S2297aa

	2024 -- S 2297 AS AMENDED
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	LC004826
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FURBEARING ANIMALS

	Introduced By: Senators Tikoian, Raptakis, Quezada, Ciccone, F. Lombardi, Britto,
	Date Introduced: February 12, 2024
	Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 20-16-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-16 entitled "Furbearing
2	Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3	20-16-1. Furbearers protected.
4	(a) No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot, or trap, or attempt so to do, the following furbearing
5	mammals in this state, except in accordance with rules and regulations governing seasons, bag
6	limits, and methods of taking adopted by the director pursuant to § 20-1-12.
7	(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “furbearers” shall be considered to include:
8	(1) Carnivores (Order Carnivora):
9	(i) Family Canidae, genus Canis (coyote); genus Urocyon (gray fox); genus Vulpes (red
10	fox).
11	(ii) Family Procyonidae, genus Procyon (raccoon).
12	(iii) Family Mustelidae, genus Martes (fisher); genus Mustela, M. erminea (ermine), M.
13	frenata (longtailed weasel), M. vison (mink), genus Mephitis (striped skunk), genus Lutra (river
14	otter).
15	(iv) Family Felidae, genus Lynx (bobcat).
16	(2) Rodents (Order Rodentia):
17	(i) Family Castoridae, genus Castor (beaver).
18	(ii) Family Sciuridae, genus Sciurus (gray squirrel).
19	(iii) Family Cricetidae, genus Ondatra (muskrat).

1	(3) Marsupials (Order Marsupialia): Family Didelphidae, genus Didelphis (opossum).
2	(4) Rabbits and hares (Order Lagomorpha): Family Leporidae, genus Sylvilagus (Eastern
3	and New England cottontail), genus Lepus (snowshoe hare).
4	(c) The department of environmental management shall promulgate, by rule, a list of
5	"furbearers" for the purpose of this chapter.
6	SECTION 2. Section 20-16-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-16 entitled "Furbearing
7	Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:
8	20-16-1. Furbearers protected.
9	(a) No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot, or trap, or attempt so to do, the following furbearing
10	mammals in this state, except in accordance with rules and regulations governing seasons, bag
11	limits, and methods of taking adopted by the director pursuant to § 20-1-12.
12	(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “furbearers” shall be considered to include:
13	(1) Carnivores (Order Carnivora):
14	(i) Family Canidae, genus Canis (coyote); genus Urocyon (gray fox); genus Vulpes (red
15	fox).
16	(ii) Family Procyonidae, genus Procyon (raccoon).
17	(iii) Family Mustelidae, genus Martes (fisher); genus Mustela, M. erminea (ermine), M.
18	frenata (longtailed weasel), M. vison (mink), genus Mephitis (striped skunk), genus Lutra (river
19	otter).
20	(iv) Family Felidae, genus Lynx (bobcat).
21	(2) Rodents (Order Rodentia):
22	(i) Family Castoridae, genus Castor (beaver).
23	(ii) Family Sciuridae, genus Sciurus (gray squirrel).
24	(iii) Family Cricetidae, genus Ondatra (muskrat).
25	(3) Marsupials (Order Marsupialia): Family Didelphidae, genus Didelphis (opossum).
26	(4) Rabbits and hares (Order Lagomorpha): Family Leporidae, genus Sylvilagus (Eastern
27	and New England cottontail), genus Lepus (snowshoe hare).
28	SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act shall take effect upon passage, and Section 2 of this act
29	shall take effect on January 15, 2025.
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	LC004826
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FURBEARING ANIMALS
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1	This act would delete subsection (b) of this section which lists the furbearing mammals in
2	the state. It would require the DEM to promulgate by rule, a list of "furbearers" for this chapter.
3	This act would take effect upon passage.
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	LC004826
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