The roll back of Sportman's fees is included in HB 5545. It passed in the House last night and is set for the Senate today. Could be Signed by the Governor within a few days.
. 34. Section 26-27b of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) On or after July 1, 1993, no person sixteen years of age or older may hunt waterfowl or take waterfowl in the state without first procuring a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and having such stamp in his possession. [with his signature written in ink across the face of the stamp while hunting waterfowl or taking waterfowl. ] The stamp shall not be transferable and shall be issued annually. [beginning on July first. ]
(b) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall provide for the design, production and procurement of the mandatory Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, provide for the issuance of the stamp. Stamps shall be sold at a price determined by the commissioner, provided the price of a mandatory stamp shall not exceed [fifteen] thirteen dollars. The commissioner shall establish an additional voluntary migratory bird conservation donation of not less than two dollars that shall be deposited in the migratory bird conservation account established under section 26-27c, as amended by this act. Any agent [or town clerk] issuing such stamps may retain a fee [of fifty cents] established by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 72 of this act, for each stamp sold and shall remit the balance to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Sec. 35. Section 26-28 of the 2010 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the fees for firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping and sport fishing licenses or for the combination thereof shall be as follows: (1) Resident firearms hunting license, [twenty-eight] nineteen dollars; (2) resident fishing license, [forty] twenty-eight dollars; (3) resident marine waters fishing license, ten dollars; (4) one-day resident marine waters fishing license, [fifteen] five dollars; (5) resident all-waters fishing license, [fifty] thirty-two dollars; (6) resident combination license to fish in inland waters and firearms hunt, [fifty-six] thirty-eight dollars; (7) resident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, [fifty] twenty-five dollars; (8) resident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, [sixty] thirty-eight dollars; (9) resident combination license to fish in all waters and bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c, as amended by this act, [eighty-four] sixty-five dollars; (10) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, firearms private land shotgun or rifle deer permit issued pursuant to section 26-86a, as amended by this act, and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, as amended by this act, [one hundred sixteen] eighty dollars; (11) resident archery super sport license to fish in all waters, bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c, as amended by this act, and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, as amended by this act, [one hundred four] eighty-two dollars; (12) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, firearms private land shotgun or rifle deer permit, muzzleloader private land deer permit, pursuant to section 26-86, as amended by this act, and private land permit to hunt wild turkey during spring season pursuant to section 26-48a, as amended by this act, eighty-four dollars; (13) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, migratory bird conservation stamp, and migratory bird harvest permit (HIP), sixty dollars; (14) resident trapping license, [fifty] thirty-four dollars; [(13)] (15) resident junior trapping license for persons under sixteen years of age, [fifteen] eleven dollars; [(14)] (16) junior firearms hunting license, [fifteen] eleven dollars; [(15)] (17) nonresident firearms hunting license, [one hundred thirty-four] ninety-one dollars; [(16)] (18) nonresident inland waters fishing license, [eighty] fifty-five dollars; [(17)] (19) nonresident inland waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, [thirty-two] twenty-two dollars; [(18)] (20) nonresident marine waters fishing license, [sixty] fifteen dollars; [(19)] (21) nonresident marine waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, [twenty-four] eight dollars; [(20)] (22) nonresident all-waters fishing license, [one hundred] sixty-three dollars; [(21)] (23) nonresident combination license to firearms hunt and inland waters fish, [one hundred seventy-six] one hundred ten dollars; [(22)] (24) nonresident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, [one hundred ninety] one hundred twenty dollars; [(23)] (25) nonresident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, [one hundred seventy] ninety-four dollars; and [(24)] (26) nonresident trapping license, two hundred fifty dollars. Persons sixty-five years of age and over who have been residents of this state for not less than one year and who meet the requirements of subsection (b) of section 26-31 may be issued an annual license to firearms hunt or to fish or combination license to fish and firearms hunt or a license to trap without fee. The issuing agency shall indicate on a combination license the specific purpose for which such license is issued. The town clerk shall retain a recording fee of one dollar for each license issued by him.
(b) Any nonresident residing in one of the New England states or the state of New York may procure a license to hunt or to fish or to hunt and fish for the same fee or fees as a resident of this state if he is a resident of a state the laws of which allow the same privilege to residents of this state.
§§ 34-49 & 64-72 & 74 — DEP FEES AND RELATED PROVISIONS
This bill decreases several sportsman's fees and caps camping and state park fees. The bill also creates and allows for donations of at least $ 2 to the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation account.
The bill requires that funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers, fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) according to federal regulations. It also requires the DEP to submit an annual report to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, detailing the funds raised, expenses, and spending purposes of sportsman's fees and stamps.
The bill requires the DEP commissioner to establish (1) procedures and business processes for using the internet and other means for communication to conduct transactions for licenses, permits, stamps, and tags and (2) a schedule of the parts of fees agents may retain.
The bill also increases, to $ 87 from $ 77, the fee for any violation of the sportsmen's statutes for which no other fee is specified.
Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and Donation
The bill decreases, from $ 15 to $ 13, the fee for purchasing a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp which a person must have to hunt waterfowl (CGS § 26-27b). It also eliminates the (1) requirement that the stamp have the hunter's signature written in ink across the stamp's face, (2) July 1 issuance date, and (3) town clerks' ability to retain a $ . 50 fee for stamp issuance. It allows the DEP commissioner to set the issuance fee that agents may retain instead of the current $ . 50 fee. It requires the Citizens' Advisory Board for the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp to advise the commissioner on the expenditure of funds generated from the sale of stamps and art products.
The bill also creates and allows for additional donations of at least $ 2 to be deposited into the Voluntary Migratory Bird Conservation Donation subaccount, within the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation account. The account is a separate, non-lapsing account maintained by the state treasurer within the General Fund. Funds in the account must only be used for (1) developing, managing, preserving, conserving, acquiring, purchasing, and maintaining waterfowl habitat and wetlands or acquisition of related recreational rights or interests or (2) designing, producing, promoting, procuring, and selling prints and related artwork.
Decreased Sportsman's Fees and Supersport Licenses
Resident Sportsman's Licenses. The bill creates two new resident firearms supersport licenses: (1) all waters fishing, firearms hunting, firearms shotgun or rifle private land deer hunting, wild turkey hunting in spring on private land, and muzzleloading on private land for an $ 84 annual fee or (2) all waters fishing, firearms hunting, migratory bird conservation stamp, and migratory bird harvest permit for a $ 60 annual fee. With two exceptions, the bill decreases resident sportsman's fees as shown in Table 2 (CGS § 26-28). The exceptions are for resident firearms supersport fees, which the bill establishes.
Camping and State Park Fees
The bill caps the fees for leasing state campsites and buildings and parking, admission, boat launching, and other uses to no greater than (1) 135% of the fees charged April 1, 2009 for residents and (2) 150% of the fees charged April 1, 2009 for non-residents. The DEP commissioner must set these fees by May 1, 2010.
Restoration
Current law states that Connecticut assents to the provisions of the congressional acts entitled “Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act” and “Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act,” which provide that no funds accruing to the state from license fees paid by fishermen or hunting licenses shall be diverted for any other purpose than the protection, propagation, preservation and investigation of fish and game and administration of the functions of the related department. The bill includes funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers; real or personal property acquired with a license, permit, tag, and stamp fees; and interest, dividends, or other income earned from the license, permit, tag, and stamp fees. The bill requires the fees to fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within DEP according to federal regulations.
The bill requires the DEP to submit, by October 1, an annual report to the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program chief, within the Fish and Wildlife Service of the federal Department of the Interior. The report must include, for the year ending June 30, the (1) total license, permit, stamp, and tag fees paid by hunters, trappers, and anglers, excluding the Connecticut Migratory Bird Stamp, and any interest, dividends, and sale or lease payments from assets purchased with license, permit, stamp, and tag revenues; (2) amounts expended on fish and wildlife programs; and (3) purposes for the spent funds. The report must also include the total expenditures amounts for (1) protection, propagation, preservation, and investigation of fish and game; (2) operation, administration, and maintenance of fish and wildlife facilities; (3) operation and administration of wildlife management areas, fish and wildlife access areas, and angler and hunter education and outreach programs; (4) restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitats; and (5) administration of fish and wildlife technical assistance programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the camping and state park provisions, which are effective upon passage and apply to fees collected after May 1, 2010.
"Effective on Passage" - they may have to deal with refund issues. Or they may not - who knows ? ?
Interesting.
Whoever made the play of getting the fee rollback packaged in HB 5545 made the play of the season. My guess, Bob Crook in the background. If so . . . . . well played sir !
""Happy Talk" . . . . . Because it has worked so well thus far"
"It is not necessary to change; survival is not mandatory" - Edward Deming
"Unless we start to focus everything on this, our targets will soon be out of reach" - Greta Thunberg January 2020
"I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard.
Team Man Made Climate Change is Real.
"Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them" - Pope Francis September 2015
""Happy Talk" . . . . . Because it has worked so well thus far"
"It is not necessary to change; survival is not mandatory" - Edward Deming
"Unless we start to focus everything on this, our targets will soon be out of reach" - Greta Thunberg January 2020
"I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard.
Team Man Made Climate Change is Real.
"Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them" - Pope Francis September 2015
As Zyg has said, believe that the Governor's office is on board with this package. Hope we're right.
Another positive sign is that last night at the CAC meeting, we were advised that the BNR has been alerted to be prepared to change the online licensing system to reflect new rates. They went on to say that this presents a timing challenge, since it will probably require a system shut down/restart to implement the rates. The current plan is to do this work overnight to minimize disruptions to anglers, since this is such a busy time for purchases with Opening Day upon us.
Regarding refunds, the DEP has no mechanism or staff for this activity, and said it would be extremely difficult for them to process refunds.
My opinion: As a practical matter, I don't see refunds happening unless the Governor's office or the Legislature decides to apply pressure to the Dept to figure out how to refund monies paid by anglers in 2010.
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