HB248ENGROSSED
Page 0
ME5BHW-2
By Representatives Lipscomb, Kiel, Shaw, Butler, Robertson,
Underwood, Rigsby, Rehm, Sorrells, Marques, Woods, Stringer,
Hurst, Oliver, Wood (D), DuBose, Cole, Reynolds, Pringle,
Brown, Shedd, Lee, Whitt, Bolton, Easterbrook, Kirkland,
Ensler, Travis, Hollis, Givens, Holk-Jones, Shirey, Lamb,
Gidley, Lovvorn, Paramore, Hill, Standridge, Crawford,
Harbison, Estes, Kitchens, Colvin, Faulkner, Rafferty, Lomax,
Ellis, Smith
RFD: Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit
First Read: 04-Apr-23
2023 Regular Session
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A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to natural resources; to require the
Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources to issue a permit for the introduction of black bass
into the Coosa River in certain circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) The Commissioner of the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources shall issue a permit to a
municipality or private entity associated with fishing or
conservation allowing the introduction and placement of black
bass into the Coosa River if all of the following are
satisfied:
(1) The municipality or private entity obtains the
black bass from a fish hatchery located in this state that is
approved by the department.
(2) The only black bass being introduced or placed into
the Coosa River are the Northern Largemouth Bass (Micropterus
salmoides salmoides) subspecies, the Florida Bass (Micropterus
salmoides floridanus) subspecies, or a first generation
offspring of these two subspecies.
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(3) The municipality or private entity bears all costs
associated with the purchase, transport, and introduction of
black bass.
(b) The commissioner, under his or her authority
granted in Section 9-2-2 and 9-2-7, Code of Alabama 1975, may
deny a permit for the introduction and placement of black bass
into the Coosa River due to environmental, pathogenic, or
biological factors or for the protection of public health and
welfare.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
commissioner from issuing permits for the introduction and
placement of other subspecies of black bass into segments of
the Coosa River when the commissioner determines that the
introduction and placement of those subspecies is appropriate
for the fishery.
(d) The Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this
section.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first
day of the third month following its passage and approval by
the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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House of Representatives
Read for the first time and referred
to the House of Representatives
committee on Ports, Waterways &
Intermodal Transit
................04-Apr-23
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
0 amendments
................12-Apr-23
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yeas 105
Nays 0
Abstains 0
................02-May-23
John Treadwell
Clerk
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