SF 424 (LSB 2222SV (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 424

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 293)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the allocation of special nonresident deer hunting licenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 483A.24, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Fifty of the nonresident deer hunting licenses shall be allocated as determined by the department between Iowa conservation organizations and the governor.  Of the fifty nonresident deer hunting licenses allocated under this paragraph, forty shall be allocated to Iowa conservation organizations, as determined by the department, and ten shall be allocated to the governor. The governor may choose to accept all, part, or none of the allocation. Any nonresident deer hunting license allocated to the governor that is not accepted by September 1 of the year in which the allocation is made shall be added to the allocation for Iowa conservation organizations. The licenses provided pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to the number of nonresident licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.8. The purpose of the special nonresident licenses is to allow state officials and local development Iowa conservation groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. Photographs, videotapes, or any other form of media resulting from the hunting visitation shall not be used for political campaign purposes. The nonresident licenses shall be issued without application upon purchase of a nonresident annual hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and the purchase of a nonresident deer hunting license. The licenses are valid in all zones open to deer hunting. The hunter education certificate requirement pursuant to section 483A.27 is waived for a nonresident issued a license pursuant to this subsection.  For purposes of this paragraph, “conservation organization” means an organization that is incorporated and managed pursuant to chapter 504 and whose mission emphasizes natural resource conservation or supports science-based natural resource management. A local or state chapter or division of a national or international conservation organization shall qualify as a conservation organization.
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 allocation of special nonresident deer hunting licenses.
   Under current law, the director of the department of natural resources allocates 50 nonresident deer hunting licenses for the purpose of allowing state officials and local development groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries.
   The bill changes the allocation and purpose of the 50 nonresident hunting licenses by allocating 40 of the licenses to Iowa conservation organizations and 10 of the licenses to the governor for the purpose of allowing state officials and Iowa conservation groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. The bill allows the governor to accept all, part, or none of the allocation. Any nonresident deer hunting license not accepted by the governor by September 1 is added to the allocation for Iowa conservation organizations.
   The bill defines “conservation organization” as an organization that is incorporated and managed pursuant to Code chapter 504 and whose mission emphasizes natural resource conservation or supports science-based natural resource management. Under the bill, a local or state chapter or division of a national or international conservation organization qualifies as a conservation organization.