SENATE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1777

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 17, 1997

      The Senate Environment Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1777.

      Under current law, New Jersey resident hunters and trappers must take firearm, bow and arrow, or trapping safety and proficiency courses, as the case may be, taught by personnel or authorized agents of the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife as a prerequisite to obtaining their hunting or trapping licenses. The current practice of the division, at least with regard to the firearm safety course, is to require a New Jersey resident to take the course even if the person has satisfactorily completed a similar course in another state to obtain a nonresident hunting license in that state. This bill would eliminate the requirement to take, in New Jersey, a second safety and proficiency course in that limited instance with respect to the firearm, bow and arrow, or trapping safety and proficiency courses, as the case may be, provided that the New Jersey resident license applicant submits written proof of satisfactory completion of a course, for nonresidents, in another state that is essentially equivalent, as determined by the division, to the course taught in New Jersey.