February 22, 2012
Posted @ 10:43 AM by Sportsmen's Connection

———————– 11:40am Final Live Posting ———————–

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Voting took place at 11:38am.  SB1283 has failed to pass the Senate with a 17-17 vote, and Senator Darrington standing as the acting President of the Senate stated that the President in unable to break the tie and that the bill has failed.  Following this action of the Senate, this allows for two possibilities:  1) There could be a request for reconsideration of SB1283 as only 34 votes were cast.  2) This allows the opportunity for Senator Brackett to bring his bill, SB1282 forward for discussion.
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On the Senate floor this morning was SB1283, finally up for final consideration.  Senator Siddoway first declared his conflict of interest with the bill, and then discussed the history of the LAP tag program and the rabbit infestation some years ago, and then an infestation of antelopes creating a situation of “disgruntled landowners”, leading to the creation of the LAP tag program in 1986, formerly called the Landowner Preference Permit program.  If you recall from the committee hearing, Senator Siddoway stated that he would be eligible for 4 LAP tags (February 8th), and more often than not his tags sit, and go unused (February 10th).  The opening statements on the bill continued for a number of minutes discussing the LAP program, the historical changes, addition of Access YES, and other changes and enhancements through the years.  Senator Siddoway then mentioned a pilot project in the Magic Valley, which lasted two years and then went to a statewide project that would allow landowners to sell access regardless of the amount of land owned by the landowner.  This additional program basically died, but there is still an effort out there to revive the effort.

Senator Siddoway stated that in 2009 there was concern stated to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game director, about the sale of these tag and concern about the sale of Idaho wildlife.  A report came back to the Fish and Game Advisory Committee, and they tried to meet a consensus that there should be language to prohibit the selling of LAP tags and reasonable access and how LAP tags could be transferred.

Senator Siddoway stated that last year a rule was approved, that would “shut down” any opportunity to market the tag, and that there is a brochure that specifically states that these tags currently cannot be marketed or sold.  Senator Siddoway closed his remarks stating that this is a tough bill, and that voting against it would make landowners mad, and that for for it would make sportsmen mad.

Senator Bart Davis then asked that SB1283 be held on the calendar, allowing time for US Senator Mike Crapo to speak to the Senate.  Senator Davis then stated that SB1283 would most likely continue being debated, and voted on this morning following the speech from US Senator Mike Crapo.

Senator Siddoway then took the floor again at 11:18am, to close his opening remarks.  Senator Siddoway stated the support of the Idaho Food Producers for SB1283 aside from the Grain Producers; Senator Siddoway also stated a few different organizations that were in support.

Senator Werk then stood to discuss the bill, and stated that we are at a crossroads and a decision of whether or not we want to sell wildlife to the highest bidder, and allow landowner to sell tags.  Senator Werk then stated that the LAP tag program, and landowners don’t necessarily have to provide access to their personal land through the program, and that landowners would then have the opportunity to sell the tag but not necessarily allow access to their land.  Senator Werk also stated that this tag could be auctioned or sold to anyone, not just residents but also anyone out of state.  Senator Werk closed by stating that this is selling wildlife to the highest bidder.

Senator Brackett then stood before the Senate, and declared his conflict of interest with the bill as a landowner.  Senator Stennett then stated that selling tag to the highest bidder is unprecedented in Idaho, and it has been such a rich privilege to provide for a wonderful amount of wildlife, and that selling game is inappropriate.

Senator Bair stated that LAP tags should be for reimbursement of crop loss.  Senator Bair then stated a personal experience of crop loss, and that elk has caused loss of a crop of hay on his farm, roughly 70 acres and a loss of about $14,000 in loss.  Senator Bair stated that he did not apply for a LAP tag simply because he did not have the time to utilize the tag, however it would have been nice to have the tag to sell to cover the loss; the landowner should be able to sell the tag to cover losses.

Senator Broadsword stood and stated the issue of access, and that she would not be able to support SB1283.  Senator Siddoway then made his closing remarks on the bill, discussing the issue of land access, and the inability of a landowner to sell tags has eroded the participation in the program and that this bill is payment for the habitat of wildlife.

Post Filed Under: Landowner Appreciation Tags

February 21, 2012
Posted @ 11:37 AM by Sportsmen's Connection

Just before the noon hour, SB1283 dealing with the sale of LAP tags was up for final consideration on the third reading calendar in the Senate.  At the request of  Majority Leader Bart Davis, SB1283 will be held on the third reading calendar for one legislative day to “help facilitate the presentation of the bill” on the Senate floor.  This bill will again be at the top of the third reading calendar tomorrow, unless the calendar is again re-ordered.  The Action Alert on this bill is currently still live on the Take Action page.

This afternoon the House Resources and Conservation committee met to hear a number of Fish and Game bills.  The first bill on the agenda, HB457 deals with controlled hunt tags and permits and would allow a parent or grandparent to designate a controlled hunt tag to a child or grandchild with the goal to increase youth hunting opportunity.  This bill passed the committee on a voice vote and will be sent to the House floor.

Next on the agenda was HB459 which would make changes to include a 3-day fishing license with the purchase of a non-resident hunting license; this license would not include Salmon or Steelhead.  This bill passed the committee on a voice vote and will be sent to the House floor.

The committee then discussed HB543 which would allow children younger than age 10 to possess a firearm for hunting if they are participating in the Fish and Game mentored hunting program, and accompanied by an adult with an Idaho hunting license.  This bill passed the committee on a voice vote and will be sent to the House floor.

The committee then heard HB461 which clarifies the language in last year’s bill dealing with the disabled Veteran hunting program, allowing out-of-state 501(c) organizations to comply with IRS standards.  This bill passed the committee on a voice vote and will be sent to the House floor.

To close the hearing, the committee heard HB525 which would ask the Idaho Fish and Game to develop rules that would exempt from tag possession to take wildlife for a disabled hunter companion who is assisting a disabled hunter possessing the appropriate tag and a valid disabled combination license.  This bill clarifies this issue, and would allow for the tagging of animal by an individual helping someone that is disabled that had killed the animal but was unable to place the tag.  This bill passed the committee on a voice vote and will be sent to the House floor.

Post Filed Under: Fish & Game, Landowner Appreciation Tags

February 20, 2012
Posted @ 10:14 AM by Sportsmen's Connection

The Senate convened at 10:00am this morning, with SB1283 again on the third reading calendar.  It was stated by Senator Davis that it was the intention of the Senate to conduct work in the 10th order of business (Joint Memorials and Resolutions) with a potential that they would do work in the third reading calendar.  Senator Davis also made a statement that bills on the third reading calendar would be re-ordered.  SB1283 was in fact not voted on again this morning, and will continue to hold the 4th spot on the third reading calendar for Tuesday morning.  The Action Alert on this bill is currently still live on the Take Action page.

Additionally, in the Senate Senator Siddoway discussed SCR117 which would repeal a subsection of rules for the Department of Agriculture specific to the importation of domestic cervidae.  A role call vote was asked for on the resolution, and was passed by the Senate with a 28-7 vote.  More details on this resolution can be read by clicking on the Domestic Cervidae tag displayed to the right.

This afternoon the Senate Resources and Environment Committee had two pieces of legislation on their calendar, the first being SB1256 the Governor’s Big Game Auction Tags bill, and the second being SB1305 which deals with the control/depredation of wolves.  Senator Bair presented SB1256 to the committee, and stated that the tags would come from the non-resident tag allotment.  Senator Bair also discussed the steep decline in the Department of Fish and Game non-resident tag sales over the past few years and the amount of revenue that has been lost.  Lastly, Senator Bair stated that the decline in revenue is a problem, and that this bill would solve part of that problem by generating additional revenue for the Department of Fish and Game, upwards of $200,000+.  There were a number of questions about the language in the bill, the ability of the Fish and Game Commission to auction the tags for a number of species while also having the ability to auction zero tags in any given year.  A motion was made by Senator Heider just before the 3:00 hour to send the bill to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation, followed by a substitute motion to send the bill to the amending order by Senator Brackett which failed by lack of a second.  Another substitute motion was made by Senator Werk to hold the bill in committee, which failed with a 4-5 vote.  The committee then voted on the original motion to pass the bill and send to the Senate with a do pass recommendation, which passed on a 5-4 vote and will be carried on the Senate floor by Senator Bair.

Following this vote, the committee then moved across the hall to allow the Senate Education Committee to hold their hearing.  Chairman Pearce did state that the committee would not take a vote on SB1305, but would take testimony from those individuals who had traveled from out of town.  Senator Siddoway did present on SB1305 to open the hearing, and discussed some of the problem of wolves in Eastern Idaho in sheep herds and that wolves essentially have unrestricted access to sheep herds, and the guard dogs that protect those sheep herds.  Following nearly two hours of presentation and testimony, the committee adjourned just before the 5:00 hour and Chairman Pearce stated that this bill would be back before the committee for a vote at a later date.

Post Filed Under: Landowner Appreciation Tags

February 17, 2012
Posted @ 11:53 AM by Sportsmen's Connection

SB1283 was again on the third reading calendar in the Senate however, following other activities the bill will again be pushed back to next week.  This bill will again be listed on the third reading calendar for Monday February 20th, so please check back for details.  Again, the action alert on this bill is still currently live on the Take Action Page.

On Monday afternoon, the Senate Resources and Environment Committee will hear SB1256 (Governor’s Auction Tags) and also SB1305 (Wolf Bill, Use of Tools).  The word “tools” in this particular bill refers to rifle, shotgun, archery, crossbow, calls, electronic calls, traps, bait, live bait, parachute, helicopter or fixed wing airplane.

Post Filed Under: Auction Tags, Landowner Appreciation Tags, Wolves

February 16, 2012
Posted @ 8:47 AM by Sportsmen's Connection

This morning the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee met to further discuss SCR117, which deals wit the importation of animals specific to domestic cervidae.  This resolution just this week was returned to committee for further review, and as Senator Siddoway stated on the Senate floor, so the committee could “take another shot at it.”  Following a presentation by the Amalgamated Sugar Company, SCR117 was before the committee.  Below is the statement that is made within the resolution to reject IDAPA 02.04.21, Section 600, Sub-Section 02:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-first Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives concurring therein, that IDAPA 02.04.21, Department of Agriculture, Rules Governing the Importation of Animals, Section 600, Subsection 02, relating to Parasiticide, only, be, and the same is hereby rejected and declared null, void and of no force and effect.

Due to a committee member needing to give a presentation in the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, the bill was pushed to the end of today’s agenda.  When the committee got to SCR117 there were a number of committee members absent, with only 6 members on the panel.  Senator Siddoway declared his conflict of interest on the issues, and stated that the problem with the rule dealing with treatment was the timing and the requirement to test; Senator Siddoway stated that it only gave the industry 1 day to conduct the tests and treatments.  Senator Siddoway then stated that expansion of the timeline had been considered, but in working with the department it was determined that deletion of the rule was the route to take.  Senator Schmidt asked if all parties had been involved, and also asked if there was anyone signed up to testify on the resolution, answered that there were two individuals signed up to testify.  Dr. Drew, the veterinarian of the Department of Fish and Game then stood before the committee and answered a question from Senator Corder to clarify that he did not take a position on the resolution, however did state that introduction of the parasite to the state is a concern and that sliding the dates of testing around could be a possibility. 

Senator Corder then asked if creating a new rule with different dates would be preferred?  Dr. Drew simply stated, yes.  Senator Schmidt then stated that it appeared that there is a concern about not treating from the department and that changing rather than rejecting the rule could be considered.  Senator Corder then stated that there doesn’t seem like there is much of a concern on the issue, not many in attendance in the committee; is it the intent to go back and promulgate a rule to change the dates or let the rejection of the rule stand?  Dr. Barton stated that the department would not take action unless asked to proceed.  Senator Corder then posed the question that the lesson for the Legislature is to not listen to the industry (as this rule was originally created by the industry)?  Senator Smyser then made a motion to send SCR117 to the floor, which passed on a voice vote with no stated opposition from any committee member.

Also, SB1283 is currently on the third reading calendar in the Senate however it is understood that the Senate will go into the 14th Order to work on bills in need of an amendments.  This in fact was the case this morning, as the Senate did not work into the third reading calendar to consider SB1283.  This bill will again be in waiting tomorrow, so please check back for details.  Again, the action alert on this bill is still currently live on the Take Action Page.

Post Filed Under: Domestic Cervidae, Landowner Appreciation Tags

2012 Updates Archive

February 15, 2012
February 14, 2012
February 13, 2012
February 10, 2012
February 9, 2012
February 8, 2012
February 7, 2012
February 6, 2012
February 4, 2012
February 3, 2012