Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2355 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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3		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 1 1
	3	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 1
	4	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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28		-	ENGROSSED HOUSE
29		-	BILL NO. 2355 By: Dempsey of the House
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
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31		-	~~and~~
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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33		-	Murdock of the Senate
	33	+	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
	34	+
	35	+	HOUSE BILL 2355 By: Dempsey
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	41	+	AS INTRODUCED
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40		-	[ game and fish – lifetime licenses – air bows –
41		-	emergency ]
	43	+	An Act relating to game and fish; amending 29 O.S.
	44	+	2021, Sections 4-114, 4-130 and Section 5-213, as
	45	+	amended by Section 1, Chapter 253, O.S.L. 2022 (29
	46	+	O.S. Supp. 2022, Sectio n 5-213), which relate to
	47	+	hunting; providing that holders of certain va lid
	48	+	lifetime licenses are exempt from having to purchase
	49	+	certain licenses, stamps, per mits, and tags;
	50	+	providing that lifetime hunting and combinat ion
	51	+	lifetime hunting and fishing licens e holders are
	52	+	exempt from having to purchase a state waterfowl
	53	+	stamp; allowing the use of air bows during all open
	54	+	hunting seasons; and declaring an emergency.
	55	+
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44	61		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
45	62		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2021, Section 4 -114, is
46	63		amended to read as f ollows:
47	64		Section 4-114. A. All legal residents who have resided in the
48	65		state for at least six (6) month s and intend to remain residents may
49	66		purchase lifetime fishing licenses, lifetime hunting licenses or
50	67		lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses from the State
51	68		Wildlife Conservation Director.
52		-	B. The fee for these license s shall be:
53		-	1. Lifetime fishing license, Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00 );
54		-	2. Lifetime hunting license, Six H undred Dollars ($600.00);
55		-	3. Lifetime combination hunting and fishing l icense, Seven
56		-	Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00);
57		-	4. Senior citizen lifetime h unting license for persons s ixty-
58		-	five (65) years of age or older, Fift een Dollars ($15.00);
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60		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 2 1
	70	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 2
	71	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	96	+	B. The fee for these license s shall be:
	97	+	1. Lifetime fishing license, Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00 );
	98	+	2. Lifetime hunting license, Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00);
	99	+	3. Lifetime combination hunting and fishing l icense, Seven
	100	+	Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00);
	101	+	4. Senior citizen lifetime h unting license for persons s ixty-
	102	+	five (65) years of age or older, Fift een Dollars ($15.00);
85	103		5. Senior citizen lifetime fishing licens e for persons sixty-
86	104		five (65) years of age or older, Fifteen Dollars ($15.00); and
87	105		6. Senior citizen lifetime combination hunting and fishing
88	106		license for persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older, Twenty-
89	107		five Dollars ($25.00).
90	108		C. Legal A legal resident having proper certification from the
91	109		United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor
92	110		certifying that the perso n is a disabled veteran and registered with
93	111		the veterans registry created by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans
94	112		Affairs may purchase a d isability lifetime combination hunting and
95	113		fishing license from the State Wildlife Conservation Director. The
96	114		fees for the license shall be as follows:
97	115		1. Two Hundred Dollars ($200.0 0) for veterans having a
98	116		disability of less than sixty percent (60%); an d
99	117		2. Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for veterans having a
100	118		disability of sixty percent (60%) or more.
101		-	D. The use of the licenses provided in this section are subject
102		-	to those restrictions provided by statute and the regulat ions of the
103		-	Wildlife Conservation Commission. Except as otherwise provi ded for
104		-	in this section, each lifetime hunting license issued pursuant to
105		-	subsections B and C of this section shall be in lieu of all annual
106		-	hunting licenses, all species-specific licenses, including but not
107		-	limited to deer, elk, antelope, turkey, and be ar, Oklahoma waterfowl
108		-	hunting stamp, wildlife conservation passport, fur license, annual
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110		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 3 1
	120	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 3
	121	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	146	+	D. The use of the licenses provided in this section are subject
	147	+	to those restrictions provided by statute and the regulations of the
	148	+	Wildlife Conservation Commission. Except as otherwise provi ded for
	149	+	in this section, each lifetime hunting license issued pursuant to
	150	+	subsections B and C of this section shall be in lieu of all annual
	151	+	hunting licenses, all species specific licenses, including but not
	152	+	limited to deer, elk, antelope, turkey, and be ar, Oklahoma waterfowl
	153	+	hunting stamp, wildlife conservation passport, fur license, annual
135	154		trapping license, controlled hunt perm its, all carcass tags, and all
136	155		special season permits.
137	156		E. Should any lifetime lice nse be lost or destroyed, a
138	157		duplicate will be issued by the Department of Wildlife Conservation
139	158		for a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00 ).
140	159		F. A lifetime licensee shall not lose the privileges of such
141	160		license by a subsequent transfer of residency.
142	161		G. 1. In addition to the fees imposed pursuant to paragraphs 1
143	162		through 3 of subsection B of this section, a person purchasing a
144	163		lifetime fishing, hunting or combination license, excluding a senior
145	164		citizen lifetime hunting, fishing or combination hunting and fishing
146	165		license issued pursuant to paragraphs 4 through 6 o f subsection B of
147	166		this section and a disability lifetime combination hunting and
148	167		fishing license issued pursuant to subsection C of this section,
149	168		shall be required to purchase a Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land
150	169		Stamp. Each person shall have the stamp in th eir possession while
151		-	hunting, fishing, or taking any wildlife. The fee for the L ifetime
152		-	Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp shall be Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00).
153		-	The fee for the stamp shal l be distributed as follows:
154		-	a. Twenty Dollars ($20.00) from each stamp shall be
155		-	deposited in the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund, created
156		-	in Section 4-141 of this title, to be used to retire
157		-	the obligations and related ex penses as authorized
158		-	pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of the Oklahoma
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160		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 4 1
	171	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 4
	172	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	197	+	hunting, fishing, or taking any wildlife. The fee for the L ifetime
	198	+	Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp shall be Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00).
	199	+	The fee for the stamp shall be distributed as follo ws:
	200	+	a. Twenty Dollars ($20.00) from each stamp shall be
	201	+	deposited in the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund, created
	202	+	in Section 4-141 of this title, to be used to retire
	203	+	the obligations and related ex penses as authorized
	204	+	pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of t he Oklahoma
185	205		Statutes or to purchase, lease, or purchase easements
186	206		on real property to be used as public hunting,
187	207		fishing, and trapping areas, and
188	208		b. Five Dollars ($5.00) from each stamp shall b e
189	209		deposited in the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund, created
190	210		in Section 4-141 of this title, to be used by the
191	211		Commission for management of the real property
192	212		acquired pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of the
193	213		Oklahoma Statutes or acquired with proceeds from the
194	214		Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp fee.
195	215		2. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
196	216		prescribe, by rule, the form, design, and manner of issuance of the
197	217		Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife La nd Stamp.
198	218		3. Within one (1) year of the final retirement, redemp tion, or
199	219		defeasance of the obligations created pursuant to Sect ion 168.9 of
200	220		Title 73 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife
201		-	Land Stamp and Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land St amp fee
202		-	requirements provided for in this subsection shall termin ate.
203		-	H. A person who is sixty -four (64) years of age shall be
204		-	eligible to purchase a senior citizen lifetime license issued
205		-	pursuant to paragraphs 4 through 6 of subsection B of this section
206		-	during the calendar year in which the person turns sixty -five (65)
207		-	years of age.
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209		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 5 1
	222	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 5
	223	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	248	+	Land Stamp and Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land St amp fee
	249	+	requirements provided for in this subsection shall termin ate.
	250	+	H. A person who is sixty -four (64) years of age shall be
	251	+	eligible to purchase a senior citizen lifetime license issued
	252	+	pursuant to paragraphs 4 through 6 of subsection B of this section
	253	+	during the calendar year in which the person turns sixty -five (65)
	254	+	years of age.
234	255		I. The fee for a lifetime fishing license, a lifetime hunting
235	256		license, or a lifetime combina tion hunting and fishing license
236	257		issued pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 3 of sub section B of this
237	258		section for a legal resident under eighteen (18 ) years of age may be
238	259		paid for by installments not to exceed a three-year period of time
239	260		and in a manner deter mined by the Director. The lifetime license
240	261		shall not be issued and become valid until full payment is received
241	262		by the Department of Wildlife Con servation. If the entire amount of
242	263		the license fee is not rece ived within three (3) years from the date
243	264		the application for installment payments is submitted to the
244	265		Department, all funds rec eived shall be forfeited and shall not be
245	266		refunded.
246	267		J. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall
247	268		promulgate any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this
248	269		section.
249	270		SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2021, Section 4 -130, is
250	271		amended to read as follows:
251		-	Section 4-130. A. Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma
252		-	Wildlife Conservation Code, no person may hunt or take any waterfowl
253		-	during the open season on waterfowl unless the person has first
254		-	obtained an Oklahoma w aterfowl hunting stamp or license from the
255		-	Director or authorized agents of the Director. Each person shall
256		-	have the stamp or license in their possession when hunting or taki ng
257		-	any waterfowl. When a stamp is purchased, the st amp shall be
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259		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 6 1
	273	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 6
	274	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	299	+	Section 4-130. A. Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma
	300	+	Wildlife Conservation Code, no person may hunt or take any waterfowl
	301	+	during the open season on waterfowl unless the person has first
	302	+	obtained an Oklahoma w aterfowl hunting stamp or license from the
	303	+	Director or authorized agents of the Director. Each person shall
	304	+	have the stamp or license in their possession when hunting or taki ng
	305	+	any waterfowl. When a stamp is purchased, the st amp shall be
284	306		validated by the signature of the licensee written across the face
285	307		of the stamp.
286	308		B. Persons excepted from the Oklahoma waterfowl hunting stamp
287	309		or license requirement of this section are:
288	310		1. Legal residents of Oklahoma under sixteen (16) year s of age;
289	311		and
290	312		2. Legal residents of Oklahoma who have a valid lifetime
291	313		hunting, or combination lifetime hunting and fishing license;
292	314		3. Legal residents of Ok lahoma who have a valid senior citizen
293	315		lifetime hunting or senior citizen lifetime combination hunting and
294	316		fishing license; and
295	317		4. Legal residents of Oklahoma sixty-five (65) years of age or
296	318		older.
297	319		C. 1. The Oklahoma waterfowl hunting stamp fee and waterfowl
298	320		license shall each be Nine Dollars ($9. 00). The remainder of the
299	321		fee shall be deposited in the Wildlife Con servation Fund, to be used
300	322		exclusively in the State of Oklah oma, for the purpose of developing,
301		-	managing, preserving, restoring and maintaining wetland habitats and
302		-	for the conservation a nd management of waterfowl and ecologically
303		-	related species.
304		-	2. The collection and remittance procedure s applicable to
305		-	hunting license fees under this title shall apply to waterfowl s tamp
306		-	or license fees.
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308		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 7 1
	324	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 7
	325	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	350	+	managing, preserving, restoring and maintaining wetland habitats and
	351	+	for the conservation a nd management of waterfowl and ecologically
	352	+	related species.
	353	+	2. The collection and remittance procedure s applicable to
	354	+	hunting license fees under this title shall apply to waterfowl stamp
	355	+	or license fees.
333	356		3. The waterfowl stamp or license issued pursuant to this
334	357		section shall expire on June 30 of each year.
335	358		D. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission may prescribe,
336	359		by regulation, the form, design and manner of issuance, if any, of
337	360		the waterfowl stamp, which could include the selection of art for
338	361		such stamp from an art contest regulated by the Commission.
339	362		E. 1. Any person arrested for hunting or taki ng any waterfowl
340	363		during the open season on waterfowl without a valid Oklahoma
341	364		waterfowl hunting stamp or license as required by the provisions of
342	365		subsection A of this section may purchase a substitute temporary
343	366		thirty-day stamp or license from the arrestin g game warden in lieu
344	367		of posting bond. Proof of hunter safety certification shall not be
345	368		required for the temporary substitute stamp or license. The f ee for
346	369		a substitute stamp or license purchased pursuant to the provis ions
347	370		of this subsection shall be:
348	371		a. for legal residents – Fifty Dollars ($50.00), and
349	372		b. for nonresidents – One Hundred Forty-five Dollars
350	373		($145.00).
351		-	2. The fees from the temporary stam p and license purchased
352		-	pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in
353		-	the Wildlife Conservation Fund, to be used exclusively in the State
354		-	of Oklahoma, for the pur pose of developing, managing, preserving,
355		-	restoring and maintaining wetl and habitats and for the conservation
356		-	and management of waterfowl and ecologically related species.
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358		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 8 1
	375	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 8
	376	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	401	+	2. The fees from the temporary stam p and license purchased
	402	+	pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in
	403	+	the Wildlife Conservation Fund, to be used exclusively in the State
	404	+	of Oklahoma, for the purpose of developing, managing, preserving,
	405	+	restoring and maintaining wetl and habitats and for the conservation
	406	+	and management of waterfowl and ecologically related species.
383	407		F. Any person convicted of v iolating any of the provisions of
384	408		this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty -
385	409		five Dollars ($25.00) nor mo re than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
386	410		G. Nothing in this title shal l prohibit a person from hunting
387	411		waterfowl exclusively on th eir own property without an Oklahoma
388	412		waterfowl hunting stamp or license.
389	413		SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2021, Section 5-213, as
390	414		amended by Section 1, Chapter 253, O.S.L. 2022 (29 O.S. Supp. 2022,
391	415		Section 5-213), is amended to read as follows:
392	416		Section 5-213. A. The use of crossbows and conventional
393	417		longbows with a device that permits the bow to be held mechanically
394	418		at full or partial draw, shall be a legal hunting meth od during any
395	419		open season when convent ional longbows are a legal means of take.
396	420		B. The use of air bows shall be a legal hunting method duri ng
397	421		any open season when rifles are a legal means of take. No person
398	422		may hunt or take during the open season with an air bow unless the
399	423		person has first obtained a stamp issued by the Oklahoma Wild life
400		-	Conservation Commission for a one -time fee of Twenty Dollars
401		-	($20.00).
402		-	C. At such time as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Ac t
403		-	is amended to expand the excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
404		-	to include air bows and air guns, the stamp purs uant to subsection B
405		-	of this section shall no longer be required, and authorization for
406	424
407		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2355 Page 9 1
	425	+	HB2355 HFLR Page 9
	426	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	451	+	Conservation Commission for a one -time fee of Twenty D ollars
	452	+	($20.00).
	453	+	C. At such time as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Ac t
	454	+	is amended to expand the excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
	455	+	to include air bows and air guns, the stamp purs uant to subsection B
	456	+	of this section shall no longer be re quired, and authorization for
432	457		the continual use of air bows as a legal means of take shall be
433	458		established by rules pr omulgated by the Commission.
434	459		SECTION 4. It being immediately nec essary for the preservation
435	460		of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
436	461		declared to exist, b y reason whereof this act shall take effect and
437	462		be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
438		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of March, 2023.
439	463
440		-
441		-
442		-
443		-	Presiding Officer of the House
444		-	of Representatives
445		-
446		-
447		-	Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2023.
448		-
449		-
450		-
451		-
452		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
453		-
454		-
	464	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON WILDLIFE, dated 02/23/2023 - DO
	465	+	PASS.