HF 2341 (LSB 5511HV (1) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2341

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2133)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the hunting of black bears, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.1, subsection 21, Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  i.  Ursus americanus, the American black bear.
    Sec. 2.  Section 481A.48, subsection 1, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A person, except as otherwise provided by law, shall not willfully disturb, pursue, shoot, kill, take or attempt to take, or have in possession any of the following game birds or animals except within the open season established by the commission:  gray or fox squirrel, bobwhite quail, cottontail or jackrabbit, duck, snipe, pheasant, goose, woodcock, partridge, mourning dove, coot, rail, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, pigeon, black bear, or deer. The seasons, bag limits, possession limits, and locality shall be established by the department or commission under the authority of sections 456A.24, 481A.38, and 481A.39.
    Sec. 3.  Section 481A.130, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  For each black bear, elk, antelope, buffalo, or moose, two thousand five hundred dollars.
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 hunting of black bears. The bill designates black bears as a game animal. The bill prohibits a person from willfully disturbing, pursuing, shooting, killing, taking or attempting to take, or having in possession a black bear outside of an open season established by the natural resource commission. The commission may allow for the hunting of black bears subject to limitations the commission imposes.
   A violation of the bill is subject to a scheduled fine dependent on the matter of the offense relating to an unlawful take or attempt to take. Additionally, a person who is convicted of taking a black bear in violation of the bill shall pay civil damages in the amount of $2,500. A black bear taken in violation of the provisions of the bill is subject to seizure by the director of the department of natural resources.