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