Game, Inland Fisheries and Boating

P Passed

P HB1532
Keeping of reptiles. Raises the penalty from a Class 4 to a Class 2 misdemeanor for the owner or keeper of any exotic reptile or type of reptile not native to the Commonwealth of Virginia, including but not limited to the American alligator, to keep the reptile in any manner that will permit its escape or to knowingly permit the reptile to run at large.
Patron - Howell

P HB1968
Regulation of personal watercraft rentals. Authorizes the City of Virginia Beach (described by population) to adopt ordinances which regulate businesses that offer personal watercraft (PWC) for rent. Such ordinances may require rental businesses to (i) obtain proof of identification from those seeking to rent a PWC, (ii) have at least one motorboat of at least 50 horsepower in operation to ensure safe operation of the rented PWCs, (iii) not rent a PWC that has an engine displacement which exceeds 800 cubic centimeters, or (iv) have at least two marine radios in operation. The ordinances may also prohibit anyone who rents a PWC from misrepresenting or falsifying information on the rental agreement.Virginia Beach may impose a penalty for violation of these ordinances that is consistent with a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Patron - Purkey

P HB2124
Sale of bear. Extends the prohibition on the buying and selling of bear. The prohibition on buying and selling bear during the open season is due to expire July 1, 1999.
Patron - Abbitt

P HB2125
Wild game licenses. Authorizes the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to allow hunting and fishing licenses and permits and merchandise sold by the Department to be purchased with a credit card. The Director also can establish a service charge for the use of a credit card, but the charge cannot exceed the processing fee charged by the issuer of the credit card.
Patron - Abbitt

P HB2126
Telephone sale of game licenses. Authorizes the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to enter into contracts with license agents to sell hunting and fishing licenses over the telephone. The agents selected to provide such a service would receive a fee for each telephone transaction which would be in addition to the actual cost of the license.
Patron - Abbitt

P HB2487
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Requires the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to use accepted scientific principles and procedures in managing the Commonwealth's wildlife and natural resources.
Patron - Guest

P HB2692
Kill permits. Requires the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to issue a kill permit for the taking of bear or deer on land used for commercial agricultural production. Any landowner or his designee would have to have hunted bear or deer on the owner's land before a subsequent kill permit could be authorized. The bill requires the disposal of bear or deer within 24 hours of when they were killed. In determining whether a person has abused his kill permit, the Director or his designee could consider as evidence of alleged abuse, a complaint filed by a citizen. Any person who has been aggrieved by the issuance, denial or revocation of a kill permit can appeal the decision to the Department. The bill also authorizes the Director or his designee to issue a deer kill permit in any locality in which the reductions of deer herds has been recommended as part of the Deer Management Plan adopted by the Board of Game and Island Fisheries.
Patron - Barlow

P SB979
"No wake" buoys. Allows a person to apply to a local governing body for the removal of "no wake" buoys or other markers. The locality would have the responsibility for approving, disapproving or modifying the application for a buoy or marker. The application would then be forwarded to the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for him to approve, disapprove or modify. Currently, the locality simply forwards the application to the Director. The present procedure only covers the placement of buoys, but this bill would allow an application to be filed to remove buoys or other markers. Under the bill, the cost of placing or removing a buoy or marker is to be borne by the person requesting the placement or removal of the marker.
Patron - Reynolds


F Failed

F HB1455
Personal watercraft rentals. Makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor for a person who is renting or leasing a personal watercraft to falsify information on the lease or rental agreement or application. The person seeking to rent or lease a personal watercraft has to produce a photo-identification, if requested to do so by the rental agent.
Patron - Purkey

F HB1460
Wildlife rehabilitators. Provides civil immunity to wildlife rehabilitators who are permitted by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The immunity is related to damages from acts and omissions resulting from the provision of free assistance or advice in the care of wildlife that has been orphaned or injured or is danger of injury (except from lawful hunting) due to its location. Immunity will not apply in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Volunteers working directly under the supervision of a permitted rehabilitator are extended immunity as well.
Patron - Murphy

F HB1833
Hunting antlerless deer. Makes it illegal to hunt, shoot, or kill antlerless deer in Dickenson County. Anyone found guilty of this offense is subject to a Class 3 misdemeanor. However, a person may kill antlerless deer if the deer have been damaging his property and he has received a kill permit from the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or his designee.
Patron - Phillips

F HB2649
Disabled hunters. Allows disabled hunters who have been issued a permit to hunt from a vehicle to hunt deer of either sex on private land during any firearms deer season, with the permission of the landowner.
Patron - Katzen

F HB2657
Muzzle-loading rifles. Allows single projectiles or single saboted projectiles to be fired from muzzle-loading rifles during the early and late special muzzle-loading seasons.
Patron - Katzen

F SB1208
Safe boating. Requires persons operating motorboats to have a safe boating reference card on board their boat while it is in operation. Operators have to be familiar with the boating safety information on the card, the operation of the motorboat, and the boat's safety equipment. Persons not possessing the card or who are not familiar with boating safety information are subject to a fine of up to $100. The Department is responsible for developing the information to be placed on card as well as issuing the card. Agents who sell the card can add 50 cents to the price of the card and retain the 50 cents as a commission.
Patron - Barry


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