Wildlife Legislative Update

The legislative process: Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee in the house of origin. From the committee, the bill can be tabled, modified or passed on to the house of origin for

Friday, February 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The legislative process: Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee in the house of origin. From the committee, the bill can be tabled, modified or passed on to the house of origin for a vote. If the house of origin passes the bill, the bill then proceeds to the opposite house, where it is assigned to a committee. The committee can table, modify or pass the bill to the floor for a vote. If the bill passes both houses in its original form, it goes to the Governor for approval or veto. If it has been modified by one of the houses, the other house can accept the changes or ask for a conference committee. The conference committee contains members from each house. If the conference committee agrees on how a bill should read, it is sent to both houses for a vote. If passed by both houses it goes to the Governor for action.

Bill, Author, Short Description and Status

Senate Bill 86 by Robert Milacek. Establishing a purple paint law, similar to Arkansas, as a means of posting private property. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 127 by Sam Helton. Increases trespassing fines to a maximum of $1,000; allows any law enforcement officer to make arrests for trespassing. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 473 by Frank Shurden. Allows the Wildlife Conservation Commission to create a Blue River Wildlife Management Area Access Permit. Requires anyone using the Blue River WMA either possess a valid hunting or fishing licenses or purchase a Blue River WMA Access Permit. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 474 by Frank Shurden. Adds the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to the state's Geographic Information System Council. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Energy, Environmental Resources and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

Senate Bill 475 by Frank Shurden. Authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Commission to establish a special use permit for privately owned land leased by the Department in tracts less than 4,000 acres. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 477 by Frank Shurden. Authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Commission to promulgate rules to sell hunting and fishing licenses via the Internet. Bill would be effective Nov. 1, 2001. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 478 by Frank Shurden. Beginning Jan. 1, 2002, permits the Wildlife Conservation Commission to increase license fees annually adjust for inflation in an amount not to exceed that year's change in the Consumer Price Index or five percent, whichever is greater. Effective date would be Nov. 1, 2001. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 480 by Frank Shurden. Authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to impose a $5 processing fee for special use permits for controlled hunts. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 484 by Frank Shurden. Authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Commission to create an urban fishing license which would act as both a state fishing license and municipal access license. Also authorizes the Commission to enter into agreements with municipalities to issue urban fishing licenses. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Bill 683 by Rick Littlefield of the Senate and Joe Hutchison of the House. Prohibits the discharge of firearms within 300 yards of a wildlife sanctuary where a licensed noncommercial wildlife breeder is caring for or rehabilitating sick or injured wildlife. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 9 by Frank Shurden. Calls for a vote of the people to establish a one-and-half cent sales tax increase on certain hunting, fishing and wildlife watching equipment sales with the proceeds going to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to improve the state's wildlife resources. Assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 12 by Frank Shurden of the Senate and M.C. Leist of the House. Calls for a vote of the people to establish a constitutional amendment providing citizens the inherent right to pursue occupations and engage in hunting, fishing and other sporting events which involve livestock, fowl, fish and other animals, domestic or not, free of laws and regulations which explicitly or implicitly effectively curtail the ability of citizens to pursue such occupations or engage in such sporting events. Would give the Wildlife Conservation Commission and the State Department of Agriculture the power and authority to approve methods, practices and procedures for hunting, trapping, fishing and the taking of game and fish. Specifies that no method, practice or procedure which is lawful on the effective date of the adoption of this amendment shall ever be disapproved by the Wildlife Conservation Commission or the State Department of Agriculture. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 16 by Stratton Taylor. Specifies that no laws shall be enacted that limit the privilege of properly licensed citizens to hunt and fish in this state; provided, however, all hunting and fishing shall be in accordance with rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Assigned to the Senate Wildlife Committee.

House Bill 1039 by John Wright of the House and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Makes hunting and fishing licenses good for twelve (12) months after the date of issuance, rather than expiring Dec. 31. Bill would be effective Nov. 1, 2001. Passed from the House Wildlife Committee; now awaiting action by the full House.

House Bill 1093 by Jim Reese. Allows the use of a photograph to identify a person who trespasses to hunt and increase fines to not less than $75 nor more than $250. Would be effective immediately upon passage. Assigned to the House Wildlife Committee.

House Bill 1261 by Dale Smith. Permits the Wildlife Conservation Commission to increase license fees annually adjust for inflation in an amount not to exceed that year's change in the Consumer Price Index or five percent, whichever is greater. Effective date would be Nov. 1, 2001. Assigned to the House Administrative Rule Review Committee.

House Bill 1262 by Dale Smith of the House and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Adds the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to the state's Geographic Information System Council. Bill would be effective immediately. Passed the House 98-0; now awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

House Bill 1263 by Dale Smith of the House and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Commission to create an urban fishing license which would act as both a state fishing license and municipal access license. Also authorizes the Commission to enter into agreements with municipalities to issue urban fishing licenses. Bill would be effective immediately. House Wildlife Committee substitute adds a section exempting from fishing license requirements any person fishing in waters designated by the Commission as "Close to Home" and in possession of a valid urban fishing license. Committee substitute passed from the House Wildlife Committee; now awaiting action by the full House.

House Bill 1265 by Dale Smith. Allows the Wildlife Conservation Commission to create a Blue River Wildlife Management Area Access Permit. Requires anyone using the Blue River WMA either possess a valid hunting or fishing licenses or purchase a Blue River WMA Access Permit. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the House Administrative Rule Review Committee.

House Bill 1375 by Bob Plunk of the House and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Requires a two-thirds super-majority vote by the Legislature to enact any future laws restricting the privileges of hunting and fishing within the limits of the laws and rules set by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Bill would be effective immediately. Passed from the House Wildlife Committee; now awaiting action by the full House.

House Bill 1382 by Terry Matlock and Jeff Rabon of the Senate. Sets quail season dates as Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 for all areas east of the Indian Nation Turnpike and south of Interstate 40. Bill would be effective Nov. 1, 2001. Passed from the House Wildlife Committee; now awaiting action by the full House.

House Bill 1402 by Randall Erwin. Requires a two-thirds super-majority vote by the Legislature to enact any future laws restricting the privileges of hunting and fishing within the limits of the laws and rules set by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the House Rules Committee.

House Bill 1428 by Purcy Walker and David Braddock of the House and Gilmer Capps of the Senate. Increases maximum fine for trespass to $1,000. Bill would be effective Nov. 1, 2001. Passed the House 81-15; now awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

House Bill 1813 by Kevin Calvey. Provides that nonresident active duty military personnel who are stationed at an Oklahoma military base are considered residents for the purposes of buying hunting and fishing licenses. Bill would be effective immediately. Assigned to the House Rules Committee.

House Bill 1880 by Joe Sweeden. Limits landowner liability when allowing recreational activities to occur on his or her land. Bill would be effective Nov. 1, 2001. Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

House Joint Resolution 1008 by Dale Smith of the House and Frank Shurden of the Senate. Calls for a vote of the people to establish a one-and-half cent sales tax increase on certain hunting, fishing and wildlife watching equipment sales with the proceeds going to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to improve the state's wildlife resources. Passed from the House Revenue and Taxation Committee; now awaiting action by the full house.