HOUSE FILE 22

BY  WINDSCHITL

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to walking and horseback riding trails on public land under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission, and providing for penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  481A.6B  Walking and horseback riding on public land.
   1.
  a.  Walking and horseback riding shall be allowed on all public land under the jurisdiction of the commission. The commission, by rule, shall designate walking and horseback riding trails and post proper signage for the walking and horseback riding trails on all public land under the jurisdiction of the commission. The commission shall by rule determine where such trails shall be located and under what conditions the trails may be used for walking and horseback riding, consistent with sound game and land management practices and federal requirements for such areas. A person walking or horseback riding on such public land shall use only trails officially designated and properly signed for such use.
   b.  An individual or group of individuals may request a special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit by submitting an application to the department specifying where the proposed off-trail walking or horseback riding event is to take place. The commission, by rule, shall determine under what conditions off-trail walking or horseback riding may be approved on public land under the commission’s jurisdiction.
   c.  For the purposes of this section,“horseback riding”means the riding of any equine animal including horses, mules, burros, donkeys, and all llamas or alpaca-like animals.
   2.  An individual or group of individuals that is issued a special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit shall contact the department not more than twenty-four hours prior to the time of the proposed off-trail walking or horseback riding event for information about current conditions in the area. The department may exercise discretion, as determined by the commission by rule, to rescind a special permit, or to relocate or reschedule an off-trail walking or horseback riding event based on current conditions in the area.
   Sec. 2.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  For violations of sections 481A.6, 481A.6B, 481A.21, 481A.22, 481A.26, 481A.50, 481A.56, 481A.60 through 481A.62, 481A.83, 481A.84, 481A.92, 481A.123, 481A.145, subsection 3, sections 483A.7, 483A.8, 483A.23, 483A.24, and 483A.28, the scheduled fine is twenty-five dollars.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to walking and horseback riding on public land under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission. The bill requires the natural resource commission, by rule, to designate walking and horseback riding trails and post signage for such trails on all public land under the commission’s jurisdiction in the state. The commission, by rule, shall determine where such trails shall be located and under what conditions the trails may be used for walking or horseback riding, consistent with sound game and land management practices and federal requirements for such areas. A walker or horseback rider must use designated trails.
   The commission is also authorized to make available a special use off-trail walking or horseback riding permit upon the request of an individual or group of individuals to the department of natural resources specifying where the proposed off-trail walking or horseback riding event is to take place. The commission, by rule, shall determine under what conditions off-trail walking or horseback riding may be approved in such areas. An individual or group of individuals that is issued such a special use permit is required to contact the department not more than 24 hours prior to the time of the event for information about current conditions in the area. The department may exercise discretion, as determined by the commission by rule, to rescind the permit, or to relocate or reschedule the event based on current conditions in the area.
   For the purposes of the bill, “horseback riding” means the riding of any equine animal including horses, mules, burros, donkeys, and all llamas or alpaca-like animals.
   A violation of the bill’s provisions is punishable by a scheduled fine of $25.