2016 -- S 2984

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LC005793

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY WATERFOWL

HUNTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, Coyne, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: May 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to be known as the "Commission to

Study Waterfowl Hunting Laws and Regulations" be and the same is hereby created consisting of

seven (7) members; three (3) of whom shall reside along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay, at

least one of whom shall be an east bay resident, and at least one of whom shall be a west bay

resident, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be a biologist with

waterfowl expertise from the University of Rhode Island, who shall serve as chairperson of the

commission, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be a person with hunting

and/or waterfowl expertise who is not affiliated with a local nonprofit hunting advocacy group, to

be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be a representative from a local

nonprofit hunting advocacy group to be appointed by the Senate President; and one of whom

shall be a representative from a local nonprofit waterfowl hunting advocacy group, to be

appointed by the Senate President.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to review the current status of waterfowl

hunting laws and regulations and make recommendations to the Senate.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of Senate President.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. In addition, the Rhode

Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) is requested to establish an advisory

board to the commission and provide information to the commission that shall include, but not be

limited to, the following:

     (1) Law enforcement is requested to provide an overview of enforcement measures and

complaints received;

     (2) Legal services is requested to provide information on Rhode Island general laws

pertaining to waterfowl hunting and utilization of land, including areas designated for hunting and

relevant boundaries, and also provide information regarding federal regulations;

     (3) Division of fish and wildlife is requested to provide information including, but not

limited to, Rhode Island waterfowl, migratory patterns, and waterfowl biology; and

     (4) The RIDEM is requested to provide documents, address questions that help facilitate

discussion, and shall provide recommendations to the commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Senate President no later than January 3, 2017, and said commission shall expire on March 3,

2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY WATERFOWL

HUNTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS

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     This resolution would create a seven (7) member special legislative study commission to

be known as the "Commission to Study Waterfowl Hunting Laws and Regulations" and whose

purpose it would be to review the current status of waterfowl hunting laws and regulations and

make recommendations, and who would report back to the senate president no later than January

3, 2017, and whose life would expire on March 3, 2017.

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LC005793

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