A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make various changes to the statutes governing the wildlife resources commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

STATE CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING EXEMPTION
SECTION 1.(a)  Article 24 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑254.7.  Powers of the Commission regarding certain fee negotiations, contracts, and capital improvements.
(a)	Notwithstanding G.S. 143‑341(3), the Commission shall, with respect to design, construction, repair, or renovation of property developments at boating access areas, public fishing areas, and game lands of the Commission requiring the estimated expenditure from sources other than tax revenues of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) or less:
(1)	Conduct the fee negotiations for all design contracts and supervise the letting of all construction and design contracts.
(2)	Develop procedures governing the responsibilities of the Commission to perform the duties of the Department of Administration and the Director or Office of State Construction under G.S. 133‑1.1(d) and G.S. 143‑341(3).
(b)	The Commission shall use the standard contracts for design and construction currently in use for State capital improvement projects by the Office of State Construction of the Department of Administration.
(c)	A contract may not be divided for the purpose of evading the monetary limit under this section.
(d)	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, the Department of Administration shall not be the awarding authority for contracts awarded under subsection (a) of this section.
(e)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall report no later than October 1 of each year to the State Building Commission the following information for the previous fiscal year:
(1)	A list of projects governed by this section.
(2)	The estimated cost of each project along with the actual cost.
(3)	The name of each person or business awarded a contract under this section.
(4)	Whether the person or business awarded a contract under this section meets the definition of "minority business" or "minority person" as defined in G.S. 143‑128.2(g)."
SECTION 1.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2021.

AUTHORIZE ACQUISITION OR CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OF THE COMMISSION
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 143C‑8‑12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143C‑8‑12.  Capital improvement projects from sources other than the General Fund.
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(c)	National Guard Projects. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, the North Carolina National Guard may approve expenditures for a capital project of the North Carolina National Guard if (i) the project will be funded entirely with federal funds and (ii) any operating costs associated with the project will be paid entirely with federal funds.
(c1)	Wildlife Resources Commission Projects. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, the Wildlife Resources Commission may approve expenditures for a capital project of the Wildlife Resources Commission if (i) the project will be funded entirely with agency receipts or federal funds and (ii) any operating costs associated with the project will be paid entirely with agency receipts or federal funds.
(d)	Reporting. – The Board of Governors, the National Guard, and the Wildlife Resources Commission shall report any expenditure made pursuant to this section to the Office of State Budget and Management and to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations."
SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2021.

MOTOR FLEET EXEMPTION
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 143‑341(8)i.3. reads as rewritten:
"3.	To require on a schedule determined by the Department all State agencies to transfer ownership, custody or control of any or all passenger motor vehicles within the ownership, custody or control of that agency to the Department, except those motor vehicles under the ownership, custody or control of the Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety, the Samarcand Training Academy, the Wildlife Resources Commission, or the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina which are used primarily for law‑enforcement purposes."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2021.

REVISE REQUIREMENTS FOR HARVEST OF BLACK BEAR
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 113‑291.7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑291.7.  Regulation of bears; limited retention of local acts closing bear seasons.
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(c)	Any hunter who has harvested a black bear (Ursus americanus) shall submit at least one premolar tooth to the Wildlife Resources Commission no later than January 31 following the applicable prior bear hunting season. The tooth submission shall include all of the following information on a form specified by the Wildlife Resources Commission:
(1)	The hunter's name and mailing address.
(2)	The hunter's Wildlife Resources Commission customer number and bear harvest authorization number.
(3)	The sex of the harvested bear.
(4)	The county of harvest.
(d)	Violation of subsection (c) of this section shall be an infraction as provided in G.S. 14‑3.1, punishable by a fine of thirty‑five dollars ($35.00). A person responsible for an infraction under this subsection shall not be assessed court costs, but the Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized to revoke or refuse to issue bear e‑stamp privileges for any individual guilty of an infraction for violations of subsection (c) of this section for two consecutive years or upon failure to pay outstanding infraction fines when required to do so."
SECTION 4.(b)  The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt temporary and permanent rules to implement this section.
SECTION 4.(c)  Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective October 1, 2021, and applies to bear hunting seasons beginning on or after that date.

WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION PROCLAMATION AUTHORITY
SECTION 5.  G.S. 113‑292 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f)	The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized to issue proclamations suspending or implementing, in whole or in part, inland fishing rules of the Commission in response to natural disasters, human health emergencies, and issues threatening or compromising the biological integrity of a species or population as provided in this subsection. The Commission may delegate this authority to the Executive Director, who shall maintain a permanent file of the text of all proclamations in the office of the Executive Director.
(1)	Each proclamation shall state the hour and date upon which it becomes effective and shall be issued at least 48 hours prior to its effective date and time, with the following exceptions:
a.	A proclamation that prohibits the taking of inland fish for reasons of public health or that governs a quota‑managed fishery may be made effective immediately upon issuance. A person who violates a proclamation that is made effective immediately upon issuance shall not be charged with a criminal offense for the violation if the violation occurred between the time of issuance and 48 hours after the issuance and the person did not have actual notice of the issuance of the proclamation.
b.	A proclamation to reopen the taking of certain fisheries resources closed for reasons of public health shall be issued at least 12 hours in advance of the effective date and time of the reopening.
(2)	Proclamations under this subsection shall remain in force until rescinded following the same procedure established for enactment.
(3)	Fisheries resources taken or possessed by any person in violation of any proclamation may be seized regardless of whether the person had actual notice of the proclamation or may be charged criminally under this subsection.
(4)	The Executive Director shall make reasonable effort to give notice of the terms of any proclamation to persons who may be affected by it. This effort shall include press releases to communications media, posting of notices at boating access areas and other places where persons affected may gather, personal communication by agents of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and other measures designed to reach persons who may be affected.
(5)	Certified copies of proclamations shall be entitled to judicial notice in any civil or criminal proceeding."

REPEAL COMMISSION LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT
SECTION 6.  Subsection 35(b) of S.L. 2015‑263 is repealed.

WILDLIFE CONTROL TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION AMENDMENTS
SECTION 7.(a)  G.S. 113‑273 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑273.  Other licenses.
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(l)	Wildlife Control Agent License. – An individual who engages in wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities, including bat eviction, for compensation, including reimbursement for the cost of materials, shall first procure a wildlife control agent license. This is an annual license issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for fifty dollars ($50.00). This license shall not be required for licensed trappers taking wild animals during the established trapping season for that species. The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to license wildlife control agents.
(l1)	Wildlife Control Technician Certification. – An individual who is under the direct supervision of a licensed wildlife control agent and who engages in wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities for compensation under the direct supervision of a licensed wildlife control agent shall first procure a wildlife control technician certification. This is an annual certification issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for twenty‑five dollars ($25.00). This certification shall not authorize the individual to issue depredation permits. This certification shall not be required for licensed trappers taking wild animals during the established trapping season for that species. For purposes of this subsection, the term "wildlife damage control or wildlife removal activities" shall include bat eviction and alligator damage control or removal activities, and the term "for compensation" shall include reimbursement for the cost of materials. The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to certify and set standards for wildlife control technicians.
(m)	Alligator Control Agent Certification. – An individual who engages in alligator damage control or removal activities for compensation, including reimbursement for the cost of materials, shall first procure an alligator control agent certification, as well as a wildlife control agent license under subsection (l) of this section. This is an annual certification issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission for twenty‑five dollars ($25.00). The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to certify alligator control agents. This certification does not include privileges conveyed with an endangered species permit. The endangered species permit shall be obtained prior to conducting activities under the authorization of this certification."
SECTION 7.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2021.

VETERANS EXEMPTION FOR MOUNTAIN HERITAGE TROUT WATERS LICENSE
SECTION 8.(a)  G.S. 113‑276 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(l3)	A resident or nonresident of this State who served as a member of the Armed Forces and who separated under honorable conditions is exempt from the Mountain Heritage Trout fishing license requirements of G.S. 113‑271(d)(10) while fishing in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as Mountain Heritage Trout waters. In order to qualify for the exemption provided under this subsection, the person shall have valid documentation of their service on his or her person at all times during the fishing activity."
SECTION 8.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2021.

WATERFOWL HUNTING PUBLIC PROPERTY
SECTION 9.(a)  Section 1 of S.L. 2019‑98 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 1.  During the waterfowl seasons established by the Wildlife Resources Commission, it shall be unlawful to do any of the following:
(1)	Leave or place any equipment or vessels that may be used for the purpose of taking migratory waterfowl, including, but not limited to, mobile or temporary blinds, layout boats, and decoys between two hours after sunset and 4:00 A.M. each day unless remaining on a portion of the shoreline or attached to a dock as authorized by the owner of the shoreline or dock.
(2)	Leave unattended or unoccupied any equipment or vessels that may be used for the purpose of taking migratory waterfowl, including, but not limited to, mobile or temporary blinds, layout boats, and decoys between 4:00 A.M. and two hours after sunset each day. All such unattended equipment and unoccupied vessels must be removed by two hours after sunset each day unless remaining on a portion of the shoreline or attached to a dock as authorized by the owner of the shoreline or dock."
SECTION 9.(b)  This section applies only to Roanoke Rapids Lake in Halifax and Northampton Counties.
SECTION 9.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

RESPONSIBLE HUNTER TRAINING
SECTION 10.(a)  No later than June 30, 2021, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall develop a manual of practices to identify customary and responsible methods and practices of hunting deer with dogs, with an emphasis on respect for property rights and safety. The manual shall include best practices for safely hunting deer with dogs, documentation of the history of hunting deer with dogs, and applicable property and trespass laws. No later than July 31, 2021, the Commission shall publish the manual of practices and include information on deer dog hunting best practices in the hunter safety course as required by Section 10(b) of this act. In developing the manual of practices and course of instruction for hunting deer with dogs, the Commission shall consult with organizations promoting or conducting dog hunting in the State.
SECTION 10.(b)  G.S. 113‑270.1A(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in hunter ethics, wildlife laws and regulations, and competency and safety in the handling of firearms, and in so doing, may cooperate with any political subdivision, or with any reputable organization. The course of instruction shall include information on best practices for safely hunting deer with dogs, documentation of the history of hunting deer with dogs, and applicable property and trespass laws. The course of instruction shall be conducted as follows:
…."
SECTION 10.(c)  Subsection (b) of this section becomes effective July 31, 2021. The remainder of this section is effective when it becomes law.

PREPARATION FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
SECTION 11.(a)  Article 12 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑254.7.  Appropriation and emergency power to combat Chronic Wasting Disease.
If the Commission determines that an outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease in the State constitutes a significant threat to deer and other cervid species, the Commission may declare a wildlife emergency. Upon declaration of the wildlife emergency, the Commission shall request needed additional funding for immediate investigation, containment, and eradication of the outbreak from the Contingency and Emergency Fund to the Council of State for approval following the process set forth in G.S. 143C‑4‑4(c). The approved funds will be allocated by the State Controller to a special fund called the Chronic Wasting Disease Emergency Response Fund (CWD Response Fund). Funds allocated to the CWD Response Fund are appropriated to the Wildlife Resources Commission for the purposes for which the funds are requested and approved. The Commission shall request any federal funds available to combat Chronic Wasting Disease in cervids, and any such funds obtained will be used to offset State funds appropriated under this section to the extent allowed by applicable law. The Commission will inform the Office of State Budget and Management of the amount of State funds offset by federal funds, and the Office of State Budget and Management shall direct the State Controller to transfer these funds from the CWD Response Fund to the Contingency and Emergency Fund upon receipt of the federal funds."
SECTION 11.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2021.

RESTORE WILDLIFE PROTECTOR INSPECTION AUTHORITY
SECTION 12.  G.S. 113‑136 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑136.  Enforcement authority of inspectors and protectors; refusal to obey or allow inspection by inspectors and protectors.
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(k)	It is unlawful to refuse to exhibit upon request by any inspector, protector, or other law enforcement officer any item required to be carried by any law or rule as to which inspectors or protectors have enforcement jurisdiction. The items that must be exhibited include boating safety or other equipment or any license, permit, tax receipt, certificate, or identification. It is unlawful to refuse to allow inspectors, protectors, or other law enforcement officers to inspect weapons, equipment, fish, or wildlife if the officer reasonably believes them to be possessed incident to an activity regulated by any law or rule as to which inspectors and protectors have enforcement jurisdiction.

	
	
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HALF‑PRICED LIFETIME LICENSES FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS
SECTION 13.(a)  G.S. 113‑270.1D reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑270.1D.  Sportsman licenses.
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(b)	Lifetime Sportsman Licenses. – Lifetime sportsman licenses are valid for the lifetime of the licensees. Lifetime sportsman licenses entitle the licensees to take all wild animals and wild birds by all lawful methods, except trapping, in all open seasons, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, but do not entitle the licensee to engage in fishing in coastal fishing waters, except if the license was purchased before January 1, 2006, pursuant to G.S. 113‑174.2(d)(2). A lifetime sportsman license issued under this subsection entitles the licensee to access and use Wildlife Resources Commission Property. Lifetime sportsman licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
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(3)	Adult Resident Lifetime Sportsman License – $500.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age. Except for individuals qualifying for a discounted license pursuant to G.S. 113‑276(o), a resident who is 50 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age shall be eligible to purchase this license at fifty percent (50%) of the applicable fee.
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SECTION 13.(b)  G.S. 113‑351 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑351.  Unified hunting and fishing licenses; subsistence license waiver.
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(c)	Types of Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses; Fees; Duration. – The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses:
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(3)	Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses. – A license issued under this subdivision is valid for the lifetime of the licensee. A license issued under this subdivision authorizes the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands; to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters; and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters. [The licenses are as follows:]
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c.	Resident Adult Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. – $675.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age. Except for individuals qualifying for a discounted license pursuant to G.S. 113‑276(o), a resident who is 50 years of age or older but younger than 70 years of age shall be eligible to purchase this license at fifty percent (50%) of the applicable fee.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 14.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.