SB 554

Under current law, the secretary of natural resources is nominated by the

governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the

pleasure of the governor.

This bill prohibits the governor from nominating an individual as secretary of

natural resources unless the individual held a hunting or fishing license in at least

three of the five years before the year of nomination. If the individual served on

active duty in the military during the five years before nomination, the number of

years in which the person is required to have held a hunting or fishing license equals

five minus the number of years of active duty.

Under current law, the Natural Resources Board consists of seven members

nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed

for six-year terms. Current law requires that at least three of the members be from

north, and at least three of the members be from south, of a line running east and

west through the southern limits of the city of Stevens Point.

This bill requires that, beginning in 2016, at least one member of the Natural

Resources Board have an agricultural background, at least one member have a

business background, and at least one member have an environmental background.

The bill also requires that, beginning in 2016, at least four members of the Natural

Resources Board have held a hunting, fishing, or trapping license in at least seven

of the ten years before the year of nomination. If an individual served on active duty

in the military during the ten years before nomination, the number of years in which

the individual is required to have held an annual hunting, fishing, or trapping

license equals seven minus the number of years of active duty.