlife/livestock disease research disease partnership-funding - This bill appropriates funding for disease research. It has passed both houses and is awaiting the governor's signature. We had no position on it.
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. Died in the House. We had no position on it.
SF0111 - Game animals damages - This bill would have amended the damage sections of Title 23 (W.S. 23-1-901) to make the Game and Fish Commission, that in the event of a disease, to:
-Develop a disease management plan to address it, said plan to be approved by the livestock board and the governor;
-Be responsible for indemnity to the livestock producer, and pay said producer unless the federal authorities pay first. Said payment is contingent upon allowing hunting, but no specifics are mentioned about numbers of hunters, access, etc.
-Be responsible for indemnity to the livestock producer, and pay said producer unless the federal authorities pay first. Said payment is contingent upon allowing hunting, but no specifics are mentioned about numbers of hunters, access, etc.
This bill died in the Senate Ag Committee. We opposed it.
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 have 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 died in the Senate Travel Committee.
SF0151 - Grizzly bear season - This was supported by folks frustrated with the ongoing issue of grizzly bear delisting. It would have mandated the WGF Commission to establish a grizzly bear season and issue 40 licenses. It died in the Senate Travel Committee. We opposed it.
SJ0001 - Right to hunt, fish and trap - This was our highest legislative priority. It has passed both houses and will be signed by the governor today. It creates a constitutional amendment that protects Wyoming citizens' opportunity to hunt, fish and trap in perpetuity. That amendment will appear on the general election ballot in the 2012 election. We led a coalition of groups including Bowhunters of Wyoming, Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Wyoming AFL-CIO, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wyoming Game Wardens Association to support it. We will be seeking funding for an outreach program to be implemented in the months leading up to the general election.
The Joint Travel Committee has recommended the following wildlife-related interim study topics:
-The aquatic invasive species program - making sure the size, scope and future of the program are consistent with legislative intent;
-Grizzly DNA study to estimate bear numbers;
-Monitoring of threatened and endangered species issues; and
-Statutes within Title 23 that may be repealed or replaced by Commission regulation, including the use of baiting in some situations, changes in the definition of legal weapons, etc.
-Grizzly DNA study to estimate bear numbers;
-Monitoring of threatened and endangered species issues; and
-Statutes within Title 23 that may be repealed or replaced by Commission regulation, including the use of baiting in some situations, changes in the definition of legal weapons, etc.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
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