***Adopted***

AMENDMENT No. 1 PROPOSED TO

House Bill NO. 730

By Senator(s) Committee

Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

SECTION 1. The following section shall be codified as Section 49-15-92, Mississippi Code of 1972:

49-15-92. (1) Any person who feloniously steals, takes and carries away crab traps or the property of another used to catch saltwater crabs from crab traps is guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for the first offense; Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the second offense; and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the third and subsequent offenses or may be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both fine and imprisonment.

(2) This section shall not apply to any person who removes crab traps that are illegally placed or in an illegal location. This section shall not apply to any person who catches abandoned crab traps in a shrimp trawl, keeps the crab traps aboard the vessel and properly disposes of the crab traps.

SECTION 2. Section 97-17-58, Mississippi Code of 1972, which establishes penalties for theft of crab pots, is repealed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.

Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

AN ACT TO CREATE CODE SECTION 49-15-92, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THE THEFT OF CRAB TRAPS; TO REPEAL SECTION 97-17-58, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ESTABLISHES PENALTIES FOR THEFT OF CRAB POTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.