AB 89 — Revises provisions relating to wildlife. (BDR 45-588)

(ReprintedAssembly withBill amendmentsNo. adopted on April 12, 2021) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

8989–Assemblymen ATitus SSEMBLYand BWatts ILLNCHAPTER.......... O.

89–ASSEMBLYMEN TITUS AND W ATTS F EBRUARY 2, 2021 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to wildlife.

(BDR 45-588) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

No.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Existing law requires, with certain exceptions, a person who hunts or fishes any wildlife in this State to obtain a license for such activities and, if he or she wishes to hunt certain designated big game mammals, to obtain an additional license, known wishes to as a tag, to do so.

(NRS 502Section502.Section 4.5 of this bill provides that the death of a big game hunter is an extenuating circumstance and authorizes the Commission to establish a process by which a family member of the deceased big game hunter may transfer the tag of the deceased big game hunter to another person.

Section 1 of this bill authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations establishing a program that allows a person to transfer his or her tag to hunt a big agame disabilitymammal orto life-threateningan medicaleligible condition;qualified organization for use by a person who:

or(1) (2)has is 16 years of age oras younger and is otherwise eligible to hunt in this State.

Section 4 of - *AB89_R1* – 2 – this bill makes conforming changes to provide that the transfer of a tag under this program is an exception to the general prohibition on the transfer of tags.

Existing law prohibits a child under the age of 12 from hunting big game mammal in this State and provides that an apprentice hunting license issued to a person 12 years of age or older does not authorize the person to hunt any animal for provide that a person under 16 years of age who participates in a programbill established by the Commission pursuant to section 1 may hunt a big game mammal for which a tag is required.

(NRS- 502.010,81st 502.066)Session Sections(2021) – 2 and– 3EXPLANATION of– thisMatter bill provide that a person under 16 years of age who participates in abolded programitalics established by the Commission pursuant to section 1 may hunt a big game mammal for which a tag is required.new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Any regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 1 must include, without limitation, provisions setting forth the manner in which a qualified organization may apply for eligibility to participate in the program and allow a person to use a tag to hunt a big game mammal pursuant to subsection 1.

or - *AB89_R1* – 3 – (II) Whose household income is not more than 150 percent of the federally designated level signifying poverty.

Sec.502.010 1.NRS 5A person who hunts or fishes any wildlife without having first procured a license or permit to do so, as provided in this title, is guilty of a misdemeanor, except that:

2.- 81st Session (2021) – 3 – State who is under 12 years of age, unless required for the issuanceis of tags as prescribed in this title or by the regulations of the Commission.

NRS 502.010 is hereby amended to read as follows:

502.010 1.

A person who hunts or fishes any wildlife without having first procured a license or permit to do so, as provided in this title, is guilty of a misdemeanor, except that:

(a) A license to hunt or fish is not required of a resident of this State who is under 12 years of age, unless required for the issuance of tags as prescribed in this title or by the regulations of the Commission.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6 or 7 of NRS 202.300 and NRS 502.066, it is unlawful for any child who is under 18 years of age to hunt any wildlife with any firearm, unless the child is accompanied at all times by the child’s parent or guardian or is accompanied at all times by an adult person authorized by the child’s parent or guardian to have control or custody of the child to hunt if the authorized person is also licensed to hunt.

(d) A child under 12 years of age, whether accompanied by a qualified person or not, shall not hunt big game in the State of Nevada [.] unless he or she participates in a program established pursuant to section 1 of this act.

502.066license 1.to a person who:ment shall issue an apprentice hunting (a) Is 12 years of age or older;

The(b) DepartmentHas shallnot issuepreviously anbeen apprenticeissued a hunting license toby the Department, another state, an agency of a personCanadian who:province or an agency of any other foreign country, including, without limitation, an apprentice hunting license;

(a) Is 12 years of age or older;

(b) Has not previously been issued a hunting license by the Department, another state, an agency of a Canadian province or an - *AB89_R1* – 4 – agency of any other foreign country, including, without limitation, an apprentice hunting license;

- 81st Session (2021) – 4 – 2.

4.unless a mentor hunter accompanies and directly supervises thes State apprentice hunter at all times during a hunt.

It is unlawful for an apprentice hunter to hunt in this State unless a mentor hunter accompanies and directly supervises the apprentice hunter at all times during a hunt.

(a) “Accompanies and directly supervises” means maintains close visual and verbal contact with, provides adequate direction to and maintains the ability readily to assume control of any firearm or weapon from an apprentice hunter.

- *AB89_R1* – 5 – 1.

- 81st Session (2021) – 5 – 2.

502.103establishing: 1.

The Commission may adopt regulations establishing:(a) Conditions or events which are extenuating circumstances;