H765 - Regulatory Reform Act of 2015, Secs. 4.33, 4.34, and 4.35: Wildlife Resources Commission Studies (SL 2015-286)

Overview: Secs. 4.33, 4.34, and 4.35 of S.L. 2015-286 direct the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) to study several matters as follows:

• Section 4.33 directs the WRC to review the methods and criteria by which it adds, removes, or changes the status of animals on the State Protected animal list and compare these to federal regulations and the methods and criteria of other States in the region. This section also directs the WRC to review the State's policies for addressing introduced species and make recommendations for improving these policies. The WRC must report its findings to the Environmental Review Commission (ERC) by March 1, 2016.
• Section 4.34 directs the WRC to establish a coyote management plan to address the impacts of coyotes in this State and the threats that coyotes pose to citizens, industries, and populations of native wildlife species within the State. The WRC must report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation to address overpopulation of coyotes, to the ERC by March 1, 2016.
• Section 4.35 directs the WRC to establish a pilot coyote management assistance program in Mitchell County to document and assess private property damage associated with coyotes; evaluate effectiveness of different coyote control methodologies, including lethal removal; and evaluate potential for a scalable statewide coyote assistance program. The WRC must submit an interim report on the progress of the pilot program to the ERC by March 1, 2016, and a final report by January 1, 2017.

These sections became effective October 22, 2015.