67th Legislature SB 337.1
1 SENATE BILL NO. 337
2 INTRODUCED BY M. LANG
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO RELOCATION OF GRIZZLY
5 BEARS; REVISING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTION 87-5-301, MCA; AND PROVIDING A
6 DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10 Section 1. Section 87-5-301, MCA, is amended to read:
11 "87-5-301. Grizzly bear -- findings -- policy. (1) The legislature finds that:
12 (a) grizzly bears are a recovered population and thrive under responsive cooperative management;
13 (b) grizzly bear conservation is best served under state management and the local, state, tribal, and
14 federal partnerships that fostered recovery; and
15 (c) successful conflict management is key to maintaining public support for conservation of the grizzly
16 bear.
17 (2) It is the policy of the state to:
18 (a) manage the grizzly bear as a species in need of management to avoid conflicts with humans and
19 livestock; and
20 (b) subject to the provisions of subsection (3), use proactive management to control grizzly bear
21 distribution and prevent conflicts, including trapping and lethal measures.
22 (3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), the department may not relocate a grizzly bear listed
23 under the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq., except to a release site previously
24 approved by the commission for relocation of grizzly bears.
25 (b) The department may respond to a grizzly bear listed under the federal Endangered Species Act,
26 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq., that is causing conflict outside of a federal recovery zone. If the bear is to be relocated,
27 the department may not relocate the bear."
28
-1- Authorized Print Version – SB 337
67th Legislature SB 337.1
1 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective March 1, 2022.
2 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – SB 337


Statutes affected:
SB0337_1.pdf: 87-5-301
SB0337_X.pdf: 87-5-301
Enrolled: 87-5-301
Introduced: 87-5-301