2015 -- H 5352

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LC000592

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Reilly, Craven, Shekarchi, and Price

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2015

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 20-2.2 of the General Laws entitled "Recreational Saltwater

Fishing License" is hereby repealed in its entirety.

CHAPTER 20-2.2

Recreational Saltwater Fishing License

     20-2.2-1. Findings. -- The general assembly finds and declares:

      (1) The constitution of the state places plenary authority and responsibility in the general

assembly to provide for the conservation of the natural resources of the state, including its marine

fisheries;

      (2) The state of Rhode Island has historically established programs to provide for and

regulate the harvesting and taking of marine fish for recreational purposes;

      (3) The federal government and regional entities have established and continue to

establish regulatory programs, management measures, quotas, and other restrictions that affect

persons engaged in marine recreational fisheries in Rhode Island, and Rhode Island functions in

whole or in part in the context of federal and regional programs, depending on the fishery;

      (4) The regulatory programs, management measures, quotas, and other restrictions

governing marine recreational fisheries are based primarily on catch and effort statistics from

recreational fisherman, and on fishery resource assessments, which gauge the biological status of

fish stocks;

      (5) Since 1979, recreational fishing assessments have been derived from the marine

recreational fisheries statistics Survey (MRFSS), administered by the federal government in

partnership with the states;

      (6) In 2006, congress acknowledged major flaws in the accuracy of the assessments

provided by (MRFSS), and called upon the national marine fisheries service (NMFS) to

undertake programmatic reforms, including the establishment of a universal registry of all

saltwater anglers to provide a more accurate and efficient means for acquiring recreational catch

and effort data;

      (7) In 2008, (NMFS) initiated a new marine recreational information program (MRIP) to

replace (MRFSS), and enacted rules requiring marine recreational fisherman to either register

under a new national program, or be registered or licensed by a state program that meets federal

requirements;

      (8) All coastal states have enacted, or are in the process of enacting, marine recreational

fishing license or registry programs;

      (9) The interests of recreational saltwater anglers in Rhode Island can best be met by

establishing a state program that meets federal requirements, contributes to improved state-based

recreational fishing assessments and stock assessments, and supports fair and effective regulatory

programs and quota allocations for Rhode Island's marine recreational fisheries;

      (10) Additionally, the interests of recreational saltwater anglers in Rhode Island are well

served by a program that supports improved and expanded opportunities for the public to access

the marine waters of the state; and

      (11) The use of license fee revenues for any purpose other than managing recreational

fisheries and enhancing recreational fishing opportunities would: violate the terms of § 20-9-3

and trigger a discontinuation of all federal funding provided to Rhode Island pursuant to the

Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. § 777-777K); conflict with legislative

intent, as set forth in subdivision 20-3.1-7(3); veer from the restricted use requirements governing

freshwater fishing, commercial fishing, and hunting license fee revenues; affect compliance with

the requirements of this chapter; and compromise the purposes of this chapter.

     20-2.2-2. Purposes. -- The purposes of this chapter are to:

      (1) Enable recreational fisherman to fish legally in the marine waters of Rhode Island,

and in all offshore federal waters, via a state-based recreational fishing licensing program,

established in accordance with the requirements set forth by the federal Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.);

      (2) Establish a state-based licensing program that will: provide Rhode Island recreational

fisherman, including residents and non-resident visitors, with a convenient and inexpensive

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licensing process; support and contribute to more accurate state-based fishing and resource

assessments; and provide for fair and effective management programs that optimize benefits and

opportunities for Rhode Island recreational fisherman; and

      (3) Establish a dedicated funding vehicle to support improved coastal access

opportunities for recreational fisherman along the Rhode Island shoreline.

     20-2.2-3. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

following meanings:

      (1) "Angling" means to fish recreationally using hook and line.

      (2) "Blind" means an individual who is blind in accordance with § 20-2-31.

      (3) "Exempted state" means a state that has been designated as an exempted state by the

national marine fisheries service, pursuant to the National Saltwater Angler Registry Program, 50

CFR Part 600.

      (4) "Finfish" means all species of finfish, excluding shellfish and crustaceans.

      (5) "Fishing recreationally" means all forms of angling, as well as all forms of

spearfishing, the purpose of which is to harvest, or attempt to harvest finfish for non-commercial

purposes.

      (6) "Marine waters of Rhode Island" means all tidal and territorial waters of the state out

to three (3) nautical miles from the coastline, including all state waters surrounding Block Island.

      (7) "Permanently disabled" means an individual who is one hundred percent (100%)

permanently disabled in accordance with § 20-2-31.

      (8) "Resident" means an individual who has had his or her actual place of residence and

has lived in the state of Rhode Island for a continuous period of not less than six (6) months.

      (9) "Spearfishing" means to fish recreationally using a spear or a powerhead.

     20-2.2-4. License required. -- (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to fish

recreationally in the marine waters of Rhode Island without:

      (1) A recreational fishing license issued in accordance with the provisions of this

chapter;

      (2) A recreational fishing license or registration issued by any other exempted state that

affords reciprocity to Rhode Island residents who hold recreational fishing licenses issued

pursuant to this chapter; or

      (3) A federal saltwater angler registration issued by the national marine fisheries service.

      (b) An individual will be considered to be fishing recreationally if they are engaged in

the process of angling or spearfishing, or if they possess equipment used for angling or

spearfishing and are also in possession of finfish.

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     20-2.2-5. Exemptions. -- A license shall not be required for anyone who is:

      (1) Under the age of sixteen (16);

      (2) Permanently disabled, or blind;

      (3) On leave from active military duty;

      (4) A passenger on a party or charter boar holding a current and valid license issued by

the department in accordance with § 20-2-27.1;

      (5) Fishing recreationally during a designated free-fishing day, which may be established

by the director and occur on no more than one day per year; or

      (6) Fishing commercially in accordance with a current and valid commercial fishing

license.

     20-2.2-6. Fees -- Terms and conditions -- Information required. -- (a) (1) Resident

seven dollars ($7.00);

      (2) No fee shall be charged for residents who are over the age of sixty-five (65) or in

active military service;

      (3) Nonresident ten dollars ($10.00);

      (4) Licenses issued pursuant to this subsection shall expire on December 31st of each

year.

      (b) (1) Resident or non-resident seven (7) day five dollars ($5.00);

      (2) This license shall entitle the holder to fish recreationally for seven (7) consecutive

days, including the day of issuance.

      (c) All license applications shall be required to provide their name, address, phone

number, and date of birth.

      (d) Any lost or destroyed license shall be replaceable, during the calendar year in which

it was issued, or in the case of a seven-day license, during the seven-day period when it is valid,

at no cost to the license holder.

      (e) The director is authorized to determine a portion of the license fee, not to exceed any

of the amounts set forth above in this section, that may be retained by the state-approved vendor

and authorized licensing agents, as set forth in § 20-2.2-7, as commission for services rendered.

     20-2.2-7. License issuance. -- The director is authorized and directed to engage the

contractual services of a state-approved vendor to develop and implement a web-based system

that will serve as the sole means for obtaining licenses pursuant this chapter. The vendor's

responsibilities shall include, but not limited to:

      (1) Development of the web-based application;

      (2) Creation and servicing of authorized licensing agents who will be able to vend

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licenses at their establishments;

      (3) Collection and transmittal of license fee revenues; and

      (4) Storage and transmittal of license holder database.

     20-2.2-8. Violations. -- (a) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall

be guilty of a civil violation and subject to a fine, as follows:

      (1) For a first offense, a fine of ten dollars ($10.00);

      (2) For second offense, a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00); and

      (3) For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).

      (b) Jurisdiction over violations of this chapter shall be with the traffic tribunal.

     20-2.2-9. Deposit of fees -- Appropriation and use of license fee revenue. -- All

moneys generated from license fees issued under this chapter, other than any commissions

retained by the licensing vendor and licensing agents per subsection 20-2.2-6(e), shall be

deposited in a restricted receipt account, hereby created and known as the Recreational Saltwater

Fishing License Restricted Receipt Account. The state controller is authorized and directed to

draw orders upon the general treasurer for payment of any sum or sums as may be necessary from

time to time upon receipt by him or her of duly authenticated vouchers presented by the director

of environmental management. In accordance with § 20-9-3 and in keeping with subdivision 20-

3.1-7(3), the monies from license fees received under this section are to be used only for the

following specific purposes:

      (1) Administering and enforcing the recreational saltwater fishing license program

established by this chapter;

      (2) Managing Rhode Island's marine recreational fisheries, with particular reference to

improving state-based recreational fishery catch and effort statistics and stock assessments; and

      (3) Enhancing recreational fishing opportunities in the state.

     20-2.2-10. Accountability and oversight. -- (a) On an annual basis, the department shall

prepare a report that details the number of recreational saltwater fishing licenses issued, the total

amount of license fee revenue received, the expenditures made during the prior year utilizing the

fee revenue, and how the department plans to allocate and use the fee revenue during the next

year. The report shall also include any additional, relevant information relating to the

administration and enforcement of the licensing program, and status of state-based recreational

fishing assessments and stock assessments.

      (b) The department shall annually submit the report to the marine fisheries council, and

the department, in coordination with the council, shall annually schedule and conduct one or more

public meetings to solicit input from recreational fisherman and the general public. On the basis

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of such input, and the council's own review, the council shall annually prepare an addendum to

the report, setting forth the council's opinion on whether the licensing program is meeting its

intended purposes, and offering any recommendations for modifying the program.

      (c) The department shall annually submit the report, including the addendum developed

by the council, to the general assembly.

     20-2.2-11. Rules and regulations. -- The director is authorized to promulgate, adopt, and

enforce any and all rules and regulations deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this

chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000592

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE

***

     This act would repeal the saltwater fishing license requirement.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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