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MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE

Room C445, State Capitol, State Capitol Complex

February 8, 2010


Members Present:        Rep. John Mathis, Vice Chair
    Rep. Mel Brown
    Rep. Brad Dee
    Rep. Jack Draxler
    Rep. Kerry Gibson
    Rep. James Gowans
    Rep. Neal Hendrickson
    Rep. Mike Noel
    Rep. Patrick Painter
    Rep. Phil Riesen
    Rep. Christine Watkins
    Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox
    Rep. Bill Wright

Members Absent:    Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair

Staff Present:    Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
            Dora Soto, Committee Secretary
    
Note:        List of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes

Rep. Mathis called the meeting to order at 8:08 a.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Mathis moved to approve the minutes of the February 04, 2010 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Brown, Rep. Dee,
        Rep. Gibson, Rep Gowans, Rep. Noel, and Rep. Wright absent for the vote.


H.B. 271    Hunting Guides and Outfitters Licensing Act Amendments (Rep. E. Vickers)

Rep. Vickers explained the bill to the committee, assisted by Robin Thomas, Marketing Specialist Division of Wildlife Resources.

MOTION:     Rep. Painter moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.




S.B. 24    Land Exchange Distribution Account Amendments (Sen. D. Stowell) (Rep. )

Rep. Stowell explained the bill to the committee, assisted by Kevin Carter, Director of
School/Inst Trust Lands Administration.

MOTION:     Rep. Painter moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.


H.B. 68    Habitual Wanton Destruction of Wildlife (Rep. C. Oda)

Rep. Oda explained the bill to the committee, assisted by Martin Bushman, Assistant Attorney General of Wildlife Resources, who provided handouts to committee members.

MOTION:     Rep. Mathis moved the following amendments:

1.    Page 2, Line 32 :    

             32          (b)
  within seven years of the day on which the violation described in Subsection (1)(a) occurs,       has twice      {   before   } been convicted of taking a big game animal in violation of Section


    The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved the following amendment:

    1.    Page 1. Line 16 and 17:

        Delete:     "third degree felony" and insert "class A misdemeanor"

    2.    Page 2. Line 37:

        Delete:    "third degree felony" and insert "class A misdemeanor"

        The motion failed with Rep. Dee, Rep. Draxler, Rep. Painter, Rep. Riesen, Rep.         Watkins, Rep. Wilcox, and Rep. Mathis voting in opposition.

MOTION:     Rep. Noel moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Brown, Rep. Gibson, Rep. Gowans, Rep. Hendrickson voting in opposition.



S.B. 11    Utah State-made Firearms Protection Act (Sen. M. Dayton) (Rep. S. Sandstrom)

Rep. Dayton explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill: Clark Aposhian, Utah Shooting Sports Council
             Don Peay, Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife          
MOTION:    Rep. Gibson moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation.     The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Riesen voting in opposition.


S.B. 36    Wolf Management (Sen. A. Christensen) (Rep. )

Rep. Christensen explained the bill to the committee assisted by Jim Karpowitz, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources.

Spoke in favor of the bill: Don Peay, Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife
             Clark Aposhian, Utah Shooting Sports Council              Sterling, Brown, Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau
             Dennis Wright, Producer of Wildlife
            
Spoke in opposition to the bill: Kirk Robinson, Director, Western Wildlife Conservation              Allison Jones, Conservation Biologist

Spoke to the bill: Jim Karpowitz, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources

MOTION:
    Rep. Draxler moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.              

MOTION:    Rep. Noel moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Rep. Mathis adjourned the meeting at 9:56 a.m.



    
                    _________________________
Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair