HF 2332 (LSB 5954YH (2) 84)

HOUSE FILE 2332

BY  KELLEY, WITTNEBEN, and HANSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the control of aquatic invasive species in the waters of this state and including a study and report.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 462A.52, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2011, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, any increase in revenues received on or after July 1, 2007, but on or before June 30, 2013, pursuant to this section as a result of fee increases pursuant to 2005 Acts, ch. 137, shall be used by the commission only for the administration and enforcement of programs to control aquatic invasive species and for the administration and enforcement of navigation laws and water safety upon the inland waters of this state and shall be used in addition to funds already being expended by the commission each year for these purposes. The commission shall not reduce the amount of other funds being expended on an annual basis for these purposes as of July 1, 2005, during the period of the appropriation provided for in this subsection.
   3.  The commission shall submit a written report to the general assembly by December 31, 2007, and by December 31 of each year thereafter through December 31, 2013, summarizing the activities of the department in administering and enforcing programs to control aquatic invasive species and administering and enforcing navigation laws and water safety upon the inland waters of the state. The report shall include information concerning the amount of revenues collected pursuant to this section as a result of fee increases pursuant to 2005 Acts, ch. 137, and how the revenues were expended. The report shall also include information concerning the amount and source of all other funds expended by the commission during the year for the purposes of administering and enforcing programs to control aquatic invasive species and administering and enforcing navigation laws and water safety upon the inland waters of the state and how the funds were expended.
    Sec. 2.  AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES STUDY AND REPORT.
   1.  The natural resource commission shall conduct a study of the presence of aquatic invasive species in the state’s lakes and rivers including but not limited to zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil, and Asian carp with a particular emphasis on the status of Asian carp populations in the Iowa great lakes and the Little Sioux river watershed.
   2.  The study shall describe monitoring efforts by the department of natural resources of all aquatic invasive species in the state’s waters; describe efforts by the department to manage and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the state; include information on the life history of Asian carp and the possible impacts of their presence in the state’s lakes and rivers; and consider strategies to manage and prevent the spread of Asian carp populations in Iowa, particularly in the Iowa great lakes, as well as throughout the midwest.
   3.  The commission shall submit its findings in a written report to the general assembly by December 31, 2012. This report may be included as part of the written report submitted to the general assembly by the commission on December 31 each year pursuant to section 462A.52, subsection 3.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the control of aquatic invasive species in the waters of this state. The bill strikes a sunset provision to allow a 2005 increase in boat registration fees to continue to be used for the administration and enforcement of programs to control aquatic invasive species and for the administration and enforcement of navigation laws and water safety beyond 2013. The bill also provides that the provisions apply to rivers as well as inland waters of the state.
   The bill requires the natural resource commission to conduct a study on the presence of aquatic invasive species in the state’s lakes and rivers including but not limited to zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil, and Asian carp with a particular emphasis on the status of Asian carp populations in the Iowa great lakes and the Little Sioux river watershed. The study is to include monitoring, management, and prevention efforts being undertaken by the department of natural resources with respect to aquatic invasive species and information about Asian carp including impacts of their presence in the state’s lakes and rivers as well as strategies to manage and prevent their spread, particularly in the Iowa great lakes and throughout the midwest.
   The commission shall submit its findings in a written report to the general assembly by December 31, 2012. The report can be included in the annual report submitted by the commission to the general assembly each December 31 pursuant to Code section 462A.52(3), which outlines the yearly expenditures of the boat registration increases enacted in 2005.