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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 231
Requesting that the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries provide better communication and opportunities for public participation when proposing or changing regulations. Report.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 28, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2008

 

WHEREAS, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries conduct, on a two-year cycle, their "periodic regulation review and amendment process"; and

WHEREAS, during this review and amendment process, the Department and the Board address and consider possible amendments to all state regulations governing wildlife, hunting, trapping, fishing, and boating administered by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; and

WHEREAS, the public's participation in the regulations review process through available public comment opportunities and the public discussion of critical issues related to wildlife, hunting, fishing, or boating are key elements in the development of regulation amendments that reflect changes in wildlife and fisheries resources and recreational boating; and

WHEREAS, there may be additional opportunities for the Board and the Department to obtain comments and recommendations from the various constituent groups regarding both the identification of critical resource management issues and the adoption of wildlife regulations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries be requested to provide better communication and opportunities for public participation when proposing or changing regulations. Specifically, the Board and Department are requested to take steps to ensure that their interactions with hunters' and sportsmen's organizations are timely and responsive.

The Chairman of the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shall jointly submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and report of its progress in meeting the request of this resolution no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and report shall be submitted for publication as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.