SSB 1189 – Wildlife disease management control program and zones
SSB 1206 – Apprentice hunter program
SSB 1207 – Invasive tree pest revolving loan fund
SSB 1222 – Air quality fund and air quality fees
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SSB 1189, as amended in committee, directs the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to adopt administrative rules to establish a wildlife disease prevention and control program to prevent or control the spread of contagious, infections or communicable disease in a wildlife species in this state. The NRC must cooperate with the state veterinarian to establish a list of diseases that can be targeted by the program.
Through the program, the NRC would have the ability to designate a disease management zone in a particular area of the state, if necessary. Within that zone, NRC could authorize these actions to control or prevent the spread of the disease:
** Limit, close, expand or open seasons for hunting wildlife.
** Limit, close, expand or open areas for hunting wildlife.
** Reduce or increase limits on taking wildlife.
** Authorize the issuance of free hunting licenses for hunting wildlife.
** Require a hunter to provide a physical sample from each animal taken in the disease management zone for a disease-related test.
** Limit the possession, transportation and disposition of wildlife.
** Restrict feeding of wildlife.
The NRC must develop procedures for the designation of a disease management zone. When a disease management zone is proposed, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must conduct a public hearing within the designated area to engage local stakeholders in development of the disease management zone action plan and must solicit public comment. This process must take place prior to the approval or disapproval of the disease management zone or the action plan by the NRC.
Nothing in the process of creating a wildlife disease control program, a disease management zone or a disease management action plan can be used to modify any existing law or provision relating to trespass or property rights. [3/3: short form]
SSB 1206, as amended in committee, would allow an individual to purchase a hunting license with an apprentice hunter designation. This would allow the individual to hunt under the direct supervision of a fully licensed hunter without having to first complete the required hunter education course. This gives potential hunters the chance to see if it is an activity they would enjoy. The apprentice hunter may only use the apprentice hunter designation for a maximum of two years. Programs similar to this operate in 35 other states and have increased hunting numbers nationwide by 1.2 million individuals. [3/3: short form]
SSB 1207, as amended in committee, would create an invasive forest pests revolving loan fund to assist communities with planning, treating and managing their public trees in the face of a number of tree pests, including the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth and the Asian longhorn beetle. The fund is appropriated a one-time sum of $3 million. The money would be available to cities. Many smaller communities do not have a full-time forester to address problems when an invasive pest infests local trees. [3/3: 7-6 (Rozenboom, Behn, Johnson, Kinney, Shipley, Zumbach “no”)]
SSB 1222 establishes an air quality fund in the state treasury to receive fees collected by DNR as part of the state’s air quality program. Fees are to be established by the Environmental Protection Commission and will apply to major source permitted users, minor source permitted users and asbestos-related activities.
Fees must be used for operation of the air quality program. Fees will be deposited into an account that matches the user who paid the fee (major, minor or asbestos). Fees in each account must only be used for activities associated with the respective source.
The DNR must annually meet with a stakeholder group to review fees and the costs of the major source, minor source or asbestos programs. During these meetings, DNR and the stakeholder groups will develop a consensus on the expenses of the air quality program and the fees that will be used to fund those activities.
This legislation came forward as a proposal of the air quality stakeholders working group that met over the last half of 2014. This workgroup included a number of permitted air users and was formed with the intent of providing a sustainable and effective funding plan for the operation of the DNR’s air quality program, which is responsible for issuing permits to regulated industries and protecting the health of Iowans by monitoring air emissions and developing strategies for reducing air pollution. [3/3: short form]