ElkHunter
Life Member
LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER
No. 3, 1/31/2010
No. 3, 1/31/2010
Abbreviations... H=House, S=Senate, HF=House File, SF=Senate File, HSB=House Study Bill, SSB=Senate Study Bill, CR=Concurrent Resolution, JR=Joint Resolution, NRC=Natural Resource (& Env. in the Senate) Comm., HEPC=House Environment Protection Comm., SEE=Senate Energy & Environment, CC= Commerce Comm., LGC=Local Gov’t. Comm., EdC=Education Comm., TC=Transportation Comm., SGC=State Gov’t. Comm., WMC=Ways & Means Comm., AC=Appropriations Comm., JC=Judiciary Comm., AgC=Ag. Comm., AgNRAS-Ag. & Natural Resources Appropriation Subcommittee (a joint Senate & House subcomm.), SB=Small Business & Economic Dev. (& Tourism in the Senate) Comm, HPSC=House Public Safety Comm.
The phone number to reach your Senator is 515/281-3371 & for your Representative is 515/281-3221. To access bills, E-Mail address for legislators, & other info on the Internet go to http://www.legis.state.ia.us
WEEK THREE HIGHLIGHTS
DNR DIRECTOR LEOPOLD AT THE HNRC. The Director provided an update on the DNR. He was asked the following:
1) Rayhons asked about hot spots and deer/vehicle accidents. Leopold discussed the opportunity for special hunts either on public land or if the private landowner allows and also depredation tags.
2) Marek asked about crossbows. Leopold stated that traditional groups have opposed them and would continue to do so except for the disabled or elderly hunters who cannot use a traditional bow.
3) Baudler asked about issues within the Law Enforcement Bureau. Leopold stated some of the concern by field officers was a result of overall state cutbacks and state government wide new reporting requirements. He indicated that some of the concerns were being address after a discussion with the Governor’s office that gave the authority to the department to hire 18 new COs. Baudler asked about use of COs to patrol State Parks. Leopold indicated this was not the case. Leopold stated a new interim head of the Law Enforcement Bureau from the Highway Patrol was selected to manage the Bureau until a new head was hired.
4) Baudler asked about the lack of pheasants and recommended a 3-day nonresident license.
5) Arnold suggested consideration of moving birds or allowing private pen-raised birds to be allowed.
6) May asked if the Water Patrol Officer staffing had been resolved. Leopold stated yes and that 45 temporary officers would be on duty this summer.
STATE PARKS CHIEF AT THE HNRC. Kevin Szcodronski gave the committee an update on the system. He indicated that it is DNR’s intention to keep all parks open. Maintenance would be targeted to those assets that produced revenue and some areas may get a little rough. The Bureau is seeking volunteers, as part-time staff will be down from 300+ to 30+. They are seeking $40 mil from I-Jobs bonds for water, sewer and road improvements. There may also be a potential for another Americorps summer worker program to assist with maintenance and interpretation, but their current plans are based on not receiving the Americorps workers.
NATURAL RESOURCES, OUTDOOR REC, …
HF 2008, FISH STOCKING FEES PRIVATE WATERS. Requires the NRC to set a minimum fee of $500 for stocking private waters with fish. HNRC.
HF 2017, CANOE & KAYAK REGISTRATION. Requires canoes and kayaks be registered and that the decal be fastened on the outside if over 8 feet and on the inside if under 8 feet. HNRC.
HF 2097, BIKE HELMETS. Requires those less than 18 years to wear a helmet while riding a motorized bike. HTC.
HF 2139, TRAPPING IN ROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY. Prohibits snares or traps in the right-of-way unless the adjacent landowner has given permission. HNR subcom-Steckman, Hanson, Huseman.
HF 2142, STATE PARK FEES. Allows the Nat Resources Comm to set and collect a $2 daily 04 $10 annual fee for parking a vehicle in a state park. Allows a person cited for parking without a sticker to buy an annual permit within 20 days of the violation. Fees are deposited in the state conservation fund. Repeals the fees on July 2015. HNR-Beard, May, Thede.
HSB 631, SSB 3119, DNR MATTERS. Authorizes the Natural Resources Comm (NRC) to adopt rules for snowmobiles & ATVs. Discusses issues on trail designation, registration, certificates & education. Exempts snowmobiles & ATVs owned by state or local government from having to register. Allows the DNR to sell nursery stock out-of-state (this is causing some discussion by legislators). Requires DNR officers to meet the similar requirements as Dept of Public Safety officers. Allows the NRC to approve leases.Allows the DNR to set standards for online boating education courses. Amends the Code to include all-terrain vehicle riding among the public recreational purposes to be encouraged on private land. Prohibits baiting birds or wildlife, with numerous exceptions (food plots, normal ag activity, within 50 yards of an occupied residence, etc). Allows birds to be released at field or retriever meets. Prohibits the sale of falconry licenses to out-of-state persons. Sets a scheduled fine for illegal use of fireworks, guns and explosives on public lands at $50. HNR subcom-Bell, Arnold, Beard, Palmer, Rayhons, SNR subcom-Dearden, Black, Hahn.
HSB 637, SSB 3146, GUN RIGHTS. Requires court clerks to give the Dept of Public Safety (DPS) notice of all adjudications of persons involuntarily committed to a mental health institution for either in-patient or outpatient treatment.Requires courts to then determine if the person is subject to federal gun restrictions and to inform the person. HPS subcom-Smith, Schulte, Wessel-Kroeschell. SPSC. Will not cover further.
SF 2014, SF 2123 (engine must be 200 cc), HF 2091, HF 2146 (ATV use in cities), HSB 617 (includes defined off-road vehicles), ATV RULES. Allows ATVs to be driven between sunrise and sunset on a highway within a city under 6,000 & on secondary roads not more than four miles from where the driver lives. Makes a person driving an ATV on a highway subject to the same penalties as drivers of other vehicles. STC. HTC.
SF 2120, PEN RAISED BIRDS. Requires a pen-raised game bird (birds of the family gallinae - includes common domestic fowls, pheasants, grouse, quails, and allied forms; and mallard ducks) to be released at least 25 yards from the shooters. SNRC.
SSB 3149, WEAPONS CARRY PERMITS. Requires issuing a nonprofessional carry permit to a person who is at least 21 and who meets the requirements for firearms safety at the discretion of the officer and have not been adjudicated as seriously mentally ill or other legal issues such as domestic abuse, etc. Requires a person with a carry permit to be certified by a qualified firearms instructor. SJ subcom-Kreiman, Sodders, Zaun. Will not cover further.