Bill Text: WV SCR64 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requesting study on regulating bag limits, protecting albino wild game, and fees for wildlife killed or injured by wind power projects

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-05 - Referred to Rules [SCR64 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2021-SCR64-Introduced.html

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 64

(By Senators Hamilton, Stover, Grady, Phillips, Roberts, Rucker, Smith, Sypolt, Woodrum, Jeffries, Stollings, and Woelfel)

[Originating in the Committee on Natural Resources; Reported on April 5, 2021]

 

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the proposal of regulating, through the passage of legislation, issues that have traditionally been within the purview of regulations adopted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, including, but not necessarily limited to, bag limits for wild game, the protection of albino wild game, and/or assessment of a fee for wildlife injured or killed by wind power projects.

Whereas, It is the public policy of the State of West Virginia that the wildlife resources of this state shall be protected for the use and enjoyment of all the citizens of this state; and

Whereas, There have been bills proposed in recent sessions of the West Virginia Legislature to legislate issues that have traditionally been governed by regulations adopted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; and

Whereas, One or more of the bills recently presented sought to establish seasonal bag limits for antlered deer; and

Whereas, One or more of the bills recently presented sought to prohibit the harvesting of albino deer; and

Whereas, Wind power projects utilize the use of wind turbines and towers to generate electricity throughout this state; and

Whereas, The components of wind power projects pose a collision risk to certain wildlife and have been known to injure or kill certain protected species within the state; and

Whereas, One or more of the bills recently presented sought to assess a fee to the operator of a wind-powered electricity generation facility whose operation resulted in the injuring or killing of protected species of animal, including, but not limited to, bald eagles, golden eagles, ravens, hawks, owls, and woodcocks; and

Whereas, Regulating the length of hunting or trapping seasons, bag limits for wild game, the protection of albino wild game, and/or the assessment of a fee for wildlife injured or killed has traditionally been within the purview of wildlife biologists and others with specialized knowledge within the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; and

Whereas, The enactment of such proposed legislation would likely have an impact on the revenue of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and/or other governmental entities; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the proposal of regulating, through the passage of legislation, issues that have traditionally been within authority of regulations adopted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, including, but not necessarily limited to, bag limits for wild game, the protection of albino wild game, and/or assessment of a fee for wildlife injured or killed by wind power projects; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2022, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, prepare the report, and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

feedback