Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

                                                          24LSO-0140
                             STATE OF WYOMING
                             HOUSE BILL NO. HB0017
     Fishing outfitters and guides-registration of    fishing boats.
     Sponsored by: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee
                                     A BILL
                                        for
 AN ACT relating to game and fish; authorizing the Wyoming
 game and fish commission to regulate commercially guided
 fishing boats; providing for registration of commercially
 guided fishing boats,   vehicles and trailers operated by
 outfitters and professional fishing guides;        providing
 definitions; providing rulemaking authority; and providing
 for an effective date.
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 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
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        Section 1.   W.S. 23-3-206 is created to read:
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        23-3-206.    Commercially guided fishing boats;
 regulatory authority; definitions.
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                           STATE OF WYOMING                               24LSO-0140
        (a)     To protect the quality of the fishing experience,
 the fishery and other aquatic resources and species in this
 state,    the commission may set limits on     the number of
 commercially guided fishing boats allowed to launch into
 any river or lake or section thereof.
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        (b)     In the event that the commission sets limits on
 the number of commercially guided fishing boats allowed to
 launch into any river or       lake or     section thereof,     the
 commission shall promulgate rules governing the
 registration and means of        tracking the number of
 commercially guided fishing boats launching into any river
 or lake or section thereof. In addition to requirements
 under the Administrative Procedure Act,    the commission
 shall hold public meetings in each community in which the
 rules apply.         The rules shall require registration and
 payment of    an annual fee for each commercially guided
 fishing boat and vehicle or trailer that is operated by an
 outfitter or     professional fishing guide and that is
 operated during any period of time during a year in any
 river or lake or section thereof for which the commission
 has set limits. A registration sticker shall be displayed
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                      STATE OF WYOMING                           24LSO-0140
 on each commercially guided fishing boat and on    each
 vehicle or trailer registered under this subsection.
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        (c)   As used in this section:
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              (i)     "Commercially guided fishing boat" means a
 fishing boat that is      operated by    an outfitter or
 professional fishing guide to       provide fishing guide
 services for financial gain;
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              (ii)    "Fishing guide services" means for hire or
 remuneration,       accompanying and providing assistance to a
 person on a river or lake for the purposes of fishing;
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              (iii)     "Operate" means to navigate or otherwise
 use a watercraft;
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              (iv)    "Outfitter" or "professional fishing guide"
 means a person who advertises or holds himself out to the
 public for hire for the purpose of    financial gain to
 provide fishing guide services, excluding any person who
 furnishes fishing equipment to    a person for exclusively
 personal and temporary use. "Outfitter"           or "professional
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                  STATE OF WYOMING            24LSO-0140
 fishing guide" includes any person requiring the payment of
 dues or remuneration for providing personal services on a
 river or lake for the purposes of fishing.
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        Section 2.   This act is effective July 1, 2024.
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                               (END)
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