NATURAL RESOURCES-Week of March 5

SF 2282 – Definitions of ATVs for trail use

SF 2283 – Updates to various conservation and recreation duties under DNR
FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2282 updates the definition of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and off-road vehicle (ORV) allowed to be used on designated trails and registered with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). New ATVs are heavier and have larger engines than the current definition. Updating the definition allows newer ATVs to be used for recreational purposes on designated trails and public lands.

The bill also establishes separate definitions for ATVs and ORVs that are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for highway use. The newer ATVs and ORVs allowed for trail use are not meant to be used on roads, so the existing regulations for ATVs and ORVs under the DOT are retained by establishing a separate definition under their Code chapter. Previously, the DOT regulations referenced the definitions that were in place for trail development. [3/5: 49-0 (Behn absent)]

SF 2283 makes a variety of changes to conservation and recreation laws under the authority of the DNR. The changes include:

** Moving some violations from unscheduled fines to the standard scheduled fines, which makes enforcement simpler. This includes lowering the fine for use of fireworks in state parks.

** Clarifying that clams and mussels cannot be sold for bait, although fishers can still harvest clams and use as bait.

** Specifying which species of pheasant can be pen-reared and released into the wild.

** Authorizing the DNR to establish a shooting sports program. The program will be funded by grants or federal funds.

** Clarifying bartering and trading regulations for commercial fish, roe and turtle harvesters.

** Simplifying the process for tagging commercial fishing license gear.

** Correcting an error regarding reciprocity agreements for falconry licenses.

** Removing an outdated Code section governing the sale of certain islands and abandoned channels. The section being removed has been superseded by a newer Code section.

The bill includes a compromise between DNR and commercial fishers and turtle harvesters on the change to bartering and trading provisions. The bill also aligns the process for remitting liquidated damages to the DNR that is established in Code with the way the process is handled currently. [3/5: 48-1 (Bartz “no”, Behn absent)]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2254 requires the Natural Resource Commission to issue a special hunting license to a non-resident person who has or is serving in the US Armed Forces who was disabled during military service (and is at a service-connected rating of 30 per cent or higher) and was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of the injury so that they may participate in a hunt conducted by a nonprofit organization that conducts hunting experiences in Iowa for disabled veterans.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will prepare a special application form to be used and adopt rules necessary to administer provisions of this bill, including specifying what requirements a nonprofit organization must meet to be approved to conduct hunts for disabled veterans. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will assist in verifying the applicant’s Purple Heart and disability status.

The person may purchase a hunting license and pay the wildlife habitat fee at the same rate as a resident. Iowa’s current hunter safety and ethics education requirements apply. A license issued under this subsection is valid for use only on a hunt conducted by the approved nonprofit organization. The Commission will issue no more than 40 of each of the special licenses annually. The original proposal was amended and the bill redrafted as a committee bill. [3/7: short form]