HB1868: Saltwater fishing licenses; sets commission fee for license agents.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1868
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 3, 2007
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 28.2-302.2 and 28.2-302.2:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to license agent's fee for sale of saltwater recreational fishing licenses.
Patron-- Wittman

Committee Referral Pending

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.