1996 SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION

NATURAL RESOURCES & OUTDOOR RECREATION

NATURAL RESOURCES & OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGISLATION

SENATE FILE 2165 - Hunting Preserves -- Season for Certain Ungulates (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY. This Act provides that the owner of a hunting preserve with nonnative pen-reared ungulates shall establish the hunting season for those ungulates. Currently, the established season is September 1 through March 31 of the succeeding year. The Iowa Code defines "ungulate" as a hoofed, nondomesticated mammal.
This Act takes effect April 8, 1996.

SENATE FILE 2212 - Timber Buyers (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY. This Act amends the definition of "timber buyer" to include a person who contracts to harvest timber on shares. The Act also revises the formula for determining the amount of the surety bond a timber buyer must file with the Natural Resource Commission of the Department of Natural Resources based on the preceding year's business. The minimum bond is raised from $500 to $3,000 and the maximum bond is raised from $10,000 to $15,000.
This Act takes effect January 1, 1997.

SENATE FILE 2259 - Vessels -- Certificates of Title (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY. This Act exempts a vessel that is documented by the U.S. Coast Guard from the requirement of being issued a certificate of title under Iowa Code Chapter 462A. If a documented vessel has been issued a certificate of title pursuant to this chapter, the certificate of title shall be canceled when the owner mails or delivers proof of the U.S. Coast Guard documentation to the county recorder.

SENATE FILE 2278 - Natural Resource Commission -- Removal of Political Activity Ban (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT. This Act repeals the prohibition on political activity by a member, officer or employee of the Natural Resource Commission of the Department of Natural Resources.

HOUSE FILE 2297 - Levee and Drainage Districts -- Warrants (full text of bill)

BY MERTZ. This Act repeals Section 468.185 of the Iowa Code, which provides that Chapter 74 is applicable to all warrants legally drawn on levee and drainage district funds which are not paid for want of funds. Chapter 74 establishes procedures applicable to public obligations not paid for want of funds.

HOUSE FILE 2306 - Motorboat Operation on Big Creek Lake (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES. This Act gives temporary authorization for motorboats equipped with any power unit to use Big Creek Lake in Polk County. The motorboats shall be operated at no-wake speed only. The use of jet skis and the towing of flotation recreational equipment are prohibited.
The Act applies to Big Creek Lake from May 24, 1996 (the Friday before Memorial Day), through September 2, 1996 (Labor Day).
The Act takes effect April 16, 1996, and is repealed September 3, 1996.

HOUSE FILE 2383 - Deer and Wild Turkey Hunting Licenses (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES. This Act strikes current provisions of hunting laws relating to the issuance of free deer hunting and wild turkey hunting licenses to landowners and tenants and rewrites definitions to specify the landowners, tenants and family members who qualify for the annual free hunting licenses. The Act provides that an owner and a tenant are both eligible for a free deer license and a wild turkey license for the same farm unit. If an owner or tenant applies for one or neither of the licenses, a member of the owner's or tenant's family may apply for one or both of the licenses remaining. The owner and tenant need not reside on the farm unit for which a free license is issued. The licenses issued are valid only on the farm unit and shall be equivalent to the least restrictive license issued under Section 481A.38. The Act also provides that an owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner's family and the tenant or a member of the tenant's family may purchase a deer hunting license for any option offered to paying deer hunting licensees.
The Act also provides that the Director of the Department of Natural Resources shall provide up to 25 nonresident deer hunting licenses and 25 nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses annually for allocation to nonresident guests and dignitaries to promote the state and its natural resources. The licenses shall be allocated by a majority of a committee consisting of the Majority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Director of the Department of Economic Development. The licenses shall be issued upon payment of the nonresident hunting license fee and the wildlife habitat stamp fee. The hunting excursion and photographs, video tapes or other media resulting from the hunting excursion shall not be used for political campaign purposes.

HOUSE FILE 2408 - Mining (full text of bill)

BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES. This Act makes several changes to the Iowa Code chapter dealing with mines.
The Act changes some definitions in the mining chapter and provides that mining includes both surface and underground mining and defines those terms. The Act also includes a political subdivision of the state within the definition of an operator for purposes of the chapter.
The Act provides for time guidelines and hearing procedures concerning the suspension, revocation or refusal to issue a license.
The Act also provides for administrative penalties on operators, including political subdivisions, for violations of an order issued by the administrator to cease or take corrective action concerning a practice that constitutes a violation of this chapter. The Act provides that the Division of Soil Conservation within the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship shall establish a schedule of penalties in addition to those penalties already provided by this Act, not to exceed $5,000 per violation.
The Act provides that the penalty shall be paid within 30 days of the date the order assessing the penalty becomes final and provides for interest on unpaid penalties. The procedure for assessing the penalty is not established by the Act.
The Act also provides that the Attorney General can seek a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation of this chapter; currently, the Attorney General can seek no more than $5,000.
The Act also provides that an operator is still liable for reclamation costs that exceed the amount of the bond filed by the operator. The Act also eliminates the requirement that the Governor approve certain rules concerning health and safety standards for surface mining.
The Act makes inapplicable the statutory provision that would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified.

RELATED LEGISLATION

SENATE FILE 2035 - Eurasian Water Milfoil (Complete summary under ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.)

This Act requires the Natural Resource Commission of the Department of Natural Resources to prepare a long-term statewide management plan for the control and eradication of Eurasian water milfoil. The Act also confers rulemaking authority and establishes a scheduled fine relating to Eurasian water milfoil.

SENATE FILE 2260 - Soil and Water Conservation (Complete summary under AGRICULTURE.)

This Act relates to soil and water conservation, including provisions relating to the terms and compensation of soil and water district commissioners, soil and water conservation practices, and a financial incentive program.

SENATE FILE 2446 - Appropriations -- Agriculture and Natural Resources (Complete summary under APPROPRIATIONS.)

This Act relates to agriculture and natural resources by providing appropriations to support related entities, including the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Department of Natural Resources. The Act also provides direction to a number of agencies and makes statutory changes relating to agriculture and natural resources.

SENATE FILE 2470 - Miscellaneous Appropriations and Related Matters -- Economic Development Appropriations (Complete summary under APPROPRIATIONS.)

This Act relates to public levy, expenditure and regulatory matters by making standing, economic development and other appropriations, and includes appropriations for lakes and other provisions associated with natural resources.

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Last update: Mon August 26, 1996
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