Bill Text: NC H954 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Increase Wildlife Resources License Fees

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-18 - Ref to the Com on Agriculture, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Appropriations [H954 Detail]

Download: North_Carolina-2013-H954-Amended.html

---

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 954

 

 

Short Title:        Increase Wildlife Resources License Fees.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Moffitt, Murry, Wray, and Howard (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Agriculture, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Appropriations.

April 18, 2013

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to increase the fees charged for certain hunting and fishing licenses issued by the wildlife resources commission and to repeal the resident county hunting license, the resident county trapping license, and the resident county inland fishing license.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑270.1C(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      Combination hunting and inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

(1)        Resident Annual Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License – $20.00. $30.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(2),       (3) Repealed by Session Laws 1997‑326, s. 2.

(4)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.6, effective January 1, 2007.

(5)        Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled. This license entitles the licensee to fish in public mountain trout waters as provided in G.S. 113‑272(a).

(6)        Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee. This license entitles the licensee to fish in public mountain trout waters as provided in G.S. 113‑272(a)."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 113‑270.1D(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)       Annual Sportsman License – $40.00. $50.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters. An annual sportsman license issued under this subsection does not entitle the licensee to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 113‑270.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       The hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident State Hunting License – $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Hunting License – $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid for the lifetime of the holder.

(3)        Resident County Hunting License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid only in the county of residence of the license holder.

(4)        Controlled Hunting Preserve Hunting License – $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident to take only foxes and domestically raised game birds, other than wild turkey, only within a controlled hunting preserve licensed and operated in accordance with G.S. 113‑273(g) and implementing rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

(5)        Resident Annual Comprehensive Hunting License – $30.00. $40.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(6)        Nonresident State Hunting License. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident. The nonresident State hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Season License – $60.00. $80.00.

b.         Six‑Day License – $40.00. $60.00. This license is valid for the six consecutive dates indicated on the license."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 113‑270.3(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The special activity licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Big Game Hunting License – $10.00. $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons.

(1a)      Nonresident Bear Hunting License – $125.00. $150.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual within the State and must be procured before taking any bear within the State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nonresident individual may not take any bear within the State without procuring this license; provided, that those persons who have a nonresident lifetime sportsman combination license purchased prior to May 24, 1994, shall not have to purchase this license.

(2)        Nonresident Big Game Hunting License. This license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons. The nonresident big game hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Season License – $60.00. $80.00.

b.         Six‑Day License – $40.00. $60.00. This license is only valid for the six consecutive dates indicated on the license.

(2a)      Bonus Antlerless Deer License – $10.00. $15.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State who holds a valid North Carolina big game hunting license or an individual resident who is exempt from the hunting license requirement in accordance with G.S. 113‑276(c) and G.S. 113‑276(d) and entitles the holder to take two antlerless deer during seasons and by methods authorized by the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license expires June 30.

(3)        Game Land License – $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to hunt and trap on game lands managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Wildlife Resources Commission may, pursuant to G.S. 113‑264(a), designate in its rules other activities on game lands that require purchase of this license and may charge additional fees for use of specially developed facilities.

(4)        Falconry License – $10.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and must be procured before:

a.         Taking, importing, transporting, or possessing a raptor; or

b.         Taking wildlife by means of falconry.

The Wildlife Resources Commission may issue classes of falconry licenses necessary to participate in the federal/State permit system, require necessary examinations before issuing licenses or permits to engage in various authorized activities related to possession and maintenance of raptors and the sport of falconry, and regulate licenses as required by governing federal law and rules. To defray the costs of administering required examinations, the Wildlife Resources Commission may charge reasonable fees upon giving them. To meet minimum federal standards plus other State standards in the interests of conservation of wildlife resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission may impose all necessary controls, including those set out in the sections pertaining to collection licenses and captivity licenses, and may issue permits and require reports, but no collection license or captivity license is needed in addition to the falconry license.

(5)        Migratory Waterfowl Hunting License – $10.00. $15.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take migratory waterfowl in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Wildlife Resources Commission may implement this license requirement through the sale of an official waterfowl stamp which may be a facsimile, in an appropriate size, of the waterfowl conservation print authorized by G.S. 113‑270.2B. An amount not less than one‑half of the annual proceeds from the sale of this license shall be used by the Commission for cooperative waterfowl habitat improvement projects through contracts with local waterfowl interests, with the remainder of the proceeds to be used by the Commission in its statewide programs for the conservation of waterfowl."

SECTION 5.  G.S. 113‑270.4(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The hunting and fishing guide licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources are:

(1)        Resident Hunting and Fishing Guide License – $10.00. $20.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Nonresident Hunting and Fishing Guide License – $100.00. $125.00. This license is valid for use by a nonresident individual in the State."

SECTION 6.  G.S. 113‑270.5(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The trapping licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident State Trapping License – $25.00. $30.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Resident County Trapping License – $10.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State within the county in which he resides.

(3)        Nonresident State Trapping License – $100.00. $120.00. This license is valid for use by an individual within the State."

SECTION 7.  G.S. 113‑271(d) reads as rewritten:

"(d)      The hook‑and‑line fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Annual Comprehensive Inland Fishing License – $20.00. $25.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Resident State Inland Fishing License – $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(3)        Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Inland Fishing License – $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

(4)        Resident County Inland Fishing License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid only within the county of residence of the licensee.

(5)        Nonresident State Inland Fishing License – $30.00. $40.00. This license shall be issued to an individual nonresident of the State.

(6)        Short‑Term Inland Fishing Licenses. Short‑term inland fishing licenses are valid only for the date or consecutive dates indicated on the licenses. Short‑term inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Resident 10‑day Inland Fishing License – $5.00. $10.00. This license shall be issued only to a resident of the State.

b.         Nonresident 10‑day Inland Fishing License – $10.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident of the State.

c.         Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.

(6a)      Age 65 Resident Lifetime Inland Fishing License – $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 65 years of age.

(6b)      Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Inland Fishing License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

(6c)      Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Inland Fishing License – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

(7),       (8) Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.

(9)        Special Landholder and Guest Fishing License – $50.00. $60.00. This license shall be issued only to the landholder of private property bordering inland or joint fishing waters. This license shall entitle the landholder and guests of the landholder to fish from the shore or any pier or dock originating from the property without any additional fishing license. This license is applicable only to private property and private docks and piers and is not valid for any public property, pier, or dock nor for any private property, pier, or dock operated for any commercial purpose whatsoever. This license shall not be in force unless displayed on the premises of the property and only entitles fishing without additional license to persons fishing from the licensed property and then only when fishing within the private  property lines. This license is not transferable as to person or location. For purposes of this subdivision, a guest is any individual invited by the landholder to fish from the property at no charge. A charge includes any fee, assessment, dues, rent, or other consideration which must be paid, whether directly or indirectly, in order to be allowed to fish from the property, regardless of the stated reason for such charge."

SECTION 8.  G.S. 113‑272 reads as rewritten:

"§ 113‑272.  Special trout license; mountain heritage trout waters 3‑day fishing license.

(a)        License Required. – Except as provided in G.S. 113‑270.1D, G.S. 113‑270.1C(b), and G.S. 113‑271(a), no one may fish in public mountain trout waters without having first procured a current and valid special trout license in addition to a hook‑and‑line fishing license required in G.S. 113‑271. When public mountain trout waters occur on game lands, this license entitles the holder to use game lands only for the purpose of access to public mountain trout waters to fish with hook and line.

(b)        Repealed by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 684, s. 5, effective July 1, 1995.

(c)        Definitions. – As used in this section:

(1)        City has the same meaning as in G.S. 160A‑1.

(2)        Mountain heritage trout waters are those waters that have been designated as public mountain trout waters by the Wildlife Resources Commission, and that run through or are adjacent to a city that has been designated as a Mountain Heritage Trout City pursuant to G.S. 113‑272.3(e).

(3)        Public mountain trout waters are those waters so designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission which are managed and regulated to sustain a mountain trout fishery.

(d)        Special Trout License: Fee. – $10.00. $15.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to fish with hook and line in public mountain trout waters.

(e)        Mountain Heritage Trout Waters 3‑Day Fishing License: Fee. – $5.00. $10.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and shall entitle the holder to fish in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as mountain heritage trout waters for the three consecutive days indicated on the license. An individual who holds a mountain heritage trout waters 3‑day fishing license does not need to hold a hook‑and‑line fishing license issued pursuant to G.S. 113‑271 in order to fish in mountain heritage trout waters."

SECTION 9.  G.S. 113‑272.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       The special device licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Noncommercial Special Device License – $10.00. $15.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State. It authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland fishing waters with no more than three special devices authorized by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission for use in specified waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission may restrict the user of the license to specified registered equipment, require tagging of items of equipment, charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per tag issued, and require periodic catch data reports. Unless specifically prohibited, nongame fish lawfully taken under this license may be sold.

(1a)      Resident Commercial Special Device License – $100.00. $125.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State. It authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland fishing waters with four or more special devices authorized by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission for use in specified waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission may restrict the user of the license to specified registered equipment, require tagging of items of equipment, charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per tag issued, and require periodic catch data reports. Nongame fish lawfully taken under this license may be sold.

(2)        Nonresident Noncommercial Special Device License – $50.00. $60.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid for use only by an individual within the State. It is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(2a)      Nonresident Commercial Special Device License – $200.00. $220.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual within the State. It is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in subdivision (1a) of this subsection.

(3), (4) Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 156, s. 11."

SECTION 10.  G.S. 113‑351(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       Types of Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses; Fees; Duration. – The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses:

(1)        Annual Resident Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $55.00. $70.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State. This license authorizes the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands; to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters; and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

(2)        Annual Resident Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $35.00. $45.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State. This license authorizes the licensee to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

(3)        Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses. – Except as provided in sub‑subdivision f. of this subdivision, a license issued under this subdivision is valid for the lifetime of the licensee. A license issued under this subdivision authorizes the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands; to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters; and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

a.         Infant Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $275.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is younger than one year of age.

b.         Youth Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $450.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is one year of age or older but younger than 12 years of age.

c.         Resident Adult Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $675.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 65 years of age and who is a resident of the State.

d.         Nonresident Adult Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $1,350. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older and who is not a resident of the State.

e.         Resident Age 65 Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $30.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 65 years of age or older and who is a resident of the State.

f.          Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $110.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

g.         Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $110.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration.

(4)        Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses. – Except as provided in sub‑subdivisions b. and c. of this subdivision, a license issued under this subdivision is valid for the lifetime of the licensee. A license issued under this subdivision authorizes the licensee to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

a.         Resident Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $450.00.

b.         Resident Legally Blind Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – No charge. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who has been certified by the Department of Health and Human Services as an individual whose vision with glasses is insufficient for use in ordinary occupations for which sight is essential. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains legally blind.

c.         Resident Adult Care Home Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – No charge. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who resides in an adult care home as defined in G.S. 131D‑2.1 or G.S. 131E‑101(1). This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains a resident of an adult care home."

SECTION 11.  G.S. 113‑174.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       Types of CRFLs; Fees; Duration. – The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following CRFLs:

(1)        Annual Resident CRFL. – $15.00. $20.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State.

(1a)      Annual Nonresident CRFL. – $30.00. $40.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is not a resident of the State.

(2)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.

(3)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.

(4)        Ten‑Day Resident CRFL. – $5.00. $10.00. This license is valid for a period of 10 consecutive days, as indicated on the license. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State.

(4a)      Ten‑Day Nonresident CRFL. – $10.00. $20.00. This license is valid for a period of 10 consecutive days, as indicated on the license. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is not a resident of the State.

(5)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.

(6)        Lifetime CRFLs. – Except as provided in sub‑subdivision j. of this subdivision, CRFLs issued under this subdivision are valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

a. –d.   Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑455, s. 1.4, effective January 1, 2007.

e.         Infant Lifetime CRFL. – $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual younger than one year of age.

f.          Youth Lifetime CRFL. – $150.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is one year of age or older but younger than 12 years of age.

g.         Resident Adult Lifetime CRFL. – $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 65 years of age and who is a resident of the State.

h.         Nonresident Adult Lifetime CRFL. – $500.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older and who is not a resident of the State.

i.          Resident Age 65 Lifetime CRFL. – $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 65 years of age or older and who is a resident of the State.

j.          Resident Disabled Veteran CRFL. – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

k.         Resident Totally Disabled CRFL. – $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration."

SECTION 12.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2013.