House File 22 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 22 BY WINDSCHITL A BILL FOR An Act relating to walking and horseback riding trails on 1 public land under the jurisdiction of the natural resource 2 commission, and providing for penalties. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1266YH (4) 84 av/nh

H.F. 22 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 481A.6B Walking and horseback 1 riding on public land. 2 1. a. Walking and horseback riding shall be allowed on 3 all public land under the jurisdiction of the commission. The 4 commission, by rule, shall designate walking and horseback 5 riding trails and post proper signage for the walking 6 and horseback riding trails on all public land under the 7 jurisdiction of the commission. The commission shall by rule 8 determine where such trails shall be located and under what 9 conditions the trails may be used for walking and horseback 10 riding, consistent with sound game and land management 11 practices and federal requirements for such areas. A person 12 walking or horseback riding on such public land shall use only 13 trails officially designated and properly signed for such use. 14 b. An individual or group of individuals may request a 15 special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit by 16 submitting an application to the department specifying where 17 the proposed off-trail walking or horseback riding event is to 18 take place. The commission, by rule, shall determine under 19 what conditions off-trail walking or horseback riding may be 20 approved on public land under the commission’s jurisdiction. 21 c. For the purposes of this section, “horseback riding” 22 means the riding of any equine animal including horses, mules, 23 burros, donkeys, and all llamas or alpaca-like animals. 24 2. An individual or group of individuals that is issued a 25 special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit shall 26 contact the department not more than twenty-four hours prior to 27 the time of the proposed off-trail walking or horseback riding 28 event for information about current conditions in the area. 29 The department may exercise discretion, as determined by the 30 commission by rule, to rescind a special permit, or to relocate 31 or reschedule an off-trail walking or horseback riding event 32 based on current conditions in the area. 33 Sec. 2. Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code 34 2011, is amended to read as follows: 35 -1- LSB 1266YH (4) 84 av/nh 1/ 3

H.F. 22 c. For violations of sections 481A.6 , 481A.6B , 481A.21 , 1 481A.22 , 481A.26 , 481A.50 , 481A.56 , 481A.60 through 481A.62 , 2 481A.83 , 481A.84 , 481A.92 , 481A.123 , 481A.145, subsection 3 , 3 sections 483A.7 , 483A.8 , 483A.23 , 483A.24 , and 483A.28 , the 4 scheduled fine is twenty-five dollars. 5 EXPLANATION 6 This bill relates to walking and horseback riding on public 7 land under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission. 8 The bill requires the natural resource commission, by rule, to 9 designate walking and horseback riding trails and post signage 10 for such trails on all public land under the commission’s 11 jurisdiction in the state. The commission, by rule, shall 12 determine where such trails shall be located and under what 13 conditions the trails may be used for walking or horseback 14 riding, consistent with sound game and land management 15 practices and federal requirements for such areas. A walker or 16 horseback rider must use designated trails. 17 The commission is also authorized to make available a 18 special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit upon 19 the request of an individual or group of individuals to the 20 department of natural resources specifying where the proposed 21 off-trail walking or horseback riding event is to take place. 22 The commission, by rule, shall determine under what conditions 23 off-trail walking or horseback riding may be approved in 24 such areas. An individual or group of individuals that is 25 issued such a special use permit is required to contact the 26 department not more than 24 hours prior to the time of the 27 event for information about current conditions in the area. 28 The department may exercise discretion, as determined by the 29 commission by rule, to rescind the permit, or to relocate or 30 reschedule the event based on current conditions in the area. 31 For the purposes of the bill, “horseback riding” means the 32 riding of any equine animal including horses, mules, burros, 33 donkeys, and all llamas or alpaca-like animals. 34 A violation of the bill’s provisions is punishable by a 35 -2- LSB 1266YH (4) 84 av/nh 2/ 3

H.F. 22 scheduled fine of $25. 1 -3- LSB 1266YH (4) 84 av/nh 3/ 3