ASSEMBLY, No. 2634

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 3, 2004

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ANTHONY CHIAPPONE

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Panter

SYNOPSIS

    Prohibits black bear hunting for five years and until study is issued by Fish and Game Council; appropriates $95,000.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 6/25/2004)

An Act concerning the hunting of black bear and making an appropriation.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or provision of the State Fish and Game Code to the contrary, there shall be no open season nor any hunting by permit for black bear anywhere in the State prior to five years after the effective date of this act and until a study is conducted by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

    b. The Fish and Game Council shall, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this act, conduct a study setting forth (1) the status and management of the black bear population in the State, (2) an analysis of the population growth of black bear in the State, and (3) information on the availability, effectiveness, and implementation of alternative black bear population control methods, reproductive control methods, and sterilization control methods. Upon completion of this study, the State Fish and Game Council shall submit a written report to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Governor, and both Houses of the Legislature.

    2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Fish and Game Council the sum of $95,000 to carry out the purposes of this act.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would impose a statutory moratorium on black bear hunting in the State for five years after the date of enactment of this bill and require the State Fish and Game Council to conduct a study on the black bear population in the State.

    The provisions of the bill would provide that the Fish and Game Council shall, within 18 months after the enactment of this bill, conduct a study setting forth (1) the status and management of the black bear population in the State, (2) an analysis of the population growth of black bear in the State, and (3) information on the availability, effectiveness, and implementation of alternative black bear population control methods, reproductive control methods, and sterilization control methods. Upon completion of this study, the State Fish and Game Council shall submit a written report to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Governor, and both Houses of the Legislature.

    This bill also would appropriate $95,000 to the Fish and Game Council for the preparation and completion of the study.