HB 1514-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2010 SESSION
10/01
HOUSE BILL 1514-FN
AN ACT prohibiting the sale of raw skins or unskinned carcasses of fur-bearing animals.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vaillancourt, Hills 15; Rep. Schmidt, Straf 4; Rep. Leishman, Hills 3
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
This bill prohibits the sale, possession, and transportation of raw skins or unskinned carcasses of fur-bearing animals.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
10-2093
10/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT prohibiting the sale of raw skins or unskinned carcasses of fur-bearing animals.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Fur-Bearing Animals; Sale of Skins. Amend RSA 210:8 to read as follows:
210:8 [Sealing and] Sale of Skins.
I. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give away, buy, possess, accept as a gift, offer for transportation, or transport raw skins or unskinned carcasses of any fur-bearing animal [unless such skin or carcass bears an official New Hampshire fish and game department tag or seal] except as provided in paragraph II. The executive director [may adopt rules under RSA 541-A exempting] shall not exempt any species of fur-bearing animal from the requirements of this section.
II. Nothing herein shall prohibit the transportation or possession of raw pelts or unskinned fur-bearing animals or coyotes when accompanied by the hunter or trapper or designee specified in writing with the signature of the licensed hunter or trapper, provided the raw pelt or unskinned carcass is not used as a pelt to become fur.
III. All skins as specified in paragraph I shall be presented to a conservation officer, [he] who shall tag [or seal the same] the raw skin if legally taken. Such skins shall be presented for tagging [or sealing] during the open season in which they are caught or within 10 days after the closing of the open season thereof.
IV. Any of the skins as specified in paragraph I that come into this state in any manner from any other state, country or province [shall] may be sold given away, bought, possessed, accepted as a gift, or transported in this state provided the skins bear the official tag, seal or stamp of such other state, country or province.
V. If any of the skins as specified in paragraph I come into this state from another state, country or province and said state, country or province does not require an official tag, seal or stamp, the person possessing such skins shall [have said skins tagged or sealed within 3 days of entrance into this state in accordance with this section, or he shall] possess an itemized bill of sale and said bill of sale shall be produced for inspection upon the request of any law enforcement officer.
VI. As a prerequisite of tagging[ or sealing], the executive director may require that the skinned carcasses of certain fur-bearing animals, or the skinned carcasses of coyotes be turned over to the fish and game department for analysis. The executive director shall notify all licensed trappers and hunters in advance of the opening of the season of the species of fur-bearers to be turned over to the department.
2 Repeals. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 207:1-a, relative to the exception from regulation of ranch-bred mink, is repealed.
II. RSA 210:9, IV, relative to the sale or giving away of beaver skins or unskinned carcasses.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2011.
LBAO
10-2093
11/23/09
HB 1514-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT prohibiting the sale of raw skins or unskinned carcasses of fur-bearing animals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Fish & Game Department states this bill will increase fish and game fund expenditures by an indeterminable amount and decrease fish and game fund revenue by $11,254 in FY 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenues and expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Fish & Game Department states that it assumes under this bill it will be required to tag all furbearers legally taken. While the bill deletes references to sealing fur, it keeps references to tagging, which the Department states is the same as sealing. Currently, the Department exempts all furbearers from the sealing or tagging requirement, except fishers and otters. The tagging or sealing of all furbearers will require a significant but indeterminable increase in staff time to inspect, gather data, and physically place tags on all animals. The Department would also be required to purchase numbered tags and supplies for tagging furbearers.
The Department states it assumes the new language in the proposed RSA 210:8, II will mean that pelts may not be processed and used further. While both hunters and trappers take furbearing animals, the Department assumes this language will effectively eliminate trapping. The Department states the impact of eliminating trapping will include the loss of license revenue as well as in increase in wildlife damage complaints the Department would have to handle. FY 2008 trapping license sales and fish and game fund revenue were as follows:
Resident Adult: 364 permits x $27.50 = $10,010
Resident Minor: 8 permits x $5.50 = $44
Non-Resident Adult: 4 permits x $300 = $1,200
TOTAL = $11,254