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MBA Bill Alert

February 2009

Here are a number of bills which need your immediate response. Bill drafts, testimony, and committee contact information are attached for your use (Excel, Word and Acrobat files). The bills are listed in order of priority. If you have any questions, contact your local MBA representative for clarification and assistance. Additional legislative info is available at the LAWS site: http://leg.mt.gov/css/Default.asp
Please respond as soon as you can and spread the word!

HB 434 – Disabled persons may hunt in general archery season with a crossbow
Oppose!
This is our highest priority bill! We need your immediate communication to the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks committee. Tell legislators that MT bowhunters oppose any encroachment of crossbows into the archery season. This bill originated from a single constituent who moved here from SD (where he could use his crossbow during archery season). He feels it is discriminatory that he should have to purchase new equipment to comply with our regulations and that the modifications allowed under law are not adequate for his disability. He is wrong and we need to convince the legislators of that. Modifications for individuals with disabilities are fully available through the Permit To Modify Archery Equipment (PTMAE). The permit allows a person with a permanent disability to use modified archery equipment that supports the bow, and draws, holds and releases the string to accommodate the individual disability. Check out the modifications at NABC’s site: http://www.nabowhuntingcoalition.com/BowhuntingIssues.html.
All of the equipment depicted on the site is legal in Montana. Literally, if a person can breathe through a tube, they can release an arrow with modifications to a compound or traditional bow. The permit holder may also have a companion present to assist in aspects of the hunt. Further, Montana accommodates hunters with disabilities with the Resident with a Disability Conservation license which offers reduced-cost licenses to qualified individuals. See the attached opposition statement and “NABC Talking Points” attachment to formulate your argument to the legislators. Educate yourselves about the legal equipment modifications so the crossbow proponents can’t pull the wool over your eyes! Anyone who moves here from another state can purchase the tools necessary to hunt legally here, regardless if they have a disability or not. Contact the House FWP committee and convince them crossbows are not needed in MT!

HB 74 – Include mountain lion, bear, and wolf among the species for which the Commission may designate archery seasons
Support.
Please send your input to the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks committee.
This is primarily a “housekeeping bill” since these species were have been left off the list for which the Commission had authority to set seasons. It simply adds them onto the list and is the first step to encourage archery-only seasons for these species. Seasons and quotas would be later determined by the Commission.

SB 162 – Restricting the ability of FWP Commission to limit hunting permits
Oppose.
Please communicate your opposition to the Senate Fish & Game committee. Many members were in hopes that this bill could reverse the restrictions placed on the “23 Outside the Breaks Districts” formed by the Commission. Unfortunately, the bill provision of returning permit numbers to "the number of permits issued for that season in 2007" means it would have no effect on the 23 OD. In 2007 the number of archery permits issued in the 23 OD was ZERO! Therefore, what the Commissioners instituted there last year would stand. Aside from this critical point, the bill strips wildlife management authority from FWP and the Commission, which would have many adverse effects.

SB 383 – Requiring full-size license plates for ATVs.
Support.
Please send your input to the Senate Highway and Transportation committee.
We need to communicate to legislators that we bowhunters are interested in fostering ethical practices in hunting and lend our support to SB 383. Title 61 currently requires the use of a single motorcycle-size plate on ATVs. The current provision makes it difficult for law enforcement and the public to properly ID these vehicles in violation situations. With the growing numbers of ATVs in the backcountry, and the increase in ATV violations, we feel it is time to require 2 plates for ATVs. We believe SB 383 provides a necessary enforcement enhancement.

To communicate with Legislators:
Remember – Be Respectful! You represent the MBA!

Email: Use the email addresses in the Excel worksheet. Use the on-line message form or telephone instructions for legislators who don’t have email addresses listed.

Electronically:
On-Line Message Form: You may send a message using an online message form. If you are reading this memo electronically, simply hold down the CTRL button on your keyboard and click on the following link: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp. If you are reading this memo from a piece of paper, then type the above address onto the address line of your internet browser. Either way, you will be taken to the online message form.

By Telephone:
Call 406-444-4800 to leave a message for as many as five legislators or one legislative committee per call. Your message will be delivered directly to the legislators. The TTY (Telephone Device for the Deaf) number is 406-444-4462. The Session Information Desk is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays.

Watch List

Bill #	Description	Sponsor	Support/ Oppose	Status	Testimony given - written/hearing
HB434	Allow disabled persons to hunt with a crossbow during archery season (amends Section 87-2-803, MCA).	Franke Wilmer HD 64 (Bozeman)	Oppose	hearing date pending - House FWP	written/membership alert/hearing
HB74	Authorize archery seasons for mountain lion, wolf, bear	Kendall Van Dyk HD 49 (Billings)	Support	Steve reported multiple proponents supported bill during the hearing	written/membership alert/hearing
SB162	Restrict ability to limit hunting permits for certain species	Debby Barrett SD 36 (Dillon)	Oppose	Passed Senate F&G - 5-4 vote	written
SB383	Require full-size license plates on ATVs and off-highway vehicles.	Jesse Laszlovich SD 43 (Anaconda)	Support		written/membership alert/hearing
HB314	Wildlife damage Mitigation Act (MWF's Anti-harboring bill)	Kendall Van Dyk HD 49 (Billings)	Support	Hearing 2/17/2009 House FWP Rm 152
SJ15	Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting	Bruce Tutvedt SD 3 (Kalispell)	Support	Passed House - 9-0 vote - transmitted to Senate F&G	written
SB336	Authorize use of dogs to track wounded game animals	Joe Balyeat SD 34 (Bozeman)	Support	Hearing 2/10/2009
SJ19	Urge federal government manage CMR wildlife refuge consistent with enabling law	Jim Petersen SD 15 (Buffalo)	Support	Hearing 2/10/2009
SB213	Require FWP plan to manage wildlife to prevent disease transmission	Keith Bales SD 20 (Otter)	Support	Nontabled - Senate F&G	FWP supports
SB183	Revise state wolf policy	Joe Balyeat SD 34 (Bozeman)	Support	hearing date pending - Senate F&G
SB31	Revise qualifications of FWP Commission by providing at least one member engaged in breeding and management of domestic livestock and have an ownership interest in at least 1280 acres of land (amends Section 2-15-3402, MCA).	Keith Bales SD 20 (Otter)	Oppose	Passed Senate 28-20 vote, transmitted to House FWP	written
HB137	Revise license benefits for landowners enrolled in the hunter management program (block management); allowing employees of landowners to receive the free big game combination license allotted to the landowner (amends Section 87-1-266, MCA).	Walter McNutt HD 37 (Sidney)	Oppose	Passed House 96-2 vote -transmitted to Senate F&G	written
SB164	Revise FWP land management and acquisition re: Good Neighbor Policy	Debby Barrett SD 36 (Dillon)	Oppose	(S) 2nd Reading Passed as Amended	written/hearing; amendments made make this slightly more palatable
HB443	Clarify FWP authority to manage species.	Mike Menahan HD 82 (Helena)	Review	Draft ready for delivery
HB482	State assistance for economic damage caused by brucellosis	David Howard	Oppose	hearing date pending - House FWP
HB468	Allow hunter education to be taught in public schools	Jill Cohenour	Review	hearing date pending - House FWP
SB32	Allow chiropractor to certify disability for hunting purposes	Greg Barkus	Oppose	Passed Senate 48-0 vote, transmitted to House FWP	written
SB163	Make hunting and fishing rules subject to economic impact statement of MAPA	Debby Barrett SD 36 (Dillon)	Oppose	Tabled in committee	written
HB253	Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act	Mike Phillips	Support	Tabled in committee	written
SB184	Adjust bear, mountain lion and bison hunting license deadlines	Joe Balyeat SD 34 (Bozeman)	Support	Bill passed Senate F&G - 8-0 vote
SB188	Revise fish and game laws re: regulation of special elk permits	Joe Balyeat SD 34 (Bozeman)	Support	Bill passed Senate F&G - 8-0 vote
HB222	Revoke hunting and fishing privileges until fines paid	Jill Cohenour	Support	Passed House - 91-8 vote -Transmitted to Senate	written
HB223	Revise laws governing revocation of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges	Jill Cohenour	Support	Passed House FWP - 8-0 vote	written
HB172	Provisional hunter safety certificate for persons with developmental disabilities	Elsie Artnzen	Support	2/3/09 hearing - House FWP Rm 152
HJ10	Urge support for revenue to support wildlife adaptation to climate change	Mike Phillips	Neutral	Hearing 2/5/09 House Jud.
HB218	Revise fish and game laws; clarifying prohibition on use of artificial light ot hunt and on waste of fur-bearing animals	Mike Menahan HD 82 (Helena)	Support	Hearing 2/12/09 - House FWP Rm 152
HB186	Allow residents over 62 to take cow elk without a license	Ron Stoker	Oppose	Tabled in committee	written
SB59	Require mountain lion trophy fees be used for the management of mountain lions (amends Sections 87-2-507 and 87-2-508, MCA).	Rick Laible SD 44 (Darby)	Support	Tabled in committee	written
SB217	Reimburse livestock producers for tests for disease transmitted by wildlife	Debby Barrett	Oppose	Nontabled -Senate Ag, Livestock
SB228	Prioritize protecting humans, livestock, and pets from predators	Debby Barrett	Review	Nontabled - Senate F&G
LC988	Establish the community hunting access partnership	Bill McChesney	Review	Draft in exec review	Looks like a good bill, ask FWP whether funding adequate to cover BMP and this effort
LC550	Crime to ride off-highway vehicles on closed public lands.	Gary MacLaren HD 89 (Victor)	Support	Draft on hold
LC552	Authorize game wardens to enforce motorized vehicle laws on federal lands.	Gary MacLaren HD 89 (Victor)	Support	Draft on hold
SB19	Revise nonresident outfitter license--reciprocity to nonres outfitters only in cases where nonres state allows Montana outfitter licensing	Larry Jent	Neutral	Hearing date pending - Senate F&G
LC437	Equitable distribution of fish and game funds	Carol Juneau	Review	Draft on hold
LC799	Revise funding for Habitat Montana	Brady Wiseman	Review	Draft on hold
LC828	Revise disabled hunter laws	Bill Nooney	Oppose	Draft on hold
LC846	Revise stream access law	Kendall Van Dyk HD 49 (Billings)	Review	Draft on hold
LC898	Revise disabled hunter law	Kendall Van Dyk HD 49 (Billings)	Review	Draft on hold
LC1153	Generally revise department of livestock	Jim Peterson	Review	Draft on hold
LC1154	Generally revise department of fish wildlife and parks	Jim Peterson	Review	Draft on hold
LC1155	Generally revise hunting and fishing laws	Jim Peterson	Review	Draft on hold
LC1161	Generally revise wolf laws	Jim Peterson	Review	Draft on hold
LC1162	Generally revice brucellosis law	Jim Peterson	Oppose	Draft on hold
LC1489	Revise public land management	Mike Jopek	Review	Draft on hold
LC1490	Local strategy to protect public land access	Mike Jopek	Review	Draft on hold
LC1493	Identify state land with unique corner post or sign	Mike Jopek	Review	Draft on hold
LC1885	Require specific appropriation for FWP land purchases	Debby Barrett	Oppose	Draft ready for delivery
SB337	Revise laws governing bison	John Brendan	Neutral	Draft to requestor for review
LC2147	Nonresident outfitter-sponsored antelope license	John Gallus	Oppose	In drafting process