The proposed bill, General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 54, seeks to authorize black bear hunting in Litchfield County. The bill amends current statutes to allow for the hunting of black bears, stipulating that during the first year of this hunting initiative, the number of bears that can be taken must not exceed five percent of the total black bear population in the state as of the effective date of the law. Additionally, the bill mandates that a report be submitted to the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly one year after the commencement of black bear hunting. This report will include data on the number of bears hunted, the number of licenses issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and any recommendations for future modifications to the hunting regulations.

The bill does not specify any deletions from current law but introduces new provisions aimed at regulating the hunting of black bears in a controlled manner. The intent of the legislation is to manage the black bear population effectively while ensuring that the hunting practices are monitored and assessed for their impact on the environment and wildlife management.