HF 2357 (LSB 5732HV (2) 86)

HOUSE FILE 2357

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 610)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to turtle harvesting in the state and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.67, Code 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   481A.67  Seasons and limits —— turtle harvesting restrictions.
   1.  It is unlawful for a person, except as otherwise expressly provided, to take, capture, or kill fish, frogs, or turtles except during the open season established by the commission. It is unlawful during open season to take in any one day an amount in excess of the daily catch limit designated for each variety or each locality, or have in possession any variety of fish, frog, or turtle in excess of the possession limit, or have in possession any frog, fish, or turtle at any time under the minimum length or weight. The open season, possession limit, daily catch limit, and the minimum length or weight for each variety of fish, frog, or turtle shall be established by rule of the department or commission under the authority of sections 456A.24, 481A.38, 481A.39, and 482.1.
   2.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits that restrict the noncommercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state pursuant to section 483A.28.
   3.  a.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits that restrict the commercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state.
   b.  On or before January 15, 2018, the commission shall conduct a review of the status of the turtle population in the state by region, in cooperation with appropriate organizations and in accordance with sound fish and wildlife management principles, and shall report its recommendations to the general assembly on whether restrictions on noncommercial and commercial turtle harvesting in the state should be revised. This paragraph is repealed effective July 1, 2018.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the commercial and noncommercial harvest of turtles in the waters of the state. The bill requires the natural resource commission to adopt rules establishing seasons that restrict the noncommercial harvest of turtles pursuant to a sport fishing license.
   The bill also requires the natural resource commission to adopt rules that restrict the commercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state. The bill provides that on or before January 15, 2018, the commission shall conduct a review of the status of the turtle population in the state by region in cooperation with appropriate organizations and in accordance with sound fish and wildlife management principles and report its recommendations to the general assembly, on whether restrictions on noncommercial and commercial turtle harvesting should be revised.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.