SB2896 - Conference Report

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. 2896: Wildlife; authorize seizure of wild hogs imported into the state.

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 49-7-140, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-140. (1) No person may import into the state, or release into the wild, any live feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boar.

(2) Any feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boar imported into the state shall be seized by the department for disposal or destruction.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "feral hogs, wild swine, or Russian Boar" are defined as any hog that is not a domesticated pet or livestock; and "released into the wild" is defined as being able to move about freely to adjoining land.

(4) A violation of this section is a Class I violation punishable as provided in Section 49-7-141.

SECTION 2. Section 49-7-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-33. (1) It is unlawful to hunt, trap or kill any wild bird or wild animal of any kind with the aid of bait, recordings of bird or animal calls, or electrically amplified imitations of calls of any kind, except a person may use electrically amplified sound devices for hunting coyote and crow. The commission, in its discretion, may relax the restrictions regarding the use of lures or sound devices if a condition arises or exists, as decided by the State Board of Health or county board of health, that may endanger persons or livestock in a certain community, county or area.

(2) A person may use liquid scents for any animal or bird.

(3) A person may use the attractants prohibited under this section to trap wild hogs, as defined in Section 49-7-140, on private lands during the period between the end of spring turkey season and September 30. A person must obtain a special depredation permit from the department before trapping wild hogs under this section. The department shall not charge a fee for the special depredation permit.

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

CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE


X (SIGNED)	X (SIGNED)
Lynn Posey	Eric Robinson

X (SIGNED)	X (SIGNED)
Bob M. Dearing	Joey Hudson

X (SIGNED)	X (SIGNED)
Robert G. Huggins	Billy Nicholson