Bill Text: VA SB194 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Menhaden; VMRC to adopt regulations for managing the Commonwealth's fishery.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-04 - Incorporated by Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources [SB194 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SB194-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§2.2-4002, 2.2-4103, 28.2-201, 28.2-409, and 28.2-410 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§2.2-4002. Exemptions from chapter generally.
A. Although required to comply with §2.2-4103 of the Virginia Register Act (§2.2-4100 et seq.), the following agencies shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter, except to the extent that they are specifically made subject to §§2.2-4024, 2.2-4030, and 2.2-4031:
1. The General Assembly.
2. Courts, any agency of the Supreme Court, and any agency that by the Constitution is expressly granted any of the powers of a court of record.
3. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in promulgating regulations regarding the management of wildlife and for all case decisions rendered pursuant to any provisions of Chapters 2 (§29.1-200 et seq.), 3 (§ 29.1-300 et seq.), 4 (§29.1-400 et seq.), 5 (§29.1-500 et seq.), and 7 (§ 29.1-700 et seq.) of Title 29.1.
4. The Virginia Housing Development Authority.
5. Municipal corporations, counties, and all local, regional or multijurisdictional authorities created under this Code, including those with federal authorities.
6. Educational institutions operated by the Commonwealth, provided that, with respect to §2.2-4031, such educational institutions shall be exempt from the publication requirements only with respect to regulations that pertain to (i) their academic affairs, (ii) the selection, tenure, promotion and disciplining of faculty and employees, (iii) the selection of students, and (iv) rules of conduct and disciplining of students.
7. The Milk Commission in promulgating regulations regarding (i) producers' licenses and bases, (ii) classification and allocation of milk, computation of sales and shrinkage, and (iii) class prices for producers' milk, time and method of payment, butterfat testing and differential.
8. The Virginia Resources Authority.
9. Agencies expressly exempted by any other provision of this Code.
10. The Department of General Services in promulgating standards for the inspection of buildings for asbestos pursuant to §2.2-1164.
11. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in developing, issuing, and revising guidelines pursuant to §23.1-207.
12. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services in adopting regulations pursuant to subsection B of §3.2-6002 and in adopting regulations pursuant to §3.2-6023.
13. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services in promulgating regulations pursuant to subsections B and D of §3.2-3601, subsection B of §3.2-3701, § 3.2-4002, subsections B and D of §3.2-4801, §§3.2-5121 and 3.2-5206, and subsection A of §3.2-5406.
14. The Board of Optometry when specifying therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, treatment guidelines, and diseases and abnormal conditions of the human eye and its adnexa for TPA-certification of optometrists pursuant to Article 5 (§54.1-3222 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 54.1.
15. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services in adopting regulations pursuant to §2.2-2001.3.
16. The State Board of Education, in developing, issuing, and revising guidelines pursuant to §22.1-203.2.
17. The Virginia Racing Commission, (i) when acting by and through its duly appointed stewards or in matters related to any specific race meeting or (ii) in promulgating technical rules regulating actual live horse racing at race meetings licensed by the Commission.
18. The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.
19. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority.
20. The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services in adopting, amending or repealing regulations pursuant to subsection A (ii) of §59.1-156.
21. The Insurance Continuing Education Board pursuant to § 38.2-1867.
22. The Board of Health in promulgating the list of diseases that shall be reported to the Department of Health pursuant to §32.1-35 and in adopting, amending or repealing regulations pursuant to subsection C of § 35.1-14 that incorporate the Food and Drug Administration's Food Code pertaining to restaurants or food service.
23. The Commissioner of
the Marine Resources Commission in setting a date of closure for the Chesapeake
Bay purse seine fishery for Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes pursuant
to §28.2-1000.2.
24. The Board of Pharmacy when specifying special subject
requirements for continuing education for pharmacists pursuant to §
54.1-3314.1.
25. 24. The Virginia Department of
Veterans Services when promulgating rules and regulations pursuant to §
58.1-3219.7 or 58.1-3219.11.
26. 25. The Virginia Department of
Criminal Justice Services when developing, issuing, or revising any training
standards established by the Criminal Justice Services Board under §9.1-102,
provided such actions are authorized by the Governor in the interest of public
safety.
B. Agency action relating to the following subjects shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
1. Money or damage claims against the Commonwealth or agencies thereof.
2. The award or denial of state contracts, as well as decisions regarding compliance therewith.
3. The location, design, specifications or construction of public buildings or other facilities.
4. Grants of state or federal funds or property.
5. The chartering of corporations.
6. Customary military, militia, naval or police functions.
7. The selection, tenure, dismissal, direction or control of any officer or employee of an agency of the Commonwealth.
8. The conduct of elections or eligibility to vote.
9. Inmates of prisons or other such facilities or parolees therefrom.
10. The custody of persons in, or sought to be placed in, mental health facilities or penal or other state institutions as well as the treatment, supervision, or discharge of such persons.
11. Traffic signs, markers or control devices.
12. Instructions for application or renewal of a license, certificate, or registration required by law.
13. Content of, or rules for the conduct of, any examination required by law.
14. The administration of pools authorized by Chapter 47 (§ 2.2-4700 et seq.).
15. Any rules for the conduct of specific lottery games, so long as such rules are not inconsistent with duly adopted regulations of the Virginia Lottery Board, and provided that such regulations are published and posted.
16. Orders condemning or closing any shellfish, finfish, or crustacea growing area and the shellfish, finfish or crustacea located thereon pursuant to Article 2 (§28.2-803 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 28.2.
17. Any operating procedures for review of child deaths developed by the State Child Fatality Review Team pursuant to §32.1-283.1, any operating procedures for review of adult deaths developed by the Adult Fatality Review Team pursuant to §32.1-283.5, and any operating procedures for review of adult deaths developed by the Maternal Mortality Review Team pursuant to § 32.1-283.8.
18. The regulations for the implementation of the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program and the activities of the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program Committee pursuant to Chapter 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515 et seq.) of Title 54.1.
19. The process of reviewing and ranking grant applications submitted to the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Advisory Board pursuant to Article 12 (§51.5-178 et seq.) of Chapter 14 of Title 51.5.
20. Loans from the Small Business Environmental Compliance Assistance Fund pursuant to Article 4 (§10.1-1197.1 et seq.) of Chapter 11.1 of Title 10.1.
21. The Virginia Breeders Fund created pursuant to §59.1-372.
22. The types of pari-mutuel wagering pools available for live or simulcast horse racing.
23. The administration of medication or other substances foreign to the natural horse.
24. Any rules adopted by the Charitable Gaming Board for the approval and conduct of game variations for the conduct of raffles, bingo, network bingo, and instant bingo games, provided that such rules are (i) consistent with Article 1.1:1 (§18.2-340.15 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 and (ii) published and posted.
C. Minor changes to regulations published in the Virginia Administrative Code under the Virginia Register Act (§2.2-4100 et seq.), made by the Virginia Code Commission pursuant to §30-150, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
§2.2-4103. Agencies to file regulations with Registrar; other duties; failure to file.
It shall be the duty of every agency to have on file with the Registrar the full text of all of its currently operative regulations, together with the dates of adoption, revision, publication, or amendment thereof and such additional information requested by the Commission or the Registrar for the purpose of publishing the Virginia Register of Regulations and the Virginia Administrative Code. Thereafter, coincidentally with the issuance thereof, each agency shall from day to day so file, date, and supplement all new regulations and amendments, repeals, or additions to its previously filed regulations. The filed regulations shall (i) indicate the laws they implement or carry out, (ii) designate any prior regulations repealed, modified, or supplemented, (iii) state any special effective or terminal dates, and (iv) be accompanied by a statement or certification, either in original or electronic form, that the regulations are full, true, and correctly dated. No regulation or amendment or repeal thereof shall be effective until filed with the Registrar.
Orders condemning or closing any shellfish, finfish or crustacea growing area and the shellfish, finfish or crustacea located thereon pursuant to Article 2 (§28.2-803 et seq.) of Chapter 8, of Title 28.2, which are exempt from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.) as provided in subsection B of §2.2-4002, shall be effective on the date specified by the promulgating agency. Such orders shall continue to be filed with the Registrar either before or after their effective dates in order to satisfy the need for public availability of information respecting the regulations of state agencies.
An order setting a date
of closure for the Chesapeake Bay purse seine fishery for Atlantic menhaden for
reduction purposes pursuant to §28.2-1000.2, which is exempt from the
requirements of the Administrative Process Act as provided by subsection A of §
2.2-4002, shall be effective on the date specified. Such orders shall be filed
with the Registrar for prompt publication.
In addition, each agency shall itself (i) (a) maintain a complete list
of all of its currently operative regulations for public consultation, (ii) (b)
make available to public inspection a complete file of the full texts of all
such regulations, and (iii) (c) allow public copying
thereof or make copies available either without charge, at cost, or on payment
of a reasonable fee. Each agency shall also maintain as a public record a
complete file of its regulations that have been superseded on and after June 1,
1975.
Where regulations adopt textual matter by reference to
publications other than the Federal Register or Code of Federal Regulations,
the agency shall (i) (1) file with the Registrar
copies of the referenced publications, (ii) (2) state on the face of or as
notations to regulations making such adoptions by reference the places where
copies of the referred publications may be procured, and (iii) (3) make copies of such
referred publications available for public inspection and copying along with
its other regulations.
Unless he finds that there are special circumstances requiring otherwise, the Governor, in addition to the exercise of his authority to see that the laws are faithfully executed, may, until compliance with this chapter is achieved, withhold the payment of compensation or expenses of any officer or employee of any agency in whole or part whenever the Commission certifies to him that the agency has failed to comply with this section or this chapter in stated respects, to respond promptly to the requests of the Registrar, or to comply with the regulations of the Commission.
§28.2-201. Authority of Commission to make regulations, establish licenses, and prepare fishery management plans; accept federal grants; enforcement; penalty for violation of regulation.
The Commission may:
1. Promulgate Adopt regulations, including
those for taking seafood, necessary to promote the general welfare of the
seafood industry and to conserve and promote the seafood and marine resources
of the Commonwealth. The Commission may also
promulgate adopt
regulations necessary for the conservation and reasonable use of surf clams.
2. Establish new licenses and fees commensurate with other licenses in an amount not to exceed $100 for any device used for taking or catching seafood in the tidal waters of the Commonwealth when the device (i) is not otherwise licensed in this title and (ii) is used for commercial purposes. The Commission may specify, when issuing such licenses, any restrictions or control over the devices or the persons operating the device.
3. Establish fees for permits required for delayed or limited entry fisheries, shellfish relaying, scientific collections, and for the administrative transfer of these permits among fisherman, where applicable.
4. Beginning July 1, 2004, and not more frequently than every
three years thereafter, increase fees for tidal fisheries licenses and permits
that are authorized under this title or by regulation
promulgated adopted
pursuant to Article 2 (§28.2-209 et seq.) of
this chapter. Any fee increase for such licenses and
permits shall be capped at $5 or a percentage equal to the increase in the
Consumer Price Index calculated from the time the fee was last set or adjusted,
whichever is greater. Beginning July 1, 2004, any amounts generated from the
increases in commercial fishing licenses and permits shall be paid into the
Marine Fishing Improvement Fund for the purposes authorized by §28.2-208, and
any amounts generated from the increases in recreational fishing licenses shall
be paid into the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund for
the purposes authorized by §28.2-302.3. The Commission may charge nonresidents
a higher fee than residents for purchase of any of the fishing licenses issued
pursuant to §§28.2-302.2, 28.2-302.2:1, 28.2-302.6, 28.2-302.7, 28.2-302.8,
28.2-302.10, and 28.2-302.10:1. The fee charged to a nonresident shall be no
greater than twice the Virginia resident fee. The Commission may prohibit the
sale of the private boat license established by §28.2-302.7 to a nonresident
whose boat is not registered in Virginia.
5. The Commission shall ensure that increases in licenses and fees are equitably distributed among resource user groups.
6. Prepare fishery management plans containing evaluations of regulatory management options, based upon scientific, economic, biological, and sociological information, and use them in the development of regulations. The Commissioner may appoint a fisheries advisory committee and its chairman, consisting of representatives of the various fishery user groups, to assist in the preparation and implementation of the fishery management plans. The Commission may expend funds to compensate the members of the committee pursuant to §2.2-2825.
7. Adopt regulations to manage the Atlantic menhaden fishery. Any regulation proposed by the Commission that imposes a moratorium on the taking of menhaden shall be subject to legislative review under subsection B of §2.2-4014 as if it were a final regulation.
8. Provide for enforcement of any regulation governing surf clams by any law-enforcement officer of any agency of the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions or by any law-enforcement officer of any agency of the federal government. Enforcement agreements with other agencies or political subdivisions shall be stated in the regulation.
8. 9. The Commonwealth hereby
assents to the provisions of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of
August 9, 1950 (16 U.S.C. §§777-777k), as amended. The Commission is
authorized to perform all such acts as may be necessary for the establishment
and implementation of cooperative fish restoration and management projects as
defined by these federal statutes and the implementing regulations promulgated adopted thereunder.
Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 4 (§28.2-400 et seq.), the Commission shall adopt regulations pursuant to this section necessary to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden.
§28.2-409. Menhaden fishing prohibited in certain areas; exception.
A. Except as provided in subsection B of
this section or as otherwise
provided by regulation, it
shall be is
unlawful to take or catch menhaden with purse nets in the following waters:
1. In the Piankatank River and its tributaries above and west of a line beginning at the northernmost, as measured from the low-water mark, edge of land known as Gwynn's Island at or near the mouth of Kibble Pond, thence in a northerly direction in a straight line to the easternmost edge of high land on Stingray Point;
2. In the Rappahannock River and its tributaries above and west of the R.O. Norris, Jr., Bridge;
3. In the York River and its tributaries above and west of a line extending northwardly from the western line of Goodwin Islands through the western line of Ellen Island to the northern bank of the York;
4. In the East, North, Ware and Severn Rivers and their tributaries; and
5. In Cape Charles harbor eastward of a line from the western tip of the jetty on the southern side of the channel to the westernmost tip of the jetty on the northern side of the channel; in Kings Creek and Cherrystone inlet eastward of a line from the western end of the jetty on the north side of Cape Charles harbor to the southern end of Wescoat Point; in Mattawoman and Hungars Creek eastward of a line from the northwesternmost tip of land in Old Town Neck to Great Neck Point; in Nassawadox Creek eastward of a line from Shooting Point to Nassawadox Point; in Occohannock Creek eastward of a line from Sparrow Point to the southernmost tip of Powells Bluff; in Nandua Creek eastward of a line from the northernmost point of Milbys Point to the southwesternmost point of land in Hacks Neck, said line having a true bearing of 027°; in Pungoteague Creek eastward of a line from Bluff Point to the southeasternmost point of Finneys Island; in Onancock Creek eastward of a line from Thicket Point to Ware Point; in Chesconessex Creek eastward of a line from the northernmost point of Sound Beach to the northwesternmost point of Beach Island; in Deep Creek, Hunting Creek and Guilford Creek eastward of a line from the easternmost tip of Russel Island to Halfmoon Point to Peters Point to Simpson Point to Flood Point to Ebb Point to the mouth of Great Gut; in Messongo Creek eastward of a line from South Point to North Point in the Virginia portion of the Pocomoke River northeast of a line from Long Point to Virginia-Maryland spar buoy "A"; in the Great Wicomico River from the mouth of Whay's Creek to Sandy Point; in Dividing Creek, Prentice Creek and Jarvis Creek westward of a line from Hughlett Point to Jarvis Point; in Indian Creek and Henrys Creek westward of a line from the southeasternmost point of land on the eastern side of the mouth of Henrys Creek to the easternmost point of Fleets Bay Neck; in Dymers Creek westward of a line from the southernmost point of Grog Island to the easternmost point of Poplar Neck; in Tabbs Creek westward of the line across the mouth of the creek at its narrowest point; in Horn Harbor and Dyer Creek westward of a line from the southernmost tip of Beach Point to the northernmost point on the south side of the mouth of Dyer Creek; in Back Creek, Clarkston Creek, Chisman Creek, Poquoson River, Bennett Creek, and adjacent waters westward of a line from the southeasternmost point of Goodwin Islands to the westernmost point of Cow Island; in Back River westward of a line from Plumtree Point to the westernmost point of Northend Point; in Little Creek southward of a line from the north point of the west jetty to the north point of the east jetty; in Lynnhaven Bay southward of the Lynnhaven Inlet Bridge on U. S. Route 60.
B. During the period from the first Monday in May through the third Friday in November, vessels under seventy gross tons which are licensed in accordance with subdivision 1 of §28.2-402 are authorized to take or catch menhaden in the following waters: in the Rappahannock River eastward and southward from a line extending from Towles Point to Burnham Wharf and from Orchard Point to Towles Point; in Dividing Creek eastward from a line extending from Jarvis Point to Ditchley Pump House; in Indian Creek eastward from a line directly across the creek at Rappahannock Oyster Company; in Dymers Creek eastward from a line directly across the creek at the eastern end of Standard Products dock.
§28.2-410. Closed season for menhaden fishing; forbidden nets; penalty.
Except as provided in §28.2-409 or
as otherwise provided by regulation, it is unlawful for any
person to take or catch with a purse net in the waters of this the Commonwealth, or waters
within its jurisdiction, menhaden between the Saturday following the third
Friday in November and the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May. However,
in the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel within the three-mile
limit of the Virginia shoreline such prohibition shall be between the Friday
before Christmas and the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May. It is also unlawful
for any person to use any purse net or other net having a stretched mesh of
less than 1 3/4
1-3/4 inches. Any person violating any of the provisions of
this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
2. That §§28.2-400.2 through 28.2-400.6, 28.2-405, 28.2-411, and 28.2-1000.2 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.
