Environment Committee

JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT

SPONSORS OF BILL:

Environment Committee

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill addresses several ways to promote hunting and fishing in Connecticut. It reduces hunting and fishing license fees for 16- and 17-year-olds, establishes marketing initiatives and requires registration for hunting and fishing guides. It also waives fees for secondary students participating in school events and field trips. For promotional purposes the bill allows the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner to issue free, one-day sport fishing licenses up to two days per year and work with the Office of Policy and Management to temporarily reduce license fees. The bill would also enable vendors providing online fishing and hunting safety to charge a fee.

SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:

LCO 2246 Technical changes; adds secondary school field trips to categories that do not require a freshwater fishing license; changes some fees; for the purpose of increasing participation, allows DEEP Commissioner, in consultation with OPM, to reduce but not waive any fee or cost for any license, permit, tag or stamp for a portion of a calendar year for all members of the public; and, allows fee for hunting or archery instruction course.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Interim Commissioner Robert Klee and Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP):

Interim Commissioner Klee said DEEP strongly supports the bill both to “promote life-long participation in outdoor activities and conservation” and to boost revenue through an anticipated increase in hunting and fishing license sales.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Connecticut Sportsman Legislative Caucus:

The Sportsman Legislative Caucus unanimously supports the bill. The members especially support waiving the license requirements for secondary school students on a field trip, lowering the group fishing license fee by 50 percent, lowering fees for 16- and 17-year-old youth and allowing the DEEP commissioner to offer free licenses for up to two days per year.

Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen

The coalition expressed strong support for the bill as a way to “promote new sportsmen participation, increase long-term revenues for DEEP and continue sound wildlife and fisheries management.”

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None