SF 460 (LSB 2415SV (2) 87)

SENATE FILE 460

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1174)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the commercial and noncommercial harvest of turtles, including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.67, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2017, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  a.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the noncommercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state pursuant to section 483A.28. Seasons established pursuant to this subsection shall not apply to the noncommercial harvest of snapping turtles.
   b.  (1)  The annual season for the noncommercial harvest of turtles shall begin on July 15 and end on May 15.
   (2)  Beginning on July 15, 2017, the following limits on the noncommercial harvest of turtles are applicable:
   (a)  Daily catch limit:
   (i)  Four common snapping turtles.
   (ii)  One spiny or smooth softshell turtle.
   (iii)  One painted turtle.
   (b)  A person with a valid fishing license issued pursuant to chapter 483A is entitled to take and possess a maximum amount of turtles as provided in section 483A.28.
   (3)  This paragraph “b” is repealed effective July 1, 2021.
   3.  a.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the commercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state.
   b.  (1)  The annual season for the commercial harvest of turtles shall begin on July 15 and end on May 15.
   (2)  Beginning on July 15, 2017, the following limits on the commercial harvest of turtles are applicable:
   (a)  Daily catch limit:
   (i)  Ten common snapping turtles.
   (ii)  Ten spiny and smooth softshell turtles, in aggregate.
   (iii)  Five painted turtles.
   (b)  Possession limit:
   (i)  Thirty common snapping turtles.
   (ii)  Thirty spiny and smooth softshell turtles, in aggregate.
   (iii)  Fifteen painted turtles.
   (3)  This paragraph “b” is repealed effective July 1, 2021.
    Sec. 2.  Section 481A.67, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  Beginning on the effective date of this Act, a person shall not be issued or allowed to renew a commercial turtle harvester license pursuant to chapter 482 unless the person held a commercial turtle harvester license at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on the effective date of this Act. This subsection is repealed effective July 1, 2021.
    Sec. 3.  RESCISSION OF AMENDMENTS TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.
   1.  The amendments to 571 Iowa administrative code, chapter 86, as appearing in ARC 2951C, as published in the Iowa administrative bulletin, volume XXXIX, number 17, dated February 15, 2017, pp. 1685-1687, are rescinded.
   2.  As soon as practicable, the Iowa administrative code editor shall restore the language of the Iowa administrative code chapter referenced in subsection 1 of this section to the language that existed on February 14, 2017. 
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the noncommercial and commercial harvest of turtles.
   The bill provides that the annual season for the noncommercial and commercial harvest of turtles shall begin on July 15 and end May 15. 
   The bill also specifies daily catch limits and possession limits on the noncommercial and commercial harvest of turtles, beginning on July 15, 2017. These provisions are repealed effective July 1, 2021.
   The bill provides that, beginning on the effective date of the bill, a person shall not be issued or allowed to renew a commercial turtle harvester license unless the person held such a license at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on the effective date of the bill. This provision is repealed effective July 1, 2021.
   The bill rescinds amendments to specified rules relating to harvesting commercial and noncommercial turtles that were published in the Iowa administrative code on February 15, 2017, and directs the Iowa administrative code editor to restore the language of the Iowa administrative code to the language that existed on February 14, 2017.
   The bill is effective upon enactment.