HEA 1279 Summary

• Transfers the State Land Office from the Department of Administration to the Department of Natural Resources, effective July 1, 2012, establishing it as a new division within DNR.

• Increases the threshold for deposit requirements for detached offices of DNR and the Department of State Revenue from $100 to $500 in collected public funds.

• Extends the inspection cycle for native forest land, forest plantations, and wildlands from every five years to every seven years.

• Modifies hunting and fishing regulations including changes to migratory waterfowl and game bird stamps to be electronically generated, expands free sport fishing days from two to four annually, and allows nonresidents to obtain Ohio River commercial fishing licenses.

• Adds ten-year hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans at a reduced fee of $27.50 and authorizes roe harvesting on inland waters of Indiana with separate licensing requirements for resident and nonresident harvesters.