HB 5455 Summary

• Allows motor vehicle operators to claim possession of deer, moose, or black bear killed or seriously wounded in vehicle collisions after inspection and issuance of a wildlife kill incident report, or authorizes euthanization by police or conservation officers.

• Sets bow and arrow hunting permit fees at $41 for residents, $135 for nonresidents, and $19 for persons aged 12-15, with active military nonresidents charged resident rates; requires completion of conservation education bow hunting course as of January 1, 2002.

• Expands definition of prohibited night vision enhancement devices to include thermal imaging and electronic light intensification scopes or cameras used with rifles, shotguns, bows, or crossbows for taking deer; maintains penalties of $200-$500 fine or 30 days to 6 months imprisonment for first offense and $200-$1,000 fine or up to 1 year imprisonment for subsequent offenses.

• Increases maximum participants in group fishing events for veterans and disabled persons from 50 to 100 persons per event, limited to 50 events annually for tax-exempt organizations conducting fishing activities.

• Requires hunters whose licenses are suspended for safety violations to complete remedial hunter education courses before license reinstatement; appropriates $50,000 annually to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for conservation education programs.