House Bill 978

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO PROTECT THE HUNTING LANDS OF MISSISSIPPI; TO ENSURE THAT LAND WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF MISSISSIPPI FOR PURPOSES OF HUNTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. All persons shall have the right to hunt and fish in this state in accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature and rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

SECTION 2. (1) Subject to the right to hunt and fish as described in Section 1 of this act, lands and waters managed by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be open to access and use for recreational hunting and fishing, except as limited by the commission for reasons of public safety, homeland security, or as otherwise limited by law.

(2) The commission shall exercise its authority to manage lands and waters in a manner to support, promote and enhance recreational hunting and fishing opportunities to the extent authorized by law.

(3) The commission is not required to give preference to hunting or fishing over other uses or priorities established by state law.

(4) To the greatest practicable extent, commission management decisions and actions affecting state-owned land may not result in any net loss of any acreage available for hunting opportunities that exists on July 1, 2006.

(5) Before January 1 of each year, the commission shall submit to the chairmen of the respective wildlife committees in each house an annual report containing the acreage of recreational land and water managed by the commission that has undergone a change in usage during the previous year.

SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be codified within Chapter 5, Title 49, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.