February 7, 2024 - Introduced by Senator Stafsholt, cosponsored by Representative Edming. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
SB1006,,22An Act to repeal 29.889 (2) (c), 29.889 (2) (d), 29.889 (3), 29.889 (4) (a), 29.889 (6) (a), 29.889 (7) (bm) and 29.89 (3) (a); to renumber 29.889 (5) (c) and 29.889 (6) (em); to renumber and amend 29.889 (6) (f); to amend 20.370 (5) (fq), 29.885 (5) (a), 29.889 (1) (intro.), 29.889 (2) (a), 29.889 (4) (b), 29.889 (4) (c), 29.889 (5) (a), 29.889 (5) (b), 29.889 (5) (bm), 29.889 (5) (bs), 29.889 (6) (d), 29.889 (7) (a), 29.889 (7) (b) (intro.), 29.889 (7) (b) 2., 29.889 (7) (b) 3., 29.889 (7) (b) 4., 29.889 (7) (d) 2., 29.889 (7m) (a), 29.889 (7m) (ae) 1., 29.889 (7m) (ae) 4. (intro.), 29.889 (8g), 29.889 (8r) (a), (b) and (c) and 29.89 (5) (b) 2. c.; and to create 29.885 (3) (bm), 29.889 (5) (c) 2., 29.889 (5) (d), 29.889 (6) (em) 2., 29.889 (6) (f) 2. and 3., 29.889 (7m) (au) and 29.889 (7m) (av) of the statutes; relating to: the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program. SB1006,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill makes changes to the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program.
Wild animal removal
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources may remove or authorize the removal of a wild animal that is causing damage, including damage to commercial agricultural crops. This bill prohibits DNR from issuing to a person a bear carcass tag for the purpose of shooting a bear that is causing damage to commercial agricultural crops.
Wildlife damage claim program and wildlife damage abatement program
Current law authorizes a person who owns, leases, or controls land on which certain wild animals cause damage to crops or livestock (wildlife damage) to apply to the county for wildlife damage claim payments and for wildlife damage abatement assistance (wildlife damage payments). Wildlife damage for which a person is eligible to receive wildlife damage payments includes damage caused by deer, bears, geese, and cougars, as well as elk and sandhill cranes if hunting those animals is authorized. Current law requires that, to be eligible for wildlife damage payments, the location must be in a county that participates in the administration of these programs. A county must apply to DNR to administer these programs, including in its application a plan of administration that meets certain requirements. Once approved, DNR provides funding to the county for the costs incurred in administering these programs.
Under current law and DNR rule, a county pays 75 percent of the actual costs of providing wildlife damage abatement assistance, for which it is reimbursed by DNR, and the person receiving the assistance pays 25 percent of the costs. DNR pays wildlife damage claims directly.
DNR administration
Effective January 1, 2025, the bill removes counties from the administration of the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program and requires DNR to administer the programs instead. The bill specifies that, if DNR provides wildlife damage abatement assistance to a person, DNR must determine the actual cost of providing that assistance and pay 75 percent of that cost, leaving the remaining 25 percent as the responsibility of the recipient.
The bill also eliminates the requirement under current law that a county participate in the administration of these programs in order to be eligible for reimbursement by DNR for the costs that the county incurs in processing and donating venison from certain deer carcasses and in processing and donating meat from certain wild turkey carcasses.
Wildlife damage claims
The bill increases from $10,000 to $25,000 the limit under current law on the total amount that may be paid to a claimant for each wildlife damage claim. The bill maintains the current law requirement that DNR pay wildlife damage claimants on a prorated basis if there is not a sufficient amount appropriated to pay all claims.