MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Game and Fish; Rules

By: Representative Eaton

AN ACT TO CREATE A JOINT COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE BAITING OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF SALES OF DEER HUNTING LICENSES, THE EXTENSION OF DEER SEASON AND BAG LIMITS, AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO ASSESS CONSTRUCTION AND UPDATES CONCERNING FISH HATCHERIES; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO COORDINATE THE STUDY; TO PROVIDE THAT A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE FILED WITH THE LEGISLATURE BY DECEMBER 31, 2000; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a white-tailed deer and fish hatcheries study committee. The committee shall consist of the following members: (a) the Chairman of the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee; (b) the Chairman of the House Game and Fish Committee; (c) two (2) members of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks appointed by the chairman of the commission; (d) a wildlife biologist to be recommended by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; (e) a wildlife biologist to be recommended by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and appointed by the Speaker of the House; (f) three (3) members of the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and (g) three (3) members of the House Game and Fish Committee appointed by the Speaker of the House.

The Chairman of the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee and the Chairman of the House Game and Fish Committee shall serve as cochair of the study committee.

For attending meetings of the committee, each legislative member shall be paid per diem in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69 and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47 from the contingent expense fund of his respective house. However, no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid for attending meetings of the committee while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid without prior approval of the proper committee in the member's respective house.

(2) In conducting its activities, the committee may elicit the support of and participation by any commercial, industrial, governmental, environmental, minority and public interest organizations and associations, or individual members thereof, and any federal, state and local agencies and political subdivisions as may be necessary or appropriate in the furtherance of the study.

(3) The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks or the department's designee shall coordinate the study of the advantages and disadvantages of baiting white-tailed deer; the decline in the number of sales of deer hunting licenses and a plan of action which may be implemented by the Legislature to combat the decline; and the extension of deer season and bag limits, including doe season. The study shall further assess construction and updates concerning fish hatcheries.

(4) The committee shall prepare a report of the study with recommendations and file the report with the Legislature by December 31, 2000. Upon presentation of its report to the Legislature, the committee shall be dissolved.

(5) Nothing in this act shall restrict the discussion and consideration by the committee of any other wildlife laws, rules, and regulations in addition to the matters described in subsection (3) of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.