HB 862 -- WILDLIFE CODE VIOLATIONS

SPONSOR:  Holand

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Conservation and Natural Resources by a vote of 17 to 0.

In addition to the existing class A misdemeanor charge, this bill
requires anyone convicted of illegally taking or possessing an
antlered deer with the intent to sell to remit to the
Conservation Commission an amount ranging from $1,500 to $7,500,
depending on the deer's Boone & Crockett score.  Resident
landowners on their own property and individuals guilty of minor
tagging or checking violations are exempt.  The commission may
allocate up to 25% of the funds for grants that promote anti-
poaching activities.

The bill also requires courts to notify the commission if anyone
fails to appear at a hearing or pay a fine for taking wildlife
illegally.  The commission may consider this information in
permit suspension, revocation, or denial actions.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and
FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the intent of the bill is to
keep poachers from getting away with a $200 penalty on a trophy
buck that will sell for more than $1,000.  About 2% of the deer
population in Missouri has the attributes mentioned in the bill.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Holand; Department of
Conservation; and Conservation Federation of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Marc Webb, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am