1 Qualifications of Licensee; Fish and Game Guide. Amend RSA 215:5, I-II to read as follows:

I. A person licensed as a guide shall be at least 18 years of age. He shall furnish such recommendations as the executive director shall require . He shall be skilled in the use, management and handling of such boats or canoes as are customarily used in fishing and hunting, and shall be a safe and competent person under all circumstances to be a guide for hunting or fishing parties.

II. Notwithstanding RSA 215:4, every resident 65 years of age or older who has been a licensed guide in this state for 5 or more years may obtain a license as a guide to fish or to hunt by payment of only the cost of issuing said license as determined by the executive director .

2 New Section; Fish and Game Guides Committee. Amend RSA 215 by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

215:5-a Fish and Game Guides Committee; Examination.

I. The fish and game commission shall appoint and the executive director shall administer a 5 member guides committee that will be responsible for developing applications, examinations, and hearing appeals necessary for qualified applicants under this chapter. The committee shall be comprised of only active or retired conservation officers from the fish and game law enforcement division as the members.
II. The oral examination shall be graded as a pass or fail, and shall test an individual's practical skills, knowledge, and abilities in hunting for a hunting guide license applicant or fishing for a fishing guide license applicant. Any individual failing the oral examination shall receive a detailed report explaining the reason for failure within 2 weeks of the administration of the oral examination.

III. The oral examination shall be conducted by at least 2 and no more than 3 examiners, of which 2 members shall be active or retired conservation officers from the fish and game law enforcement division. Any applicant unsuccessful in passing the written exam shall be allowed to retest, at the next available date scheduled by the department, but in no event sooner than 2 weeks from the date of the original examination.

IV. The application shall have an unlimited number of times to pass the written and oral examination. The applicant shall not be denied either examination. No person who has failed a second written or oral examination shall be approved to sit for a practical skills examination for no more than one month from the date of the second failed examination.

V. Any applicant for renewal must show proof of valid first aid/CPR certification and any other valid licenses such as boaters, fishing, hunting, etc. that are required by the fish and game guides committee.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Qualifications of Licensee; Fish and Game Guide. Amend RSA 215:5, I-II to read as follows:

I. A person licensed as a guide shall be at least 18 years of age. He or she shall furnish such recommendations as required by the fish and game guides committee . He or she shall be skilled in the use, management and handling of such boats or canoes as are customarily used in fishing and hunting, and shall be a safe and competent person under all circumstances to be a guide for hunting or fishing parties.

II. Notwithstanding RSA 215:4, every resident 65 years of age or older who has been a licensed guide in this state for 5 or more years may obtain a license as a guide to fish or to hunt by discounted payment of the cost of issuing said license set according to the guides committee, and shall be re-certified as required by all applicants .

2 New Section; Fish and Game Guides Committee. Amend RSA 215 by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

215:5-a Fish and Game Guides Committee; Examination.

I. The fish and game commission shall appoint and the executive director shall administer a 5 member guides committee that will be responsible for developing applications, examinations, and hearing appeals necessary for qualified applicants under this chapter. The committee shall be comprised of only active or retired conservation officers from the fish and game law enforcement division as the members.
II. The oral examination shall be graded as a pass or fail, and shall test an individual's practical skills, knowledge, and abilities in hunting for a hunting guide license applicant or fishing for a fishing guide license applicant. Any individual failing the oral examination shall receive a detailed report explaining the reason for failure within 2 weeks of the administration of the oral examination.

III. The oral examination shall be conducted by at least 2 and no more than 3 examiners, of which 2 members shall be active or retired conservation officers from the fish and game law enforcement division. Any applicant unsuccessful in passing the written exam shall be allowed to retest, at the next available date scheduled by the department, but in no event sooner than 2 weeks from the date of the original examination.

IV. The application shall have an unlimited number of times to pass the written and oral examination. The applicant shall not be denied either examination. No person who has failed a second written or oral examination shall be approved to sit for a practical skills examination for no more than one month from the date of the second failed examination.

V. Any applicant for renewal must show proof of valid first aid/CPR certification and any other valid licenses such as boaters, fishing, hunting, etc. that are required by the fish and game guides committee.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.