127th General Assembly
(H. Agriculture & Natural Resources)
With respect to the bill's requirement that an applicant for a new commercial fishing license and renewal of a commercial fishing license and an applicant for a permit to handle fish bought or sold at wholesale cannot have a prior conviction of or guilty plea to a felony under state or federal law concerning commercial fishing, adds a grandfather clause specifying that such an applicant cannot have such a prior conviction of or guilty plea to a felony on or after the bill's effective date.
With respect to the bill's permanent revocation of all commercial fishing licenses and all permits to handle fish at wholesale held by a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony under state or federal law concerning commercial fishing, adds a grandfather clause specifying that such a licensee or permittee cannot have such a prior conviction of or guilty plea to a felony on or after the bill's effective date.
Eliminates a provision established in the bill that authorizes the Chief of the Division of Wildlife or any authorized employee of the Division of Wildlife to inspect sealed criminal conviction records for the purpose of the issuance or renewal of a commercial fishing license or the issuance of a permit to handle fish at wholesale.
Increases the time periods for the suspension of a commercial fishing license or a permit to handle fish at wholesale due to a first or second violation of specified statutes governing commercial fishing or rules pertaining to those statutes.
Reinstates current law that was eliminated by the bill and that requires the Chief and the Wildlife Council, in establishing the quota management system by determining the apportionment of the maximum allowable annual taking of a fish species between the sport and commercial fisheries and within the commercial fishery, to be guided by the proportional taking of the species during the immediately preceding five years.
Codifies in statutory law several provisions and concepts that are currently established in rules that are adopted by the Chief and govern commercial fishing.
With respect to any proposed adoption of or change to a rule that regulates commercial fishing, requires the Chief to provide, by certified mail, notification of the proposal to each holder of a valid commercial fishing license.
Creates the Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Regulatory Reform Task Force to evaluate certain fisheries management practices with respect to Lake Erie and to make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Division of Wildlife regarding statutory, rulemaking, and regulatory changes.
S0077-127.doc/ss 06/26/07