This bill amends existing laws related to the fish and game commission, introducing several key changes. It allows public hearing notices to be posted digitally on newspaper websites, enhancing accessibility for the public. Additionally, it permits the shooting of injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorized watercraft in designated areas, specifically the sea duck hunting area. The bill also removes the term "brook" from references to trout in the regulations concerning the methods of taking fish, thereby broadening the scope of applicable fishing methods. Furthermore, it empowers the executive director of fish and game to establish the fisheries habitat fee through rules, rather than a fixed amount, and repeals the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission.

The bill includes specific legal language changes, such as replacing "his" with "their" to promote gender neutrality in references to the executive director. It also introduces a new paragraph that clarifies the exceptions for shooting waterfowl from motorized watercraft and modifies the regulations regarding the use of nets and traps for fishing. The fisheries habitat fee is now set to be determined by the executive director in accordance with existing administrative rules, rather than being a fixed dollar amount. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
As Amended by the Senate: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
As Amended by the House: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
Version adopted by both bodies: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g