Senate Bill 463 Summary

• Establishes the hunting, fishing, and trapping commission with seven members (one wildlife biologist, state veterinarian, and five sportsmen representatives from five wildlife districts) to oversee fish and wildlife laws and rulemaking.

• Requires all fish and wildlife rules proposed by the director to be approved by the hunting, fishing, and trapping commission and receive final approval from the department of natural resources director before adoption; allows commission to override director veto with two-thirds vote.

• Removes the natural resources commission's responsibility for fish and wildlife matters by transferring authority to the new hunting, fishing, and trapping commission and clarifies the natural resources commission no longer handles these duties.

• Repeals provisions establishing advisory councils for the bureau of water and resource regulation and bureau of lands and cultural resources, replacing advisory council roles with a hearing officer appointed by the natural resources commission.

• Effective July 1, 2013; initial commission member terms staggered from one to four years with appointments made by the governor from nominees selected by sportsmen voting meetings in each wildlife district.