2001 -- H 5643
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LC01744
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2001
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A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LICENSING
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 20-2-4, 20-2-15, 20-2-16, 20-2-17, 20-2-18, 20-2-35 and 20-2-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-2 entitled "Licensing" are hereby amended to read as follows:
20-2-4. Clerk's fee -- Out of the fees paid under the provisions of this chapter for issuance of hunting, other than deer permits pursuant to section 20-2-18, fishing, combination, and non-resident shellfishing licenses, the sum of fifty cents ($.50) one dollar ($1.00) shall be retained by the clerk or agent issuing each license, if this is the case. Out of the fees paid for issuance of deer permits, the sum of fifty cents ($.50) shall be retained by the clerk or agent.
20-2-15. Fresh water fishing license -- (a) (1) Resident- nine dollars and fifty cents ($9.50). eighteen dollars ($18.00).
(2) Nonresident- thirty-one dollars ($31.00) thirty-five dollars ($35.00).
(3) Nonresident tourist- sixteen dollars ($16.00). This license shall entitle the licensee to fish in Rhode Island for three (3) consecutive days including the day of issue.
(b) Fresh water fishing licenses shall expire on the last day of February of each year.
20-2-16. Hunting license -- (a) (1) Resident- nine dollars and fifty cents ($9.50) eighteen dollars ($18.00).
(2) Nonresident- forty-one dollars ($41.00) forty-five dollars ($45.00).
(3) Nonresident landowner- a nonresident citizen of the United States and owner of real estate in Rhode Island assessed for taxation at a valuation of not less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) may obtain a resident's hunting license.
(4) Shooting preserve- three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50).
(5) Nonresident three (3) day- sixteen dollars ($16.00). This license shall entitle the licensee to hunt in Rhode Island for three (3) consecutive days as validated by the issuing agent.
(b) Hunting licenses shall expire on the last day of February of each year.
20-2-17. Combination fishing and hunting license -- The director may grant to any eligible resident applying for a combination hunting and fishing license a license which shall entitle the licensee to the privileges of both hunting and fishing licenses, for a fee of fifteen dollars and fifty cents ($15.50) thirty-three dollars ($33.00). The license shall expire on the last day of February of each year.
20-2-18. Deer permits -- (a) (1) Resident- seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50).
(2) Non-resident- twenty-five dollars and fifty cents ($25.50).
(b) A deer permit is good only for the season in which it is issued.
20-2-35. Waterfowl stamp required -- No person sixteen (16) years of age or older shall take or attempt to take any migratory waterfowl without first obtaining a regular hunting license which includes a and a Rhode Island migratory waterfowl stamp for the current year. Each stamp shall be validated by the signature of the licensee written in ink across the face of the stamp and shall not be transferable. The stamp year shall run from July 1 to June 30. The migratory waterfowl stamp shall be available at all outlets currently used for the issuance of a hunting license and shall be issued at the time the hunting license is purchased.
20-2-37. Waterfowl stamp fees -- (a) Stamps shall be sold at the direction of the director for a fee of seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50). The issuing agent may retain a fee of fifty cents ($.50) for each stamp and shall remit seven dollars ($7.00) of each fee to the department. The director shall establish a uniform sale price for all categories of by-products.
(b) The migratory waterfowl stamp shall be issued at no cost to anyone purchasing a regular hunting license. No fee shall be charged for a migratory waterfowl stamp to anyone purchasing a regular hunting license, unless approved by the general assembly. It shall be the responsibility of the department of environmental management to affix the stamps to the affected licenses.
SECTION 2. Chapter 20-2 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
20-2-18.1. Wild turkey permits. -- (a) Resident: seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50).
(b) Nonresident: twenty dollars ($20.00).
A wild turkey permit shall be good only for the season in which it is issued. All monies derived from the sale of wild turkey permits shall be expended for turkey habitat acquisition in Rhode Island and wild turkey restoration management and research.
20-2-18.2. Pheasant permits required. - No person shall attempt to take any pheasant without first obtaining a regular hunting license and a pheasant permit for the current year.
20-2-18.3. Pheasant permit fees and bag limits. - Permits shall be sold at the direction of the director for a fee of fifteen dollars and fifty cents ($15.50). The issuing agent will retain a fee of fifty cents ($0.50) for each permit and shall remit fifteen dollars ($15.00) to the department.
A permit will contain six (6) tags which can be used to harvest a two (2) bird daily bag limit and a total of six (6) pheasants per season. Only one (1) permit may be purchased per season.
All monies derived from the sale of pheasant permits shall be expended for pheasant and related wildlife management, research and habitat acquisition in Rhode Island.
20-2-38.1. Grants, donations, gifts. - The director is authorized to accept any grant, devise, bequest, donation, gift or assignment of money, bonds, or other valuable securities for deposit in the waterfowl fund, which may be accepted for specific use(s) which the grant and grantee may jointly identify within the purposes of the waterfowl fund, or for the general purposes of such fund. The director may also accept land as provided in section 20-18-1.
SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act shall take effect on March 1, 2002, except that the amendment to section 20-2-37 shall take effect on July 1, 2001. The remaining section of this act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC01744
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LICENSING
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This act would provide for increases in certain license fees, provide for a pheasant and wild turkey permit, and eliminate the combined waterfowl/hunting license.
Section 1 of this act would take effect on March 1, 2002, except that the amendment to section 20-2-37 will take effect on July 1, 2001. The remaining section of this act would take effect upon passage.