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2021 SESSION

21102080D
SENATE BILL NO. 1402
Offered January 13, 2021
Prefiled January 13, 2021
A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-311 of the Code of Virginia, relating to trout fishing in stocked waters.
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Patron-- Pillion
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 29.1-311 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29.1-311. Trip fishing license for residents and nonresidents; trout stocked waters.

A. Residents and nonresidents of the Commonwealth may obtain trip fishing licenses to fish in the freshwater creeks, bays, inlets, and streams of the Commonwealth, or in any of the impounded waters of the Commonwealth during the open season for game fish. These licenses shall be in lieu of the regular season state or county fishing license required under subsection A of § 29.1-310. The duration for which trip fishing licenses shall be valid shall be established by the Board. The fee for the trip fishing license shall be established by the Board and may be revised pursuant to § 29.1-103.

B. Residents and nonresidents of the Commonwealth may obtain a special combined sportfishing trip license to fish in all inland waters and tidal waters of the Commonwealth during the open season. This license shall be in lieu of the trip fishing license specified in subsection A and the saltwater recreational license required by § 28.2-302.1. The cost of the license shall be $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. The license shall be valid for five successive days as specified on the face of the license. Of the funds collected under this subsection, (i) $5 per license sold 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 and (ii) $5 per resident license sold and $10 per nonresident license sold shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Game Protection Fund as established in § 29.1-101.

C. Possession of a trip fishing license by a nonresident shall not entitle him to fish in designated waters stocked with trout by the Department or other public body unless he also possesses the trout license required under subsection B of § 29.1-310 or has obtained the special lifetime trout fishing license pursuant to § 29.1-302.4.

D. Possession of a trip fishing license by a resident shall not entitle him to fish in designated waters stocked with trout by the Department or other public body. Residents and nonresidents shall only be entitled to fish in such designated waters stocked with trout by the Department or other public body only if they possess (i) a regular season state or county fishing license or a trip fishing license valid for at least five days and (ii) a trout license, as required by pursuant to § 29.1-310, or a special lifetime trout fishing license pursuant to § 29.1-302.4.

E. The Board may subsequently revise the cost of licenses set forth in this section pursuant to § 29.1-103.