REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

 

MADAM PRESIDENT AND MR. SPEAKER:

 

   We, the undersigned conferees, have had under consideration the amendments to the following entitled BILL:

 

S. B. No. 2528:  Deer; authorize Commission on Wildlife to combat chronic wasting disease.

 

  We, therefore, respectfully submit the following report and recommendation:

 

 

  1.  That the House recede from its Amendment No. 1.

 

  2.  That the Senate and House adopt the following amendment:

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-11-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-11-3.  (1)  The department may issue operating licenses to any person, partnership, association or corporation for the operation of shooting preserves or commercial wildlife enclosures that meet the following requirements and any applicable regulations:

          (a)  Each shooting preserve shall contain a minimum of one hundred (100) acres in one (1) tract of leased or owned land (including water area, if any) and shall be restricted to not more than six hundred forty (640) contiguous acres (including water area, if any), except that preserves confined to the releasing of ducks only may be authorized to operate with a minimum of fifty (50) contiguous acres (including water area).

          (b)  The boundaries of each shooting preserve shall be clearly defined and posted with signs erected at intervals of three hundred (300) feet or less.

          (c)  Each commercial wildlife enclosure shall contain a minimum of three hundred (300) acres in one (1) tract of leased or owned land (including water area, if any).  No commercial wildlife enclosure shall be constructed in such a manner as to allow ingress of native wild animals without providing means of egress.

          (d)  The preserve or enclosure must be privately owned and operated.

     (2)  The commission may issue any rules or regulations necessary to regulate shooting preserves and commercial wildlife enclosures and to enforce this chapter.

     (3)  (a)  The commission may regulate the hunting of nonnative cervids within a commercial wildlife enclosure, and the department may enter such enclosure as provided under Section 49-11-25 and enforce such regulations.

          (b)  This subsection (3) shall repeal on July 1, 2005.

     SECTION 2.  (1)  The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may regulate the hunting of nonnative cervids in noncommercial wildlife enclosures, and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may enforce such regulations and laws in the same manner as commercial wildlife enclosures as provided in Section 49-11-25.

     (2)  This section shall repeal on July 1, 2005.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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

 

     AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-11-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO REGULATE THE HUNTING OF NONNATIVE CERVIDS IN COMMERCIAL

WILDLIFE ENCLOSURES; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO REGULATE THE HUNTING OF NONNATIVE CERVIDS IN NONCOMMERCIAL WILDLIFE ENCLOSURES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE	CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE
X (SIGNED:)	X (SIGNED:)
Lynn Posey	Clem M. Nettles
X (SIGNED:)	X (SIGNED:)
Joseph Stogner	Warner F. McBride
X (SIGNED:)	X (SIGNED:)
Bob M. Dearing	Joey Hudson