GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

 

 

HOUSE BILL 296

RATIFIED BILL

 

 

AN ACT to (1) adjust the fees charged for certain hunting and fishing licenses issued by the wildlife resources commission and repeal THE county hunting, FISHING, AND TRAPPING licenseS and the Noncommercial Special Device Licenses; (2) establish a black bear management stamp that must be procured before taking bear within the state and amend the law restricting the taking of black bear with bait; (3) adjust the age for discounted special licenses from age Sixty-five to age seventy; (4) provide that EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, those hunting and fishing license fees in effect shall remain at the existing levels until the wildlife resources commission establishes new fees through rule making, AND AUTHORIZE THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH LICENSE FEES THROUGH RULE MAKING BEGINNING IN 2015; (5) replace the current six percent wildlife service agent commission fee with a two-dollar transaction fee; (6) provide that no more than twenty-five percent of the wildlife resources commission's authorized operating budget shall be kept in reserve; and (7) provide an annual target for utilization of the annual expendable interest of the wildlife endowment fund.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113-270.1C(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      Combination hunting and inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

(1)        Resident Annual Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing License - $20.00.$25.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

.…"

SECTION 2.  G.S. 113-270.1D reads as rewritten:

"§ 113-270.1D.  Sportsman licenses.

(a)        Annual Sportsman License - $40.00. $50.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters. An annual sportsman license issued under this subsection does not entitle the licensee to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters.

(b)        Lifetime Sportsman Licenses. Except as provided in subdivision (7) of this subsection, lifetime sportsman licenses are valid for the lifetime of the licensees. Lifetime sportsman licenses entitle the licensees to take all wild animals and wild birds by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters. A lifetime sportsman license issued under this subsection does not entitle the licensee to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. Lifetime sportsman licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

(4)        Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman License - $1,000.$1,200. This license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State.

(5)        Age 6570 Resident Lifetime Sportsman License - $15.00.This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 6570 years of age.

(6)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.7 effective January 1, 2007.

(7)        Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Sportsman License - $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

(8)        Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Sportsman License - $100.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration.Administration or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 113-270.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       The hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident State Hunting License - $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(3)        Resident County Hunting License - $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid only in the county of residence of the license holder.

(4)        Controlled Hunting Preserve Hunting License - $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident to take only foxes and domestically raised game birds, other than wild turkey, only within a controlled hunting preserve licensed and operated in accordance with G.S. 113-273(g) and implementing rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

(5)        Resident Annual Comprehensive Hunting License - $30.00.$36.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(6)        Nonresident State Hunting License. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident. The nonresident State hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Season License - $60.00.$80.00.

b.         Six-Day Ten-Day License - $40.00.$60.00. This license is valid for the six10 consecutive dates indicated on the license."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 113-270.3 reads as rewritten:

"§ 113-270.3.  Special activity licenses; stamps; big game kill reports.

(a)        In addition to any hunting, trapping, or fishing license that may be required pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1B(a), individuals engaging in specially regulated activities must have the appropriate special activity license and stamp prescribed in this section before engaging in the regulated activity.

(b)        The special activity licenses and stamp issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Big Game Hunting License - $10.00. $13.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons.

(1a)      Nonresident Bear Hunting License - $125.00.$225.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual within the State and must be procured before taking any bear within the State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nonresident individual may not take any bear within the State without procuring this license; provided, that those persons who have a nonresident lifetime sportsman combination license purchased prior to May 24, 1994, shall not have to purchase this license.

(1b)      Bear Management Stamp - $10.00. This electronically generated stamp must be procured before taking any bear within the State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a resident or nonresident individual may not take any bear within the State without procuring this stamp; provided, that those persons who have purchased a lifetime license established by G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-270.2(c)(2), or 113-351(c)(3) prior to July 1, 2014, and those persons exempt from the license requirements as set forth in G.S. 113-276(c) and G.S. 113-276(n) shall obtain this stamp free of charge. All of the revenue generated by this stamp shall be dedicated to black bear research and management.

(2)        Nonresident Big Game Hunting License. This license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take big game by all lawful methods and during all open seasons. The nonresident big game hunting licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Season License - $60.00. $80.00.

b.         Six-DayTen-Day License - $40.00. $60.00. This license is only valid for the six10 consecutive dates indicated on the license.

(5)        Migratory Waterfowl Hunting License - $10.00.$13.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to take migratory waterfowl in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Wildlife Resources Commission may implement this license requirement through the sale of an official waterfowl stamp which may be a facsimile, in an appropriate size, of the waterfowl conservation print authorized by G.S. 113-270.2B. An amount not less than one-half of the annual proceeds from the sale of this license shall be used by the Commission for cooperative waterfowl habitat improvement projects through contracts with local waterfowl interests, with the remainder of the proceeds to be used by the Commission in its statewide programs for the conservation of waterfowl."

SECTION 5.  G.S. 113-270.4(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The hunting and fishing guide licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources are:

(1)        Resident Hunting and Fishing Guide License - $10.00. $15.00. This license is valid for use only by an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Nonresident Hunting and Fishing Guide License - $100.00.$150.00. This license is valid for use by a nonresident individual in the State."

SECTION 6.  G.S. 113-270.5(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The trapping licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident State Trapping License - $25.00.$30.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Resident County Trapping License - $10.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State within the county in which he resides.

(3)        Nonresident State Trapping License - $100.00.$125.00. This license is valid for use by an individual within the State."

SECTION 7.  G.S. 113-271(d) reads as rewritten:

"(d)      The hook-and-line fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Annual Comprehensive Inland Fishing License - $20.00. $25.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(2)        Resident State Inland Fishing License - $15.00. $20.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.

(4)        Resident County Inland Fishing License - $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State and is valid only within the county of residence of the licensee.

(5)        Nonresident State Inland Fishing License - $30.00. $36.00. This license shall be issued to an individual nonresident of the State.

(6)        Short-Term Inland Fishing Licenses. Short-term inland fishing licenses are valid only for the date or consecutive dates indicated on the licenses. Short-term inland fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:

a.         Resident 10-day Inland Fishing License - $5.00. $7.00. This license shall be issued only to a resident of the State.

b.         Nonresident 10-day Inland Fishing License - $10.00. $18.00. This license shall be issued only to a nonresident of the State.

c.         Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.

(6a)      Age 6570 Resident Lifetime Inland Fishing License - $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 6570 years of age.

(6b)      Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Inland Fishing License - $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.Affairs or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

(6c)      Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Inland Fishing License - $10.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. Administration or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

(7),       (8) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-455, s. 1.8, effective January 1, 2007.

(9)        Special Landholder and Guest Fishing License - $50.00. $100.00. This license shall be issued only to the landholder of private property bordering inland or joint fishing waters. This license shall entitle the landholder and guests of the landholder to fish from the shore or any pier or dock originating from the property without any additional fishing license. This license is applicable only to private property and private docks and piers and is not valid for any public property, pier, or dock nor for any private property, pier, or dock operated for any commercial purpose whatsoever. This license shall not be in force unless displayed on the premises of the property and only entitles fishing without additional license to persons fishing from the licensed property and then only when fishing within the private  property lines. This license is not transferable as to person or location. For purposes of this subdivision, a guest is any individual invited by the landholder to fish from the property at no charge. A charge includes any fee, assessment, dues, rent, or other consideration which must be paid, whether directly or indirectly, in order to be allowed to fish from the property, regardless of the stated reason for such charge."

SECTION 8.  G.S. 113-272 reads as rewritten:

"§ 113-272.  Special trout license; mountain heritage trout waters 3-day fishing license.

(d)        Special Trout License: Fee. - $10.00. $13.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and entitles the holder to fish with hook and line in public mountain trout waters.

(e)        Mountain Heritage Trout Waters 3-Day Fishing License: Fee. - $5.00. This license shall be issued to an individual resident or nonresident of the State and shall entitle the holder to fish in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as mountain heritage trout waters for the three consecutive days indicated on the license. An individual who holds a mountain heritage trout waters 3-day fishing license does not need to hold a hook-and-line fishing license issued pursuant to G.S. 113-271 in order to fish in mountain heritage trout waters."

SECTION 9.  G.S. 113-272.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       The special device licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are as follows:

(1)        Resident Noncommercial Special Device License - $10.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State. It authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland fishing waters with no more than three special devices authorized by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission for use in specified waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission may restrict the user of the license to specified registered equipment, require tagging of items of equipment, charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per tag issued, and require periodic catch data reports. Unless specifically prohibited, nongame fish lawfully taken under this license may be sold.

(1a)      Resident Commercial Special Device License - $100.00. $75.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual resident of the State. It authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland fishing waters with four or more special devices authorized by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission for use in specified waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission may restrict the user of the license to specified registered equipment, require tagging of items of equipment, charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per tag issued, and require periodic catch data reports. Nongame fish lawfully taken under this license may be sold.

(2)        Nonresident Noncommercial Special Device License - $50.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid for use only by an individual within the State. It is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(2a)      Nonresident Commercial Special Device License - $200.00. $500.00. Except as rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission provide for use of equipment by more than one person, this license is valid only for use by an individual within the State. It is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in subdivision (1a) of this subsection.

(3),       (4) Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 156, s. 11."

SECTION 10.  G.S. 113-351(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       Types of Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses; Fees; Duration. - The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following Unified Hunting and Fishing Licenses:

(1)        Annual Resident Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $55.00.$65.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State. This license authorizes the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands; to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters; and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

(2)        Annual Resident Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $35.00.$40.00. This license is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State. This license authorizes the licensee to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

(3)        Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses. - Except as provided in sub-subdivision f. of this subdivision, a license issued under this subdivision is valid for the lifetime of the licensee. A license issued under this subdivision authorizes the licensee to take all wild animals and wild birds, including waterfowl, by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands; to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters; and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

c.         Resident Adult Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $675.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 6570 years of age and who is a resident of the State.

d.         Nonresident Adult Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $1,350.$1,550. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older and who is not a resident of the State.

e.         Resident Age 6570 Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $30.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 6570 years of age or older and who is a resident of the State.

f.          Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $110.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Affairs or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled.

g.         Resident Totally Disabled Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $110.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who is totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration.Administration or as established by rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

(4)        Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses. - Except as provided in sub-subdivisions b. and c. of this subdivision, a license issued under this subdivision is valid for the lifetime of the licensee. A license issued under this subdivision authorizes the licensee to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland fishing waters and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters, and to engage in recreational fishing in coastal fishing waters.

a.         Resident Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - $450.00.

b.         Resident Legally Blind Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - No charge. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who has been certified by the Department of Health and Human Services as an individual whose vision with glasses is insufficient for use in ordinary occupations for which sight is essential. This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains legally blind.

c.         Resident Adult Care Home Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License. - No charge. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is a resident of the State and who resides in an adult care home as defined in G.S. 131D-2.1 or G.S. 131E-101(1). This license remains valid for the lifetime of the licensee so long as the licensee remains a resident of an adult care home."

SECTION 11.  G.S. 113-174.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       Types of CRFLs; Fees; Duration. - The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue the following CRFLs:

(6)        Lifetime CRFLs. - Except as provided in sub-subdivision j. of this subdivision, CRFLs issued under this subdivision are valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

g.         Resident Adult Lifetime CRFL. - $250.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 12 years of age or older but younger than 6570 years of age and who is a resident of the State.

i.          Resident Age 6570 Lifetime CRFL. - $15.00. This license shall be issued only to an individual who is 6570 years of age or older and who is a resident of the State.

…."

SECTION 12.  G.S. 113-291.1(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      No wild animals or wild birds may be taken:

(1)        From or with the use of any vehicle; vessel, other than one manually propelled; airplane; or other conveyance except that the use of vehicles and vessels is authorized:

a.         As hunting stands, subject to the following limitations. No wild animal or wild bird may be taken from any vessel under sail, under power, or with the engine running or while still in motion from such propulsion. No wild animal or wild bird may be taken from any vehicle if it is in motion, the engine is running, or the passenger area of the vehicle is occupied. The prohibition of occupying the passenger area of a vehicle does not apply to a disabled individual whose mobility is restricted.

b.         For transportation incidental to the taking.

(2)        With the use or aid of any artificial light, net, trap, snare, electronic or recorded animal or bird call, or fire, except as may be otherwise provided by statute[;] provided, however, that the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules prescribing seasons and the manner of taking of wild animals and wild birds with the use of artificial light and electronic calls. No wild birds may be taken with the use or aid of salt, grain, fruit, or other bait. No black bear may be taken with the use or aid of any salt, salt lick, grain, fruit, honey, sugar-based material, animal parts or products, or other bait, and no except as provided by the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission. However, no rule established by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall allow for the taking of a black bear with the use and aid of bear bait attractants, including scented sprays, aerosols, scent balls, and scent powders, and no rule established by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall allow for the taking of a black bear while it is consuming bait. No wild turkey may be taken from an area in which bait has been placed until the expiration of 10 days after the bait has been consumed or otherwise removed. The taking of wild animals and wild birds with poisons, drugs, explosives, and electricity is governed by G.S. 113-261, G.S. 113-262, and Article 22A of this Subchapter.

Upon finding that the placement of processed food products in areas frequented by black bears is detrimental to the health of individual black bears or is attracting and holding black bears in an area to the extent that the natural pattern of movement and distribution of black bears is disrupted and bears' vulnerability to mortality factors, including hunting, is increased to a level that causes concern for the population, the Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the placement of those products and prescribe time limits during which hunting is prohibited in areas where those products have been placed.

Any person who is convicted of unlawfully taking bear with the use or aid of any type of bait as provided by this subsection or by rules adopted pursuant to this subsection is punishable as provided by G.S. 113-294(c1)."

SECTION 13.  Chapter 828 of the 1981 Session Laws is repealed.

SECTION 14.  G.S. 113-276 reads as rewritten:

"§ 113-276.  Exemptions and exceptions to license and permit requirements.

(a),       (b) Repealed by Session Laws 1979, c. 830, s. 1.

(c)        Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, every landholder, his spouse, and dependents under 18 years of age residing with him may take wildlife upon the land held by the landholder without any license required by G.S. 113-270.1B or G.S. 113-270.3(a), except that such persons are not exempt from the bear management stamp established in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(1b) and the falconry license described in G.S. 113-270.3(b)(4).

(n)        The Wildlife Resources Commission may adopt rules to exempt individuals from the hunting and fishing license requirements of G.S. 113-270.1B, 113-270.3(b)(1), 113-270.3(b)(1a), 113-270.3(b)(1b), 113-270.3(b)(2), 113-270.3(b)(3), 113-270.3(b)(5), 113-271, 113-272, and 113-272.2(c)(1) who participate in organized hunting and fishing events for the specified time and place of the event when the purpose of the event is consistent with the conservation objectives of the Commission. A person exempted from licensing requirements under this subsection is responsible for complying with any reporting requirements prescribed by rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission, purchasing any federal migratory waterfowl stamps as a result of waterfowl hunting activity, and complying with any other requirements that the holder of a North Carolina license is subject to. Those exempted persons shall comply with the hunter safety requirements of G.S. 113-270.1A or shall be accompanied by a properly licensed adult who maintains a proximity to the license exempt individual which enables the adult to monitor the activities of, and communicate with, the individual at all times."

SECTION 15.  G.S. 113-270.1(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      License agents may deduct from the amount collected for each license or permit a fee of six percent (6%).charge a fee of two dollars ($2.00) per transaction for licenses or permits issued."

SECTION 16.  G.S. 113-270.1B is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c)       For those licenses sold directly through the Commission by telephone, mail, online, or at a service counter, the Commission may charge a fee of two dollars ($2.00) per transaction. A fee may not be charged by the Commission for federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification, big game harvest report cards for lifetime license holders, exempt landowners, persons of less than 16 years of age, or for any other license or vessel transactions for which there is no charge."

SECTION 17.  G.S. 75A-5.2(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c)       As compensation for services rendered to the Commission and to the general public, vessel agents shall receive the following specified commission from the statutory fee for each listed transaction:surcharge listed below. The surcharge shall be added to the fee for each certificate issued.

(1)        Renewal of certificate of number - $1.25.$3.00.

(2)        Transfer of ownership and certificate of number - $3.00.$5.00.

(3)        Issuance of new certificate of number - $3.00.$5.00.

(4)        Issuance of duplicate certificate of number - $0.50.$3.00.

(5)        Issuance or transfer of certificate of title - $3.00.$5.00."

SECTION 18.  Article 24 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 143-249.1.  Operating budget.

No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the certified operating budget of the Wildlife Resources Commission shall be allowed to accumulate in a cash balance. It is the intent of the General Assembly to implement in any subsequent fiscal year a nonrecurring reduction in an amount equal to the cash balance that exceeds twenty-five percent (25%) of the authorized operating budget in the prior fiscal year."

SECTION 19.  G.S. 143-250.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(f1)     At all times during which the cash balance in the Wildlife Endowment Fund is equal to or greater than the sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), the Wildlife Resources Commission shall budget at least fifty percent (50%) of the annual expendable interest from the Fund, as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, to implement the conservation goals set forth in the Wildlife Resource Commission's strategic plan."

SECTION 20.(a)  Effective January 1, 2015, the statutory fees for the hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall remain at the levels existing on that date until the rules required to be adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section become effective.

SECTION 20.(b)  The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules to establish fees for the hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission.  No rule to increase fees above January 1, 2015, levels may increase a fee in excess of the average increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers over the preceding five years.

SECTION 20.(c)  The statutory fees for the hunting, fishing, trapping, and activity licenses issued and administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission shall expire when the rules adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section become effective.

SECTION 21.  All discounted licenses for persons at least 65 years of age provided for in G.S. 113-270.1D(b), 113-271(d), 113-351(c), and 113-174.2(c) for which the age requirement is increased from 65 to 70 by Sections 2, 7, 10, and 11 of this act shall remain available at age 65 for all persons who were born on or before August 1, 1953.

SECTION 22.  Sections 1 through 11 and Sections 14 and 21 of this act become effective August 1, 2014. Sections 12 and 13 are effective when they become law. Sections 15, 16, 17, and 18 of this act become effective January 1, 2014. Section 20 becomes effective January 1, 2015. The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2013.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of July, 2013.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  Thom Tillis

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

 

 

 

                                                                        _____________________________________

                                                                         Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

 

 

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2013