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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 806 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 866
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David K. Muradian, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to critical wildlife habitat management.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David K. Muradian, Jr.9th Worcester1/17/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 806 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 866
By Representative Muradian of Grafton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 866) of
David K. Muradian, Jr. for legislation to establish a wildland acquisition account from monies
received from the sale of wildland conservation stamps. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 977 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to critical wildlife habitat management.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2A of Chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the section in its entirety
3and inserting in place thereof the following:-
4 Section 2A. There is hereby established within the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, a
5wildland acquisition account which shall be credited monies received from the sale of wildland
6conservation stamps, the portion of the fees for sporting, fishing, trapping and hunting licenses to
7be credited under the provisions of section 2C, contributions thereto and any grant monies from
8the federal government or other public and private sources. 2 of 3
9 Said account, subject to appropriation, shall be used only for the purchase of land
10containing wildlife habitat and for costs directly related to the administration of the wildlands
11stamp program.
12 Two dollars and fifty cents from the sale of wildlands conservation stamp shall be
13dedicated to habitat management on lands managed by the division of fisheries and wildlife.
14 The director may contract with the seller of wildlands for installment payments provided
15that the total of all such installment payments does not exceed seventy-five percent of the
16previous year's income to the wildlands acquisition account. Acquisition of all lands so
17purchased shall be made with the advice and consent of the fisheries and wildlife board. All such
18lands shall be acquired exclusively for protection and management of wildlife habitat and shall
19be available for fishing, trapping, and hunting.
20 SECTION 2. Section 13A of Chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as
21appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the section in its entirety
22and inserting in place thereof the following:-
23 Section 13A. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall fish, trap, or hunt in the
24commonwealth, or utilize any lands managed by the division of fisheries and wildlife without
25first having obtained a wildlands conservation stamp, which shall be issued by the director or his
26duly authorized agent upon the payment of seven dollars and fifty cents; provided, however, that
27persons who are exempted from licensing requirements need not purchase such a stamp;
28provided, further, that persons issued fishing, sporting, trapping, or hunting licenses without
29charge shall be issued said stamp without charge; and provided, further, that no person who has
30purchased a stamp with any current resident license to fish, trap, or hunt shall be required to pay 3 of 3
31the fee for a wildlands conservation stamp for any additional current license or any duplicate
32license. The director is hereby authorized to issue stamps in such form as he may prescribe and
33may issue rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section. The stamp may
34be imprinted directly on fishing, sporting, trapping, or hunting licenses or issued separately at the
35discretion of the director.