Vermont H. 230: An act relating to consent by minors for mental health treatment

Bill Text

BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.230
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H.230
Introduced by Representative Satcowitz of Randolph
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Fish and wildlife; fish and game; hunting; conservation
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to amend
multiple provisions related to hunting, fishing, and trapping and related to the
conservation of threatened and endangered species. The bill would authorize
the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife to designate Labor Day weekend as a
free mentored fishing weekend. The bill would adjust the fees for fishing
tournaments based on the number of participants. The bill also increases the
penalties for big game violations. In addition, the bill would allow for
enforcement of a fish and wildlife violation in the Judicial Bureau based on the
determination of the enforcing warden. The bill authorizes the Commissioner
of Fish and Wildlife to adopt rules for the protection, conservation, and taking
of amphibians and reptiles. The bill would clarify that a person could not take,
collect, or possess a wild bird, wild animal, reptile, or amphibians with a
permit from the Commissioner. The bill also clarifies the authority of the
Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife to not disclose the location of specific
endangered or threatened species. In addition, the bill would repeal the statute
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BILLAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.230
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requiring the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reimburse farmers whose
crops are damaged by black bear.
An act relating to the management of fish and wildlife
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 4251 is amended to read:
§ 4251. TAKING WILD ANIMALS AND FISH; LICENSE
(a) Except as provided in sections 4253 and 4254b of this title, a person
shall not take wild animals or fish without first having procured a license
therefor; provided, however, that a person under 15 years of age may take fish
in accordance with this part and regulations of the Board, without first having
procured a license therefor.
(b) The Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife may designate two days each
calendar year as “free fishing days” for which no license shall be required.
One day shall occur in the open water fishing season and one day shall occur
during the ice fishing season.
(c) The Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife may designate Labor Day
weekend each year as “free mentored fishing weekend,” during which one
unlicensed angler can fish with one licensed angler throughout this three-day
period.
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Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 4613 is amended to read:
§ 4613. FISHING TOURNAMENTS
(a) No person or organization shall hold a fishing tournament on the waters
of the State without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Fish and
Wildlife. Tournaments held on the Connecticut River, excluding Moore and
Comerford Reservoirs, that do not utilize an access area in Vermont are not
required to obtain a permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(b) A fishing tournament means a contest in which anglers pay a fee to
enter and in which the entrants compete for a prize based on the quality or size
of the fish they catch. A contest may run multiple days, but the days must be
consecutive for that contest to be considered a single event. A tournament that
limits the entrants to people below 15 years of age or a tournament held as part
of a Special Olympics program shall be exempt from paying the fee required
under subsection (d) of this section.
(c) The Commissioner shall adopt rules that establish the procedure for
implementation of this section. The rules shall include a provision that an
angler may not enter a fish that was caught and confined to an enclosed area
prior to the beginning of the tournament.
(d) The Commissioner shall charge a fee of $50.00 based on the number
of participants for each permit issued under this section and shall deposit the
fee collected into the Fish and Wildlife Fund. Tournaments with up to 25
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participants shall pay a fee of $10.00; tournaments with 26 to 50 participants
shall pay a fee of $30.00; and tournaments with more than 50 participants shall
pay a fee of $100.00.
Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 4518 is amended to read:
§ 4518. BIG GAME VIOLATIONS; THREATENED AND ENDANGERED
SPECIES; SUSPENSION; VIOLATIONS
(a) Whoever violates a provision of this part or orders or rules of the Board
relating to taking, possessing, transporting, buying, or selling of big game;
relating to threatened or endangered species; or relating to the trade in covered
animal parts or products that constitutes a big game violation shall be fined not
more than $1,000.00 $2,000.00 nor less than $400.00 $500.00 or imprisoned
for not more than 60 days, or both. Upon a second