AB 955

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to add to any hunting

or fishing approval issued to a nonresident who is at least 16 years of age a surcharge

that is equal to 15 percent of the fee specified for the approval. The bill provides that

moneys collected from this surcharge are credited to DNR, with one-third of the

moneys to be used for habitat restoration and stocking, one-third to be used for

school education programs, and one-third to be used for the purchase of emergency

rescue equipment for counties and municipalities.

Under current law, DNR issues hunting and fishing licenses that allow the

hunting or fishing of specified game animals and game fish. Current law specifies

the fee for each license. The fee for a nonresident license for a particular game animal

or game fish is higher than the fee for a resident license for the same game animal

or game fish.

The bill requires DNR to establish a program to award grants to counties,

municipalities, and American Indian tribes and bands for the purchase of emergency

rescue equipment for responding to incidents involving hunting, fishing, and

trapping and accidents involving all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles,

off-highway motorcycles, boats, and snowmobiles. The grant recipient is required

to provide funding equal to 25 percent of the grant amount awarded. The bill

increases DNR's authorized positions by 0.5 to administer this program.

The bill requires DNR to establish a program to award grants to public schools,

private schools, and tribal schools to offer instructional programming on certain

outdoor recreation activities and natural resources. The instructional programming

may include instruction on any of the following subjects: the safe operation and use

of a snowmobile, all-terrain or utility terrain vehicle, or motorboat; hunter safety;

knowledge to identify and understand the habitat needs of fish and wild animals of

this state; an introduction to the state park system and the value of state parks; and

safely fishing on ice. A school that receives a grant under the bill may not charge a

fee to any pupil who is participating in the course of instruction.