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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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appointed by the Senate President.

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

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hunting laws and regulations and make recommendations to the Senate.

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

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the call of Senate President.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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limited to, the following:

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

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complaints received;

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

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

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relevant boundaries, and also provide information regarding federal regulations;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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LC005793

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