SB420: SB420 License, Permit, Tag, and Stamp Fees; fees for reef and migratory fish endorsement; provide

26 LC 44 3323 Senate Bill 420 By: Senators Echols of the 49th, Anderson of the 24th, Gooch of the 51st, Anavitarte of the 31st, Still of the 48th and others AS PASSED SENATE A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 27-2-23 of the Official Code of Georgia A nnotated, relating to1 license, permit, tag, and stamp fees, so as to provide for fees for reef and migratory fish2 endorsements; to provide for recreational and commercial fishing; to provide for reporting3 of information; to provide for retention of certain fees; to amend Code Section 12-2-2 of the4 Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Environmental Protection Division, appeal5 procedures generally, permit app lications, and inspections, Cod e Section 27-1-39 of the6 Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rules and regul ations used to establish7 criminal violations, and Code Section 52-7-26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,8 relating to penalty, respectively, so as to revise effective dates; to provide for related matters;9 to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11 S. B. 420 - 1 - 26 LC 44 3323 PART I12 SECTION 1-1.13 Code Section 27-2-23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license, permit,14 tag, and stamp fees, is amended by adding new subparagraphs to paragraph (4), revising15 paragraph (11), and adding a new paragraph to read as follows:16 "(K) Resident reef/migratory fish17 endorsement18 Annual 10.00 (L) Nonresident reef/migratory fish19 endorsement20 Annual 20.00" "(11) For wildlife that may be legally taken by recreational or commercial fishing gear21 as authorized in this title or by board rule, the board may des ignate which species of22 wildlife or species grouping of wildlife require a recreational or commercial fishing23 species endorsement for a fee shown in subparagraphs (K) and (L ) of paragraph (4) or24 subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (6) of this Code section in addition to the25 required recreational or commercial fishing license. Each species or group of species so26 designated shall require a separate recreational or commercial fishing species27 endorsement. Each person who holds an endorsement pursuant to the provisions of this28 Code section shall report such information as required by the department at the times and29 in the manner the board provides by rule or regulation."30 "(12.1) Any fees collected pursuant to subparagraphs (K) and (L) of paragraph (4) of this31 Code section shall be retained by the department pursuant to Code Section 45-12-92.1."32 S. B. 420 - 2 - 26 LC 44 3323 PART II33 SECTION 2-1.34 Code Section 12-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Environmental35 Protection Division, appeal procedures generally, permit applic ations, and inspections, is36 amended by revising paragraph (5) of subsection (c) as follows:37 "(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for purposes of establishing criminal38 violations of the standards, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Board of Natural39 Resources as provided in this title, the term 'standards, rules, and regulations' shall mean40 those standards, rules, and regulations of the Board of Natural Resources in force and41 effect on January 1, 2025 2026."42 SECTION 2-2.43 Code Section 27-1-39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rules and44 regulations used to establish criminal violations, is amended as follows:45 "27-1-39.46 Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for purposes of establishing criminal47 violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Natural Resources as48 provided in this title, the term 'rules and regulations' means those rules and regulations of49 the Board of Natural Resources in force and effect on January 1, 2025 2026."50 SECTION 2-3.51 Code Section 52-7-26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalty, is52 amended by revising subsection (a) as follows:53 "(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates this article or any54 rule or regulation promulgated hereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For purposes55 of establishing criminal violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the board56 S. B. 420 - 3 - 26 LC 44 3323 as provided in this article, the term 'rules and regulations' means those rules and regulations57 of the board in force and effect on January 1, 2025 2026."58 PART III59 SECTION 3-1.60 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.61 S. B. 420 - 4 -