House File 473 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 473 BY KLEIN A BILL FOR An Act relating to turtle harvesting season. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 2624YH (1) 88 js/rn

H.F. 473 Section 1. Section 481A.67, Code 2019, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 481A.67 Seasons and limits —— turtle harvesting restrictions. 3 1. It is unlawful for a person, except as otherwise 4 expressly provided, to take, capture, or kill fish, frogs, 5 or turtles except during the open season established by the 6 commission. It is unlawful during open season to take in any 7 one day an amount in excess of the daily catch limit designated 8 for each variety or each locality, or have in possession any 9 variety of fish, frog, or turtle in excess of the possession 10 limit, or have in possession any frog, fish, or turtle at any 11 time under the minimum length or weight. The open season, 12 possession limit, daily catch limit, and the minimum length 13 or weight for each variety of fish, frog, or turtle shall be 14 established by rule of the department or commission under the 15 authority of sections 456A.24 , 481A.38 , 481A.39 , and 482.1 . 16 2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 17 the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to 18 chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the 19 noncommercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state 20 pursuant to section 483A.28 . Seasons established pursuant to 21 this subsection shall not apply to the noncommercial harvest of 22 snapping turtles. 23 3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 24 the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to 25 chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the 26 commercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state. 27 2. There shall be a continuous open season for turtle 28 harvesting. 29 4. 3. Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, and ending 30 no earlier than January 1, 2021, the commission shall conduct a 31 review of the status of the turtle population in the state by 32 region, in cooperation with appropriate organizations and in 33 accordance with sound fish and wildlife management principles, 34 and shall report its recommendations to the general assembly 35 -1- LSB 2624YH (1) 88 js/rn 1/ 2

H.F. 473 on whether restrictions on noncommercial and commercial turtle 1 harvesting in the state should be revised no later than June 2 30, 2021. This subsection is repealed effective July 1, 2021. 3 EXPLANATION 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 Current law allows the natural resource commission to adopt 7 rules to establish turtle harvesting seasons. This bill 8 creates a continuous open season for turtle harvesting. 9 -2- LSB 2624YH (1) 88 js/rn 2/ 2