Bill Text: CT HB05316 | 2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Sport Fishing Licenses For Anglers Who Are Sixty-five Years Of Age Or Older.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-19 - Public Hearing 02/24 [HB05316 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05316-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 5316
February Session, 2016		LCO No. 1089
		*01089_______ENV*
Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
Introduced by:
(ENV)

AN ACT CONCERNING SPORT FISHING LICENSES FOR ANGLERS WHO ARE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 26-28 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) to [(f)] (g), inclusive, of this section, the fees for firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping and sport fishing licenses or for the combination thereof shall be as follows: (1) Resident firearms hunting license, nineteen dollars; (2) resident fishing license, twenty-eight dollars; (3) resident marine waters fishing license, ten dollars; (4) one-day resident marine waters fishing license, five dollars; (5) resident all-waters fishing license, thirty-two dollars; (6) resident combination license to fish in inland waters and firearms hunt, thirty-eight dollars; (7) resident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, twenty-five dollars; (8) resident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, forty dollars; (9) resident combination license to fish in all waters and bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c, sixty-five dollars; (10) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, firearms private land shotgun or rifle deer permit issued pursuant to section 26-86a, and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, seventy dollars; (11) resident archery super sport license to fish in all waters, bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, eighty-two dollars; (12) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, firearms private land shotgun or rifle deer permit, muzzleloader private land deer permit, pursuant to section 26-86 and private land permit to hunt wild turkey during spring season pursuant to section 26-48a, eighty-four dollars; (13) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, migratory bird conservation stamp, and migratory bird harvest permit (HIP), fifty dollars; (14) resident trapping license, thirty-four dollars; (15) resident junior trapping license for persons under sixteen years of age, eleven dollars; (16) junior firearms hunting license, eleven dollars; (17) nonresident firearms hunting license, ninety-one dollars; (18) nonresident inland waters fishing license, fifty-five dollars; (19) nonresident inland waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, twenty-two dollars; (20) nonresident marine waters fishing license, fifteen dollars; (21) nonresident marine waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, eight dollars; (22) nonresident all-waters fishing license, sixty-three dollars; (23) nonresident combination license to firearms hunt and inland waters fish, one hundred ten dollars; (24) nonresident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, one hundred twenty dollars; (25) nonresident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, ninety-four dollars; and (26) nonresident trapping license, two hundred fifty dollars. Persons sixty-five years of age and over who have been residents of this state for not less than one year and who meet the requirements of subsection (b) of section 26-31 may be issued an annual license to firearms hunt or [to fish or combination license to fish and firearms hunt or] a license to trap without fee. [The issuing agency shall indicate on a combination license the specific purpose for which such license is issued.] The town clerk shall retain a recording fee of one dollar for each license issued by such clerk.

(b) Any nonresident residing in one of the New England states or the state of New York may procure a license to hunt or to fish or to hunt and fish for the same fee or fees as a resident of this state if such nonresident is a resident of a state the laws of which allow the same privilege to residents of this state.

(c) The fee for a group fishing license, as described in subsection (h) of section 26-30, shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars.

(d) (1) The fee charged for any firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping or sport fishing license that is issued to any Connecticut resident who is sixteen or seventeen years of age shall be equal to fifty per cent of the fee provided for such license in subsection (a) of this section, rounded to the next highest dollar.

(2) The fee charged pursuant to section 26-27b, 26-48a, 26-86a or 26-86c for any firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping or sport fishing permit, tag or stamp that is issued to any Connecticut resident who is [sixteen or seventeen] less than eighteen years of age shall be equal to fifty per cent of the fee provided for such permit, tag or stamp in said sections, rounded to the next highest dollar.

(e) In addition to the calendar day designated pursuant to subsection (f) of section 26-27, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may designate two additional days in each calendar year on which a one-day license for sport fishing may be issued free of charge. The commissioner may make such one-day license available to all members of the public or to all members of an age group designated by said commissioner.

(f) From time to time and for the purpose of increasing participation, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may reduce, but not completely waive, the fee or cost for any license, permit, tag or stamp, or combination thereof, as provided for in this section, section 26-27b, 26-48a, 26-86a or 26-86c. Any such reduction shall: (1) Be for a portion of a calendar year, (2) remain in effect only during the calendar year in which such reduction is made, and (3) be made only if such reduction is provided to all members of the public, to all members of a certain age group, or to individuals who, in such calendar year, successfully complete a course of instruction in fishing techniques, as provided for in section 26-31a or a conservation education course of instruction, as provided for in subsection (a) of section 26-31.

(g) The fees for resident annual sport fishing licenses issued to persons sixty-five years of age or older who attained the age of sixty-five years on or after January 1, 2017, shall be as follows: (1) Five dollars for a resident fishing license, (2) five dollars for a resident marine waters fishing license, and (3) seven dollars for a resident all-waters fishing license. Any person who attained the age of sixty-five years prior to January 1, 2017, and who is a resident of the state for not less than one year may be issued an annual license to fish without payment of a fee.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	January 1, 2017	26-28

Statement of Purpose:

To establish a fee for anglers who are age sixty-five or older in order to reflect the changing demographics of persons engaged in such fishing in the state.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]