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1999 SESSION

981654468
HOUSE BILL NO. 40
Offered January 14, 1998
Prefiled December 22, 1997
A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Consumer Price Index adjustments to license fees.
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Patrons-- Councill, Barlow, Bloxom, Callahan, Christian, Dillard, Grayson, Guest, Murphy, Parrish, Plum, Puller, Stump and Thomas; Senators: Hawkins, Holland, Houck, Marye and Waddell
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Referred to Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 29.1-103 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29.1-103. Powers and duties of the Board.

The Board is responsible for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this title and is authorized to:

1. Appoint the Director of the Department.

2. Acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, gift or otherwise, lands and waters in the Commonwealth and to establish buildings, structures, dams, lakes and ponds on such lands and waters.

3. Conduct operations for the preservation and propagation of game birds, game animals, fish and other wildlife in order to increase, replenish and restock the lands and inland waters of the Commonwealth.

4. Purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire lands and waters for game and fish refuges, preserves or public shooting and fishing, and establish such lands and waters under appropriate regulations.

5. Acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, lands and structures for use as public landings, wharves, or docks; to improve such lands and structures; and to control the use of all such public landings, wharves, or docks by regulation.

6. Acquire and introduce any new species of game birds, game animals or fish on the lands and within the waters of the Commonwealth.

7. Restock, replenish and increase any depleted native species of game birds, game animals, or fish.

8. Have educational matter pertaining to wildlife published and distributed.

9. Hold exhibits throughout the Commonwealth for the purpose of educating school children, agriculturists and other persons in the preservation and propagation of wildlife in the Commonwealth.

10. Control land owned by and under control of the Commonwealth in Back Bay, its tributaries and the North Landing River from the North Carolina line to North Landing Bridge. The Board shall regulate or prohibit by regulation any drilling, dredging or other operation designed to recover or obtain shells, minerals, or other substances in order to prevent practices and operations which would harm the area for fish and wildlife.

11. Exercise powers it may deem advisable for conserving, protecting, replenishing, propagating and increasing the supply of game birds, game animals, fish and other wildlife of the Commonwealth.

12. Adopt resolutions or regulations conferring upon the Director all such powers, authorities and duties as the Board possesses and deems necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this title.

13. Administer and manage the Virginia Fish Passage Grant and Revolving Loan Fund pursuant to Article 1.1 (§ 29.1-101.2 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of this title.

14. Adjust biennially the fees charged for the state resident and nonresident hunting licenses under § 29.1-303, the special license for hunting bear, deer and turkey under § 29.1-305, the state resident and nonresident fishing licenses under subsection A of § 29.1-310, and the trout license under subsection B of § 29.1-310. The adjusted amount shall not exceed the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index-Urban, using 1998 as the base year. Any biennial increase in a fee shall not exceed one dollar for each resident license or two dollars for each nonresident license. Before instituting a change in such license fee amounts, the Director shall report the proposed change and the reason for the fee change to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources.