R 271
2016 -- S 2984
Enacted 06/01/2016

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

     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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LC005793
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