HB 318 Summary

• Creates an affirmative defense for first-time unlawful taking of big game animals that fail to meet sex, age, or size requirements if the defendant voluntarily reports the taking and surrenders salvaged portions to the department.

• Reduces the crime from a class A misdemeanor to a violation when the affirmative defense is successfully established.

• Exempts defendants who successfully use the affirmative defense from paying fines under AS 12.55.035 or restitution for animals including black bear ($600), brown/grizzly bear ($1,300), moose ($1,000), caribou ($850), and other listed species.

• Limits the affirmative defense to first-time offenders only; the defense is unavailable if the defendant has any previous conviction for taking a big game animal that did not meet sex, age, or size limitations.

• Applies the previous conviction bar retroactively to convictions occurring before, on, or after the bill's effective date.