Bill Text: OR HB3428 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Oregon House Bill 3428 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to cougars; providing for criminal sentence reduction that requires approval by a two-thirds majority.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 16)

Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB3428 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2011-HB3428-Introduced.html



     76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 1342

                         House Bill 3428

Sponsored by Representative SPRENGER; Representatives BENTZ,
  CONGER, ESQUIVEL, FREEMAN, GARRARD, HUFFMAN, JOHNSON, KENNEMER,
  KRIEGER, MCLANE, OLSON, G SMITH, THOMPSON, WEIDNER, Senator
  GIROD

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Directs State Department of Fish and Wildlife to create pilot
program that allows persons hunting or pursuing cougars to use
dogs. Directs department to report to 2015 Legislative Assembly.
  Sunsets program January 2, 2016.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to cougars; and providing for criminal sentence
  reduction that requires approval by a two-thirds majority.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) Notwithstanding ORS 498.164, the State
Department of Fish and Wildlife shall create a pilot program
allowing persons to use dogs in the hunting and in the nonlethal
pursuit of cougars. The department shall designate game
management areas of the following counties as areas in which the
use of dogs in the hunting and in the nonlethal pursuit of
cougars is allowed:
  (a) Umatilla, Wallowa, Union, Baker, Grant, Douglas, Coos,
Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Linn and Marion; and
  (b) Any county not specified in paragraph (a) of this
subsection that, on or after June 30, 2014, adopts a resolution
requesting inclusion in the pilot program.
  (2) The pilot program shall allow for separate hunting and
nonlethal pursuit seasons in each area managed by the department.
  (3) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt rules to
implement the pilot program described in this section. Rules
adopted by the commission to implement the pilot program shall:
  (a) Be designed to protect public safety, property and game
mammals;
  (b) Be designed to generate data that is necessary for the
department to develop the report required by section 2 of this
2011 Act;
  (c) Reflect the current and future predictions of cougar
populations;
  (d) Reflect the current and future predictions of game mammal
populations and rates of taking of game mammals by licensed
hunters; and
  (e) Be designed to ensure that the number of cougars prescribed
for taking under ORS 496.162 is met.
  (4) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may not limit the
number of cougar tags issued or the number of persons who may
utilize dogs under the pilot program, however, the commission may
limit the number of cougars that may be taken in order to ensure
that the wildlife policy objectives of ORS 496.012 are met. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + The State Department of Fish and Wildlife shall
report to the 2015 Legislative Assembly by February 2, 2015, on
the pilot program conducted pursuant to section 1 of this 2011
Act. The report shall contain:
  (1) Information on the efficacy of the pilot program on cougar
population management and a recommendation on whether the pilot
program should be made permanent or be extended. The department
may provide this information on a statewide, regional or county
by county basis.
  (2) A summary of the population data collected during the pilot
program.
  (3) A recommendation for the development of a comprehensive and
effective reporting system for people to report encounters with
and sightings of cougars, bears and wolves.
  (4) A recommendation for a cougar population management system
that focuses on controlling the population level.
  (5) Identification of nonlethal means that would decrease
encounters between humans and cougars.
  (6) A summary of deer and elk population status during the
pilot program in comparison with the 10 years prior to the
implementation of the pilot program.
  (7) A summary of any relevant elk predation or nutrition
research conducted by the department. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Sections 1 and 2 of this 2011 Act are repealed
on January 2, 2016. + }
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