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2009 SESSION

093939822
HOUSE BILL NO. 2223
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 28.2-302.2 and 28.2-302.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the cost of nonresident recreational fishing and boat licenses.
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Patron-- Lewis
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 28.2-302.2 and 28.2-302.7 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 28.2-302.2. Recreational license fee; cooperative program.

A. The annual fee for the saltwater recreational fishing license shall be seven dollars and fifty cents. Agents of the Commission shall retain the agent's fee established by the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries pursuant to subsection B of § 29.1-327, except that the agent's fee shall be deducted from the license fee established by the Commission pursuant to subdivision 4 of § 28.2-201, as compensation for issuing each license.

B. All funds collected under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established in § 28.2-302.3.

C. The Commission shall enter into cooperative programs with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

D. The Commission shall also have the power necessary to conduct and establish cooperative fish projects with the federal government as prescribed by Congress and in compliance with rules and regulations promulgated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.

E. Upon implementation of an automated point-of-sale licensing system, licenses issued under this section shall be valid for one year from their date of purchase.

F. The Commission may establish a higher fee for nonresidents than residents who purchase this license.

§ 28.2-302.7. Recreational boat; reporting of catch.

A. The owner or operator of a recreational boat used for saltwater recreational fishing shall have the option of purchasing a saltwater recreational fishing license which covers his passengers and himself to meet the licensing requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The cost of the license shall be thirty dollars $30 a year for boats. If the owner or operator of the boat does not purchase a license which covers all his passengers, individuals shall still purchase a license as required by § 28.2-302.1. Purchasers of licenses pursuant to this section will be issued an individual license, at no additional cost, as required in § 28.2-302.1.

B. Holders of licenses issued pursuant to subsection A shall report catch and other data as are deemed necessary by the Commission for effective fisheries management.

C. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established by § 28.2-302.3.

D. The Commission may prohibit the sale of a private boat license established by this section to any nonresident whose state does not provide a similar licensing system option to residents of Virginia fishing in that state.