House File 699 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY STRUYK
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to horseback riding on the state's game
2 management areas, and providing for fees and penalties.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1509YH 82
5 av/es/88
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 481A.6A USE OF HORSES ON GAME
1 2 MANAGEMENT AREAS.
1 3 1. Horseback riding shall be allowed on all game
1 4 management areas in the state pursuant to an equestrian permit
1 5 issued by the commission. The commission, by rule, shall
1 6 designate horseback riding trails and post proper signage for
1 7 the trails in each game management area in the state.
1 8 Horseback riders shall obtain an equestrian permit to ride on
1 9 a game management area and shall use only trails officially
1 10 designated and properly signed for such uses. The commission
1 11 shall by rule determine where such trails shall be located and
1 12 under what conditions the trails may be used for horseback
1 13 riding, consistent with sound game and land management
1 14 practices and federal requirements for such areas.
1 15 2. The commission shall make available for issuance
1 16 one=day, seven=day, one=month, and annual equestrian permits
1 17 for horseback riding on game management areas for a fee to be
1 18 determined by the commission by rule. The fees collected
1 19 shall be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund
1 20 and shall be used only for the purpose of maintaining
1 21 horseback riding trails in game management areas in the state.
1 22 3. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person or group may
1 23 request a special use off=trail horseback riding permit by
1 24 submitting an application on a form furnished by the
1 25 department to the manager of the game management area where
1 26 the proposed off=trail riding event is to take place. The
1 27 commission, by rule, shall determine under what conditions
1 28 off=trail horseback riding may be approved in game management
1 29 areas. A person or group that is issued a special use
1 30 off=trail horseback riding permit shall contact the area
1 31 manager not more than twenty=four hours prior to the time of
1 32 the proposed off=trail riding event for information about
1 33 current conditions in the area. The area manager may exercise
1 34 discretion, as determined by the commission by rule, to
1 35 rescind a special permit, or to relocate or reschedule an
2 1 off=trail horseback riding event based on current conditions
2 2 in the game management area.
2 3 4. For the purposes of this section, "horse" means any
2 4 equine animal including horses, mules, burros, donkeys, and
2 5 all llamas or alpaca=like animals.
2 6 Sec. 2. Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code
2 7 2007, is amended to read as follows:
2 8 c. For violations of sections 481A.6, 481A.6A, 481A.21,
2 9 481A.22, 481A.26, 481A.50, 481A.56, 481A.60 through 481A.62,
2 10 481A.83, 481A.84, 481A.92, 481A.123, 481A.145, subsection 3,
2 11 sections 482.7, 483A.7, 483A.8, 483A.23, and 483A.24, the
2 12 scheduled fine is twenty=five dollars.
2 13 EXPLANATION
2 14 This bill relates to horseback riding on game management
2 15 areas in the state. The bill requires the natural resource
2 16 commission, by rule, to designate horseback riding trails and
2 17 post signage for such trails in each game management area in
2 18 the state. The commission, by rule, shall determine where
2 19 such trails shall be located and under what conditions the
2 20 trails may be used for horseback riding, consistent with sound
2 21 game and land management practices and federal requirements
2 22 for such areas. A horseback rider must obtain an equestrian
2 23 permit and ride only on the designated trails.
2 24 The commission is required to make available for issuance
2 25 one=day, seven=day, one=month, and annual equestrian permits
2 26 for horseback riding on game management areas for a fee to be
2 27 determined by the commission. The fees collected are required
2 28 to be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund and
2 29 to be used only for the purpose of maintaining horseback
2 30 riding trails in the state's game management areas.
2 31 The commission is also authorized to make available a
2 32 special use off=trail horseback riding permit upon the request
2 33 of a person or group to the manager of the game management
2 34 area where the proposed off=trail horseback riding event is to
2 35 take place. The commission, by rule, shall determine under
3 1 what conditions off=trail horseback riding may be approved in
3 2 game management areas. A person or group that is issued such
3 3 a special use permit is required to contact the area manager
3 4 not more than 24 hours prior to the time of the event for
3 5 information about current conditions in the area. The area
3 6 manager may exercise discretion, as determined by the
3 7 commission by rule, to rescind the permit, or to relocate or
3 8 reschedule the event based on current conditions in the game
3 9 management area.
3 10 For the purposes of the bill, "horse" means any equine
3 11 animal including horses, mules, burros, donkeys, and all
3 12 llamas or alpaca=like animals.
3 13 A violation of the bill's provisions is punishable by a
3 14 scheduled fine of $25.
3 15 LSB 1509YH 82
3 16 av:nh/es/88