HB1298_S_Cmte_Amend

SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Wild turkey" means the game bird Meleagris gallopavo.

(b) "Stamp" means the state wild turkey stamp, either in its physical or electronic form, furnished by the commission. A stamp is a specialized permit required for hunting wild turkeys, with proceeds directly dispersed into the conservation, management, protection or scientific research of wild turkeys.

(c) "Harvest tag" means the electronic tool used to serve as an inventory of the annual bag limit allotted to individual wild turkey hunters. Harvest tags are invalidated upon the harvest of a wild turkey.

(d) "Nongovernmental entity" means a nonprofit organization primarily concerned with the protection and conservation of land and natural resources, as evidenced by its organizational documents.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person sixteen (16) years of age or older to hunt or take wild turkeys during any open wild turkey season in the State of Mississippi without first having procured a stamp. The electronic stamp on file with the commission shall serve as proof of procurement.

(3) The fee to nonresident hunters for each stamp shall be Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). There shall be no fee for resident hunters. Each stamp shall be valid through the final day of the spring wild turkey season following its purchase. After its expiration, another stamp must be procured in order to hunt or take wild turkeys in a future open wild turkey season.

(4) The commission may make the procurement of harvest tags dependent upon the purchase of a stamp.

(5) The commission shall determine the form of the stamp. The commission shall furnish physical stamps to bonded agents for issuance or sale in the same manner as other types of licenses or shall cause the electronic stamp to accrue to the purchaser's benefit when purchased from an automated point-of-sale source.

(6) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) as prescribed in Section 49-7-101.

(7) All revenue from the proceeds of stamps shall only be used and expended for the following objectives:

(a) Paying administrative or processing costs associated with an electronic harvest tag program, or any other program governing or regulating the harvest of wild turkeys;

(b) Restoring, enhancing or protecting wild turkey populations or their habitats on public or private lands in Mississippi as prescribed by the department;

(c) Funding scientific research, as conducted by qualified professionals, into the ecology or management of wild turkeys, their habitats or their predators; and

(d) Increasing access to publicly available turkey hunting opportunities.

(8) Proceeds from stamps may be used as matching funds or fiscal leverage to secure grants or other financial awards are deemed to align with the objectives in subsection (7) of this section.

(9) The commission may enter into agreements with other state, federal or nongovernmental entities to execute the objectives in subsection (7) of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act shall be codified as a new section in Title 49, Chapter 7, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2024.