AB 441

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to issue five certificates

for sturgeon spearing licenses to an organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow,

Inc., to be awarded by the organization as prizes at a raffle.

Under current law, DNR is required to issue a sturgeon spearing license to any

person applying for the license who is at least 12 years old. Each license issued by

DNR is required to be accompanied by sturgeon carcass tags in a quantity

corresponding with the season bag limit for spearing lake sturgeon. A sturgeon

spearing license authorizes the spearing of lake sturgeon, subject to any limits

established by DNR, only during the open season for spearing sturgeon.

This bill requires DNR to issue five certificates for sturgeon spearing licenses

to an organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., if the organization applies

for the certificates. The bill authorizes the organization to award the certificates as

prizes at a raffle. If the person who receives a certificate presents the certificate to

DNR with the appropriate required fees, the bill requires DNR to issue the person

a sturgeon spearing license that authorizes the taking of sturgeon on lakes upriver

of Lake Winnebago and applicable carcass tags. A person may be issued only one

sturgeon spearing license under this program in his or her lifetime. This bill also

requires the organization to use the proceeds from the raffle to further sturgeon

management and research.