House File 484 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY LUKAN, BAUDLER, RAYHONS, CHAMBERS, MAY, and HOFFMAN Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act prohibiting remote control or internet hunting of wild 2 animals and providing penalties. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2421YH 82 5 av/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 481A.125A REMOTE CONTROL OR 1 2 INTERNET HUNTING == CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES. 1 3 1. As used in this section, "remote control or internet 1 4 hunting" means use of a computer or other electronic device, 1 5 equipment, or software to remotely control the aiming or 1 6 discharge of a firearm or other weapon, allowing a person who 1 7 is not physically present to take a wild animal. 1 8 2. A person shall not offer for sale, take, or assist in 1 9 the taking of a wild animal by remote control or internet 1 10 hunting. 1 11 3. A person who violates this section is guilty of a 1 12 serious misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this 1 13 section is punishable as a class "D" felony. 1 14 4. In addition, any person who violates this section is 1 15 subject to a civil penalty, which may be levied by the 1 16 department, of not more than ten thousand dollars for each 1 17 violation of this section. The moneys collected from 1 18 imposition of a civil penalty shall be deposited in the state 1 19 fish and game protection fund. 1 20 EXPLANATION 1 21 This bill prohibits offering for sale, taking, or assisting 1 22 in taking a wild animal by use of remote control or internet 1 23 hunting. For the purposes of the bill, "remote control or 1 24 internet hunting" means use of a computer or other electronic 1 25 device, equipment, or software to remotely control the aiming 1 26 or discharge of a firearm or other weapon, allowing a person 1 27 who is not physically present to take a wild animal. 1 28 A person who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty 1 29 of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable 1 30 by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at 1 31 least $315 but not more than $1,875. 1 32 A second or subsequent violation of the bill is punishable 1 33 as a class "D" felony. A class "D" felony is punishable by 1 34 confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least 1 35 $750 but not more than $7,500. 2 1 In addition, any person who violates the provisions of the 2 2 bill is subject to a civil penalty, which may be levied by the 2 3 department of natural resources, of not more than $10,000 for 2 4 each violation. Moneys collected from imposition of a civil 2 5 penalty shall be deposited in the state fish and game 2 6 protection fund. 2 7 LSB 2421YH 82 2 8 av:nh/gg/14