ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 450 	By:	Corn and Ellis of the Senate

			and

		Brannon of the House

An Act relating to game and fish; requiring a license to hunt or take black bear; directing the Wildlife Conservation Commission to establish certain limits on hunting or taking black bear; establishing license fees; establishing penalties for violation of license requirements; 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 4-144 of Title 29, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  No person may hunt or take black bear without having first procured a license from the Director of Wildlife Conservation or an agent of the Director.
B.  The Wildlife Conservation Commission shall decide the open season, the bag limits, and territorial limitations for hunting or taking black bear.
C.  The fees for a license issued pursuant to this section shall be:
1.  For legal residents, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); and
2.  For nonresidents, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
D.  Any person who fails to obtain a license as required in subsection A of this section and pay the fee as required in paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
E.  Any person who fails to obtain a license as required in subsection A of this section and pay the fee as required in paragraph 2 of subsection C of this section, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
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 Senate the 18th day of February, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives