2017 -- S 0025

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LC000560

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - FRESHWATER FISHING

     Introduced By: Senators Kettle, Morgan, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-1-12. Fixing of seasons and bag limits.

     (a) The director is authorized to adopt regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of

§20-11-2 fixing seasons, bag limits, size limits, possession limits, and methods of taking on any

species of fish, game, bird, or other wild animal occurring within the state, other than marine

species regulated by the marine fisheries council.

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

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

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

or exportation from the state of any species.

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

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

the regulations are appropriate.

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

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

hundred dollars ($100) for each offense.

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

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

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

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

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

Water Fishing" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-11-2. Closed season. Open trout season.

     No person shall Any otherwise eligible person may, without seasonal restriction, catch or

attempt to catch, or take, any species of fish in any pond or stream stocked with trout by the

department of environmental management or in any waters set apart by the department in which

trout might be found, except during the open seasons, and subject to the catch and size limits, and

regulations as to the method of taking, as established by the director pursuant to § 20-1-12.

     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

restriction.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000560

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