Bill Text: MS HB397 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Venison Harvesting Program for Inmate Consumption; create.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 10-1)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB397 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB397-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Corrections; Public Health and Human Services
By: Representatives Taylor, Boyd, Burnett, Chism, Haney, Howell, Ladner, Lamar, Martinson, Rushing, White
House Bill 397
AN ACT TO CREATE THE VENISON HARVESTING PROGRAM FOR INMATE CONSUMPTION; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO AUTHORIZE ANY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO ACCEPT DONATED HARVESTED VENISON; TO AUTHORIZE A RESIDENT HUNTER TO DONATE HARVESTED VENISON OR VENISON THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY PROCESSED TO ANY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH HARVESTED VENISON MAY BE PROCESSED BY THE FACILITY AND USED SOLELY FOR INMATE CONSUMPTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act may be known and cited to as the "Venison Harvesting Program for Inmate Consumption."
SECTION 2. It is the intent of this Legislature in enacting the Venison Harvesting Program for Inmate Consumption to lessen the burgeoning deer population in this state.
SECTION 3. For purposes of this act, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
(b) "Correctional facility" means any municipal, county, regional, private or state correctional facility.
(c) "Program" means the Venison Harvesting Program for Inmate Consumption.
(d) "Resident hunter" means any resident of the State of Mississippi who has a valid license from the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, which authorizes such resident to hunt deer.
(e) "Venison" means the flesh of deer.
SECTION 4. (1) (a) Any resident hunter is authorized to donate harvested venison to any correctional facility if such venison is harvested during the entire open season on deer and such donation occurs during the entire open season on deer.
(b) Any correctional facility is authorized to accept donated harvested venison, as prescribed under this subsection, and such facility shall promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the donation of the venison.
(2) A resident hunter who seeks to make a donation as, authorized under this section, may deliver the harvested venison to a correctional facility that accepts harvested venison and such facility may process the harvested venison or such facility may receive venison that has been previously processed by a licensed meat processing facility. Any donated harvested venison or donated venison that has been previously processed, as prescribed under this subsection, shall be regulated by the Department of Health.
(3) Any harvested venison that is donated to a correctional facility, as prescribed under this act, shall be utilized solely for inmate consumption at the facility that it was donated.
(4) Any correctional facility that receives donated harvested venison shall maintain records pertaining to the donation, and such records shall be utilized in evaluating the program as required under this section.
(5) The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, in consultation with the correctional facilities that have accepted harvested venison, shall evaluate the program created under this act and shall make recommendations suggesting improvements to the program. The commission and the correctional facilities shall file on or before July 1, 2016, a joint report containing their findings and recommendations concerning the Venison Harvesting Program for Inmate Consumption with the Chairmen of the House and Senate Corrections Committees and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committees.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
