ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2533	By:	Pruett of the House

			     and

		Allen of the Senate

An Act relating to game and fish; prohibiting persons from capturing nuisance wildlife for commercial purposes without a nuisance wildlife control operator permit; requiring completion of the nuisance wildlife control operator certification examination; exempting certain persons from permit requirements; setting the annual fee for the permit; providing a penalty for violations; authorizing revocation of permit for violations; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 4-135.1 of Title 29, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  Except as otherwise provided in this title, no person shall trap, capture, possess, transport, relocate or euthanize any nuisance wildlife for commercial purposes under rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission without first procuring a nuisance wildlife control operator permit from the Director. 
B.  A nuisance wildlife control operator permit may be issued only to those persons who have successfully completed the nuisance wildlife control operator certification examination provided by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. 
C.  Employees of any federal, state, county or local governmental entity designated to control nuisance wildlife while on duty shall be exempt from the nuisance wildlife control operator permit requirement set forth in this section.
D.  The annual fee for the nuisance wildlife control operator permit shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
E.  Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for residents and not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for nonresidents.
F.  Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section may have their nuisance wildlife control operator permit revoked for a period of up to three (3) years or permanently revoked as deemed appropriate by the Director. 
SECTION 2.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the House of Representatives the 8th day of March, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate