Bill Text: CT HB05469 | 2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Bear Hunting.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-09 - Public Hearing 03/14 [HB05469 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2018-HB05469-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 5469
February Session, 2018		LCO No. 2080
		*02080_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING BEAR HUNTING.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2018) (a) Any person who takes bear in violation of this part shall (1) for a first offense, be fined not more than seven hundred fifty dollars, of which five hundred dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall suspend such person's hunting license for a period of not less than one year, (2) for a second offense, be fined not more than one thousand dollars, of which seven hundred fifty dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, and the commissioner shall permanently revoke such person's hunting license, and (3) for a third or subsequent offense, be fined not more than two thousand dollars, of which one thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from designating an open season on the hunting of bear pursuant to this part.

Sec. 2. Section 26-80a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(a) Any person who takes moose [or bear] in violation of this part shall (1) for a first offense, be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall suspend such person's hunting license for a period of not less than one year, (2) for a second offense, be fined not more than seven hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than three months, or both, and the commissioner shall suspend such person's hunting license for a period of not less than two years, and (3) for a third or subsequent offense, be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, and the commissioner shall permanently revoke such person's hunting license.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from designating an open season on the hunting of moose [and bear] pursuant to this part.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2018	New section
Sec. 2	October 1, 2018	26-80a

Statement of Purpose:

To increase the penalties for illegally taking a bear.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]