2015 -- S 0090

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LC000569

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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 - FRESHWATER FISHING

     

     Introduced By: Senator Nicholas D. Kettle

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 20-1-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General

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Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     20-1-12. Fixing of seasons and bag limits. -- (a) The director is authorized to adopt

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regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of § 20-11-2 fixing seasons, bag limits, size

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limits, possession limits, and methods of taking on any species of fish, game, bird, or other wild

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animal occurring within the state, other than marine species regulated by the marine fisheries

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council.

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      (1) These regulations may prohibit the taking, holding, or possession of any species,

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prohibit the taking, molestation, or disturbance in any way of nesting, breeding, or feeding sites

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of any species and/or prohibit, control, or regulate any commercial use, importation into the state,

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or exportation from the state of any species.

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      (2) These regulations may be of statewide applicability or may be applicable in any

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specified locality or localities within the state when the director shall find, after investigation, that

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the regulations are appropriate.

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      (b) Any person who violates any provision of this section or any rule or regulation made

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under the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil violation and subject to a fine of one

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hundred dollars ($100) for each offense.

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      (c) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, the traffic tribunal shall have

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jurisdiction to hear and determine all violations specified in this section.

 

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      (d) The regulations shall be adopted only after the holding of a public hearing subject to

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the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.

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     SECTION 2. Section 20-11-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-11 entitled "Fresh

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Water Fishing" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     20-11-2. Closed season. – Open trout season. -- No person shall Any otherwise eligible

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person may, without seasonal restriction, catch or attempt to catch, or take, any species of fish in

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any pond or stream stocked with trout by the department of environmental management or in any

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waters set apart by the department in which trout might be found, except during the open seasons,

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and subject to the catch and size limits, and regulations as to the method of taking, as established

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by the director pursuant to § 20-1-12.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - FRESHWATER FISHING

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     This act would permit fishing in trout waters at any time of year without seasonal

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restriction.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000569

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