HB1868: Saltwater fishing licenses; sets commission fee for license agents.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 28.2-302.2 and 28.2-302.2:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 28.2-302.2. Recreational license fee; cooperative program.
A. The annual fee for the saltwater recreational fishing
license shall be seven dollars and fifty cents. Agents of the Commission shall
retain fifty cents the agent's
fee established by the Board of Game
and Inland Fisheries pursuant to subsection
B of § 29.1-327 as compensation for issuing each license.
B. All funds collected under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established in § 28.2-302.3.
C. The Commission shall enter into cooperative programs with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
D. The Commission shall also have the power necessary to conduct and establish cooperative fish projects with the federal government as prescribed by Congress and in compliance with rules and regulations promulgated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.
E. Upon implementation of an automated point-of-sale licensing system, licenses issued under this section shall be valid for one year from their date of purchase.
§ 28.2-302.2:1. Special combined individual sportfishing licenses.
A. Residents and nonresidents of the Commonwealth may obtain a special combined sportfishing license to fish in all inland waters and the tidal waters of the Commonwealth during the open season. For residents, this license shall be in lieu of the state resident fishing license required by subdivision A 2 of § 29.1-310, and the saltwater recreational license required by § 28.2-302.1. The cost of this license for residents shall be $19.50. For nonresidents, this license shall be in lieu of the state nonresident fishing license required by subdivision A 3 of § 29.1-310 and the saltwater recreational license required by § 28.2-302.1. The cost of this license for nonresidents shall be $37.50.
Agents of the Commission shall retain $.50the
agent's fee established by the Board of Game
and Inland Fisheries pursuant to subsection
B of § 29.1-327 as compensation for issuing each license. Of the
funds collected under this subsection, (i) $7 per license sold shall be paid
into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational
Fishing Development Fund, as established in § 28.2-302.3 and (ii) $12 per
resident license sold and $30 per nonresident sold shall be paid into the state
treasury to the credit of the Game Protection Fund, as established in §
29.1-101.
B. Residents and nonresidents of the Commonwealth may obtain a
special combined sportfishing trip license to fish in all inland waters and
tidal waters of the Commonwealth during the open season. This license shall be
in lieu of the trip fishing license specified in subsection A of § 29.1-311 and
the saltwater recreational license required by § 28.2-302.1. The cost of the
license shall be $10.50 for residents and $15.50 for nonresidents. The license
shall be valid for five successive days as specified on the face of the
license. Agents of the Commission shall retain $.50 the
agent's fee established pursuant to subsection B of § 29.1-327 as
compensation for issuing each license. Of the funds collected under this
subsection, (i) $5 per license sold shall be paid into the state treasury to
the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund and
(ii) $5 per resident license sold and $10 per nonresident license sold shall be
paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Game Protection Fund.