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House Bill 3048 History
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ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 3048
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Michael, Beach and Tabb)
[Passed April 9, 2005; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to repeal §20-2-39, §20-2-40, §20-2-40b, §20-2-41, §20-2-43,
§20-2-44a, §20-2-45, §20-2-46b, §20-2-46c, §20-2-46d,
§20-2-46f, §20-2-46g, §20-2-46i, §20-2-46j, §20-2-46k,
§20-2-46l, §20-2-46m and §20-2-63 of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §20-2-30a,
§20-2-33, §20-2-44 and §20-2-44b of said code; to amend said
code by adding thereto twenty-four new sections, designated
§20-2-33b, §20-2-42, §20-2-42a, §20-2-42b, §20-2-42c,
§20-2-42d, §20-2-42e, §20-2-42f, §20-2-42g, §20-2-42h,
§20-2-42i, §20-2-42j, §20-2-42k, §20-2-42l, §20-2-42m,
§20-2-42n, §20-2-42o, §20-2-42p, §20-2-42q, §20-2-42r,
§20-2-42s, §20-2-42t, §20-2-42u and §20-2-42v; and to amend
and reenact §20-2B-6, §20-2B-7, §20-2B-8, §20-2B-9 and
§20-2B-10 of said code, all relating to the restructuring of
the hunting and fishing license system; increasing fees;
providing an effective date; creating a system to index fees
to the Consumer Price Index; and providing for requirements for certification of training.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §20-2-39, §20-2-40, §20-2-40b, §20-2-41, §20-2-43,
§20-2-44a, §20-2-45, §20-2-46b, §20-2-46c, §20-2-46d, §20-2-46f,
§20-2-46g, §20-2-46i, §20-2-46j, §20-2-46k, §20-2-46l, §20-2-46m
and §20-2-63 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be
repealed; that §20-2-30a, §20-2-33, §20-2-44 and §20-2-44b of said
code be amended and reenacted; that said code be amended by adding
thereto twenty-four new sections, designated §20-2-33b, §20-2-42,
§20-2-42a, §20-2-42b, §20-2-42c, §20-2-42d, §20-2-42e, §20-2-42f,
§20-2-42g, §20-2-42h, §20-2-42i, §20-2-42j, §20-2-42k, §20-2-42l,
§20-2-42m, §20-2-42n, §20-2-42o, §20-2-42p, §20-2-42q, §20-2-42r,
§20-2-42s, §20-2-42t, §20-2-42u and §20-2-42v; and that §20-2B-6,
§20-2B-7, §20-2B-8, §20-2B-9 and §20-2B-10 of said code be amended
and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.
§20-2-30a. Certificate of training; falsifying, altering,
forging, counterfeiting or uttering training
certificate; penalties.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, no
hunting license or stamp may be issued to any person who was born
on or after the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred
seventy-five, unless the person submits to the person authorized to
issue hunting licenses a certificate of training as provided in
this section or proof of completion of any course which promotes as a major objective safety in the handling of firearms and of bow and
arrows and which course is approved by the hunter education
association or the Director, or provides a State of West Virginia
resident or nonresident hunting license from the previous hunting
season that displays a certification of training, or attests that
a hunter training course has been completed when purchasing a
license or stamp online.
(b) The Director shall establish a course in the safe handling
of firearms and of bows and arrows, such as the course approved by
the hunter education association. This course shall be given at
least once per year in each county in this state and shall be
taught by instructors certified by the Director. In establishing
and conducting this course, the Director may cooperate with any
reputable association or organization which promotes as a major
objective safety in the handling of firearms and of bows and
arrows: Provided, That any person holding a Class A-L or AB-L
lifetime resident license obtained prior to his or her fifteenth
birthday shall be required to obtain a certificate of training as
provided in this section before hunting or trapping pursuant to
said license. This course of instruction shall be offered without
charge, except for materials or ammunition consumed. Upon
satisfactory completion of the course, each person instructed in
the course shall be issued a certificate of training for the
purposes of complying with the requirements of subsection (a) of
this section. The certificate shall be in the form prescribed by
the Director and shall be valid for hunting license application purposes.
(c) (1) Upon satisfactory completion of this course, any
person whose hunting license has been revoked for a violation of
the provisions of this chapter may petition the Director for a
reduction of his or her revocation time. However, under no
circumstances may the time be reduced to less than one year.
(2) Successful completion of this course shall be required to
consider the reinstatement of a hunting license of any person whose
license has been revoked due to a conviction for negligent shooting
of a human being or of livestock under the provisions of section
fifty-seven of this article, and who petitions the Director for an
early reinstatement of his or her hunting privileges. Such a
petitioner shall also comply with the other requirements for
consideration of reinstatement contained in section thirty-eight of
this article.
(d) It is unlawful for any person to falsify, alter, forge,
counterfeit or utter a certificate of training. Any person who
violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less
than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or
confined in jail for a period not to exceed one year, or both fined
and imprisoned.
(e) Nothing herein contained shall mandate that any county
school district in the state be responsible for implementing hunter
safety education programs.
§20-2-33. Authority of Director to designate agents to issue licenses; bonds; fees.
(a) The Director may appoint, in addition to the clerk of the
county commission, agents to issue licenses under the provisions of
this article to serve the convenience of the public. Each person
appointed shall, before issuing any license, file with the Director
a bond payable to the State of West Virginia, in the amount to be
fixed by the Director, conditioned upon the faithful performance of
his or her obligation to issue licenses only in conformity with the
provisions of this article and to account for all license fees
received by him or her. The form of the bond shall be prescribed
by the Attorney General. No person, other than those designated as
issuing agents by the Director, may sell licenses or buy licenses
for the purpose of resale.
(b) Except when a license is purchased from a state official,
every person making application for a license shall pay, in
addition to the license fee prescribed in this article, an
additional fee of three dollars to any county official issuing the
license and all fees collected by county officials must be paid by
them into the general fund of the county treasury or, in the case
of an agent issuing the license, an additional fee of three dollars
as compensation: Provided, That only one issuing fee of three
dollars may be collected by county officials or authorized agents,
respectively, for issuing two or more licenses at the same time for
use by the same person or for issuing combination resident
statewide hunting, trapping and fishing licenses: Provided,
however, That a person with a lifetime license or a person who has paid the original additional fee of three dollars to a county
official or issuing agent for a license shall only be charged an
additional fee of one dollar as additional compensation when
subsequently purchasing an additional license from a county
official or issuing agent: Provided further, That licenses may be
issued electronically in a manner prescribed by the Director and
persons purchasing electronically issued licenses may be assessed,
in addition to the license fee prescribed in this article, an
electronic issuance fee to be prescribed by the Director: Provided,
That, notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary,
an electronic issuance fee of at least two dollars shall be
assessed on each Go Wild transaction. The electronic issuance fee
shall be dedicated to the administration and maintenance of Go
Wild
. The Director may propose rules for legislative approval in
accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code
increasing the license issuing fees authorized by this section.
(c) In lieu of the license issuance fee prescribed in
subsection (b) of this section, the Director shall propose rules
for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of
article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code governing the
application for and issuance of licenses by telephone and other
electronic methods.
(d) The Director may propose rules for legislative approval in
accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code governing the management of issuing
agents.
§20-2-33b. Electronic application donation to fund the Coyote
Management Program.
(a) (1) Effective the first day of January, two thousand six,
every application for a hunting or fishing electronic license shall
include a solicitation for a voluntary donation to the division's
established Coyote Management Program.
(2) The license applicant will be offered an opportunity to
designate a donation in the amount of two dollars for the Coyote
Management Program.
(b) There is hereby created a special revenue account,
designated the "Coyote Management Fund" into which all donations
derived under this section shall be deposited. Moneys in this
account shall be expended solely for the purposes set forth in
subsection (c) of this section. Funds paid into this account may
also be derived from the following sources: (1) All interest or
return on investment accruing to this account; (2) Any gifts,
grants, bequests, transfers, appropriations or other donations
which may be received from any governmental entity or unit or any
person, firm, foundation, or corporation; and (3) any
appropriations by the Legislature which may be made for the
purposes of this section. Any balance including accrued interest
and other earnings at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert
to the general fund but shall remain in the fund for the purposes
set forth in this section.
(c) The moneys in the fund shall be paid out, at the sole
discretion and direction of the director, to address coyote management issues.
§20-2-42. Effective date and indexing of license and stamp
fees.
The license and stamp fees in article two and two-b of this
chapter as amended during the regular session of the 2005 regular
session of the Legislature shall become effective on the first day
of January, two thousand six. The Director may from time to time
propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with article
three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, changing any license or
stamp fee set forth in this article or in article two-b. All
increases in license and stamp fees in this article which are set
forth in rule shall be computed in a manner that results in the
increase being indexed to an increase in the Consumer Price Index
(All Items) published by the United States Department of Labor
rounded down to the nearest dollar: Provided, That no increase in
fee resulting from increases in the Consumer Price Index (All
Items) may be made after the first day of January, two thousand
eleven.
§20-2-42a. Class A resident hunting and trapping license.
A Class A license is a resident hunting and trapping license
and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap all legal species of
wild animals and wild birds in all counties of the state, except
that the licensee may not hunt deer during the deer archery and
muzzleloader seasons, or black bear, wild turkey or wild boar
during the respective seasons, and except as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and when additional
licenses, stamps or permits are required. It shall be issued only
to residents or aliens lawfully residing in the United States who
have been domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of
thirty consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of
their application for a license. The fee for the license is
eighteen dollars. This is a base license and does not require the
purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42b. Class B resident fishing license.
A Class B license is a resident fishing license and entitles
the licensee to fish for all legal fish except trout and to take
frogs in all counties of the state, except as prohibited by rules
of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and when additional
licenses, stamps or permits are required. It shall be issued only
to residents or aliens lawfully residing in the United States who
have been domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of
thirty consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of
their application for a license. The fee for the license is
eighteen dollars. To fish for trout, a Class B license holder must
purchase and carry a valid Class O stamp or Class O-L license.
This is a base license and does not require the purchase of a
prerequisite license to participate in the activities specified in
this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42c. Class C courtesy statewide hunting and fishing
license.
A Class C license is a courtesy hunting and fishing license
and entitles the licensee to hunt and fish in all counties of this
state. It may be issued by the Director upon application made to
him or her and without fee to:
(1)Members and agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service;
(2)Members of State Commissions of other states extending
similar courtesies;
(3)Diplomatic and consular representatives of foreign
countries;
(4)Persons engaged in scientific wildlife research;
(5)Nonresident outdoor writers and other nonresidents
engaged in promoting an interest in the Natural Resources of the
State of West Virginia.
Not more than one hundred courtesy licenses shall be issued in
one year. This is a base license and does not require the purchase
of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42d. Class E nonresident hunting and trapping license.
A Class E license is a nonresident hunting and trapping
license and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap all legal
species of wild animals and wild birds in all counties of the state
except as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural Resources
Commission and except when other licenses, stamps or permits are
required. The fee for the license is one hundred ten dollars.
This is a base license and does not require the purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities specified in
this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42e. Class EE nonresident bear hunting license.
A Class EE license is a nonresident bear hunting license and
entitles the licensee to hunt bear in all counties of the state,
except as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural Resources
Commission and except when additional licenses, stamps or permits
are required. The fee for the license is one hundred fifty
dollars. This is a base license and does not require the purchase
of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42f. Class F nonresident fishing license.
A Class F license is a nonresident fishing license and
entitles the licensee to fish for all legal fish except trout and
to take frogs, in all counties of the state except as prohibited by
rules of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and except
when additional licenses, stamps or permits are required. The fee
for the license is thirty-five dollars. To fish for trout, a Class
F license holder must purchase and carry a valid Class OO trout
stamp. This is a base license and does not require the purchase of
a prerequisite license to participate in the activities specified
in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42g. Class H nonresident small game hunting license.
A Class H license is a nonresident small game hunting license
and entitles the licensee to hunt small game in all counties of the state, except as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural
Resources Commission and except when additional licenses, stamps or
permits are required, for a period of six consecutive hunting days
chosen by the licensee, excluding Sunday in counties closed to
Sunday hunting. The fee for the license is twenty-five dollars.
This is a base license and does not require the purchase of a
prerequisite license to participate in the activities specified in
this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42h. Class J nonresident small game shooting preserve
license.
A Class J license is a nonresident small game shooting
preserve license and entitles the licensee to hunt small game on
designated shooting preserves, except as prohibited by rules of the
Director or Natural Resources Commission and except when additional
licenses, stamps or permits are required, for a period of six
consecutive hunting days chosen by the licensee, excluding Sunday
in counties closed to Sunday hunting. The fee for the license is
ten dollars. This is a base license and does not require the
purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42i. Class LL nonresident one-day fishing license.
A Class LL license is a nonresident fishing license and
entitles the licensee to fish for all legal fish except trout and
to take frogs in all counties of the state for the calendar date
chosen by the buyer and which will be specified on the license, except as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural Resources
Commission and except when additional licenses, stamps or permits
are required. To fish for trout, a Class LL licensee must purchase
and carry a valid Class OO trout stamp. The fee for the license is
three dollars. This is a base license and does not require the
purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42j. Class X resident hunting, fishing and trapping
license.
A Class X license is a resident hunting, fishing and trapping
license and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap for all legal
species of wild animals and wild birds, to fish for all legal
species of fish except trout and to take frogs in all counties of
the state, except as prohibited by the rules of the Director or
Natural Resources Commission and when additional licenses, stamps
or permits are required. No additional fees shall be required of
Class X licensees for a Class CS stamp. To fish for trout, a Class
X licensee must purchase and carry a valid Class O stamp or Class
O-L license. The Class X license shall be issued only to residents
or aliens lawfully residing in the United States who have been
domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of thirty
consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of their
application for a license. The fee for the license is thirty-three
dollars. The portion of the Class X license fee equal to the annual
fee for the Class CS stamp shall be designated as conservation
stamp revenue and expended pursuant to section nine, article two-b of this code. This is a base license and does not require the
purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42k. Class XJ resident junior and Class XXJ nonresident
junior hunting, fishing and trapping license.
A Class XJ license is a resident junior hunting, fishing and
trapping license and a Class XXJ license is a nonresident junior
hunting, fishing and trapping license. These licenses entitle the
licensee to hunt and trap for all legal species of wild animals and
wild birds, to fish for all legal species of fish except trout and
to take frogs in all counties of the state, except as prohibited by
the rules of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and when
additional licenses, stamps and permits are required. No
additional fees are required of Class XJ licensees for a Class CS
stamp. No additional fees are required of Class XXJ licensees for
Class I, UU, VV or WW stamps. To fish for trout, Class XJ or XXJ
licensees must purchase and carry a valid Class O or OO stamp or
O-L license. The Class XJ license may be issued only to a resident
who has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday and is otherwise
required by section twenty-seven of this article to purchase a
license. The Class XXJ license may be issued to a nonresident who
has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday and is at least
eight years old and is otherwise required by section twenty-seven
of this article to purchase a license. The fee for the Class XJ
license is fifteen dollars. The portion of the Class XJ license
fee equal to the annual fee for the Class CS stamp shall be designated as conservation stamp revenue and expended pursuant to
section nine of article two-b. The fee for the Class XXJ license
is fifteen dollars. In addition to buying a Class XXJ license, a
nonresident must purchase a Class CS/LE stamp as required in
section ten of article two-b. This is a base license and does not
require the purchase of a prerequisite license to participate in
the activities specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42l. Class A-l small arms hunting stamp.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section two, article seven,
chapter sixty-one of this code, a Class A-l stamp is a small arms
hunting stamp. To be eligible to get a Class A-l stamp, a person
must be legally able to possess a firearm. If a person is
otherwise qualified, a Class A-l stamp may be issued to a person
twenty-one years of age or older who holds a valid resident or
nonresident hunting license, or to a person who is a resident
sixty-five years of age or older, but a Class A-l stamp shall never
be issued to a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor
associated with the use of firearms or dangerous weapons or who has
been convicted of a felony. A Class A-l stamp entitles the
licensee to hunt, as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this
chapter, but only during small game and big game seasons as
established annually by the Director, with either a revolver or
pistol which has a barrel at least four inches in length. Unless
otherwise permitted by the Code of West Virginia, a Class A-1 stamp
entitles the licensee to carry or have in his or her possession
only one revolver or pistol when going to and from his or her home or residence and a place of hunting and while hunting: Provided,
That the Class A-l stamp may not be valid unless the licensee has
in his or her possession a valid resident or nonresident hunting
license or is a resident sixty-five years of age or older:
Provided, however, That at all times, when not actually hunting,
the revolver or pistol shall be unloaded. While hunting, the
licensee shall carry the revolver or pistol in an unconcealed and
easily visible place. The fee for the stamp is eight dollars. A
lifetime Class A-1 stamp may be issued to anyone otherwise
qualified and holding a valid Class A-L or AB-L license or to a
resident sixty-five years of age or older. The lifetime Class A-1
stamp will be issued in a form prescribed by the Director. The fee
for a lifetime Class A-I stamp is seventy-five dollars. All fees
collected for the issuance of the Class A-l and lifetime Class A-l
stamps shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to the
law-enforcement section of the Division of Natural Resources. The
fees collected shall be paid out of the State Treasury on order of
the Director and used solely for law-enforcement purposes. Any
person convicted of a misdemeanor associated with the use of
firearms or dangerous weapons or convicted of a felony, or any
person who becomes legally unable to possess a firearm shall
immediately surrender the stamp to the Division of Natural
Resources. A holder of a Class A-l or lifetime Class A-l stamp is
required to purchase the appropriate base license before
participating in the activities specified in this section, except
as noted.
§20-2-42m. Class I nonresident national forest hunting, trapping
and fishing stamp.
A Class I stamp is a nonresident national forest hunting,
trapping and fishing stamp and entitles the licensee, when within
national forest land in West Virginia, to hunt legal species in
season; to trap fur-bearing animals in season; and to fish in the
waters therein. The stamp shall be issued only to a nonresident
holding a Class E, EE, F, H or LL license. The fee for the stamp
is two dollars. This stamp requires that the licensee purchase the
appropriate base license before participating in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42n. Class N resident and Class NN nonresident antlerless
deer hunting stamp.
A Class N stamp is a resident deer hunting stamp for
antlerless deer. A Class NN stamp is a nonresident deer hunting
stamp for antlerless deer. These stamps entitle the licensee to
hunt and take antlerless deer of either sex during the Class N
season. The fee for a Class N stamp is ten dollars and the fee for
a Class NN stamp is twenty-five dollars. Class N and NN stamps may
be issued only for the purpose of removing antlerless deer when the
Director determines it essential for proper management of the
wildlife resources. The Director may promulgate rules governing the
issuance and use of the Class N and NN stamps as deemed necessary
to limit, on a fair and equitable basis, the number of persons who
may hunt for antlerless deer in a county, or part of a county. When the Director determines it essential that a Class N or NN
season be held in a particular county or part of a county, that
season shall be set by the Natural Resources Commission as provided
in section seventeen, article one of this chapter. Bona fide
resident landowners or their resident children, or resident
parents, bona fide resident tenants of such land and bona fide
resident stockholders of resident corporations which are formed for
the primary purpose of hunting or fishing and which are the fee
simple owners of no less than one thousand acres of land upon which
the antlerless deer may be hunted are not required to have a Class
N stamp in their possession while hunting antlerless deer on their
own land during the Class N season. A resident hunter, including
those not required to purchase a license pursuant to section
twenty-seven of this article, must purchase and carry a valid Class
N stamp. A nonresident hunter must purchase and carry a valid
Class NN stamp. These stamps require that the licensee purchase
the appropriate base license before participating in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42o. Class O resident and Class OO nonresident trout
fishing stamp.
A Class O stamp is a resident trout fishing stamp. A Class OO
stamp is a nonresident trout fishing stamp. These stamps entitle
the licensee to fish for trout in all counties of the state, except
as prohibited by rules of the Director or Natural Resources
Commission. The fee for a Class O stamp is ten dollars and the fee
for a Class OO stamp is fifteen dollars. The revenue derived from the sale of these stamps shall be deposited in the State Treasury
and credited to the Division of Natural Resources and shall be used
and paid out, upon order of the Director, for state trout program
expenses. These stamps, issued in a form prescribed by the
Director, shall be in addition to a Class AB-L, B, B-L, F, LL, X,
XJ or XXJ license or Class Q permit. These stamps require that the
licensee purchase the appropriate base license before participating
in the activities specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42p. Class RG resident and Class RRG nonresident gun deer
hunting stamp for an additional deer.
The Director has the authority to issue a Class RG resident
and a Class RRG nonresident gun deer hunting stamp when deemed
essential for the proper management of the wildlife resources.
These stamps allow the licensee to hunt and take an additional deer
as designated by the Director. The fee for a Class RG stamp is
twenty dollars and the fee for a Class RRG stamp is forty dollars.
The Director may promulgate rules in accordance with article three,
chapter twenty-nine-a of this code governing the issuance and use
of these stamps. These stamps require that the licensee purchase
the appropriate base license before participating in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§2O-2-42q. Class RB resident and Class RRB nonresident archery
deer hunting stamp for an additional deer.
The Director has the authority to issue a Class RB resident
and a Class RRB nonresident archery deer hunting stamp when deemed essential for the proper management of the wildlife resources.
This stamp allows the licensee to hunt and take an additional deer
as designated by the Director. The fee for a Class RB stamp is
twenty dollars and the fee for a Class RRB stamp is thirty-five
dollars. The Director may promulgate rules in accordance with
article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code governing the
issuance and use of these stamps. These stamps require that the
licensee purchase the appropriate base license before participating
in the activities specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42r. Class RM resident and Class RRM nonresident
muzzleloader deer hunting stamp for an additional
deer.
The Director shall have the authority to issue a Class RM
resident and a Class RRM nonresident muzzleloader deer hunting
stamp when deemed essential for the proper management of the
wildlife resources. These stamps allow the licensee to hunt and
take an additional deer as designated by the Director. The fee for
a Class RM stamp is fifteen dollars and the fee for a Class RRM
stamp is thirty-five dollars. The Director may promulgate rules in
accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code
governing the issuance and use of these stamps. These stamps
require that the licensee purchase the appropriate base license
before participating in the activities specified in this section,
except as noted.
§20-2-42s. Class UU nonresident archery deer hunting stamp.
A Class UU stamp is a nonresident archery deer hunting stamp
and entitles the licensee to hunt and take deer with a bow during
the archery deer season in all counties of the state, except as
prohibited by the rules of the Director or Natural Resources
Commission. The fee for a Class UU stamp is thirty dollars. The
stamp, issued in a form prescribed by the Director, shall be in
addition to a Class E license. This stamp requires that the
licensee purchase the appropriate base license before participating
in the activities specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42t. Class VV nonresident muzzle-loading deer hunting stamp.
A Class VV stamp is a nonresident muzzle-loading deer hunting
stamp and entitles the licensee to hunt and take deer with a
muzzle-loader during muzzle-loading deer seasons in all counties of
the state, or parts thereof, excluding Logan, McDowell, Mingo and
Wyoming counties, as set by the Natural Resources Commission in
accordance with section seventeen, article one of this chapter.
The Director may promulgate rules in accordance with article three,
chapter twenty-nine-a of this code governing the issuance and use
of this stamp. The stamp, issued in a form prescribed by the
Director, shall be in addition to a Class E license. The fee for
a Class VV stamp is thirty dollars. This stamp requires that the
licensee purchase the appropriate base license before participating
in the activities specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-42u. Class WW nonresident turkey hunting stamp.
A Class WW stamp is a nonresident turkey hunting stamp and
entitles the licensee to hunt and take turkey during any turkey hunting season, except as prohibited by the rules of the Director
or Natural Resources Commission. The fee for a Class WW stamp is
thirty dollars. The stamp, issued in a form prescribed by the
Director, shall be in addition to a Class E license. This stamp
requires that the licensee purchase the appropriate base license
before participating in the activities specified in this section,
except as noted.
§20-2-42v. Class BG resident big game stamp.
A Class BG stamp is a resident big game stamp and entitles the
Class A and Class Q licensee to hunt deer during the deer archery
and muzzle-loader seasons, and bear, wild turkey and wild boar
during the respective seasons, except as prohibited by rules of the
Director or Natural Resources Commission. The fee for the stamp is
ten dollars. The stamp, issued in a form prescribed by the
Director, shall be in addition to a Class A license or Class Q
permit. This stamp requires that the licensee purchase the
appropriate base license before participating in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
§20-2-44. Free fishing days.
The Director may designate up to two days each year as free
sport fishing days. On a designated free fishing day, an
individual is entitled to fish for all legal fish in all counties
of the state without having a valid West Virginia fishing license
and without the payment of any license fee, subject to the same
privileges and restrictions applicable to a holder of any such
license.
§20-2-44b. Bear damage stamp; proceeds to be paid into bear
damage fund; purposes, etc.
To hunt bear in this state, a licensed hunter shall have, in
addition to a Class A, A-L, AB-L, X or XJ, in the case of a
resident, or a Class C or EE, in the case of a nonresident, a bear
damage stamp issued by the Division of Natural Resources. The fee
for the stamp is ten dollars. All proceeds from the sale of stamps
shall be paid into the bear damage fund which shall be maintained
by the Division of Natural Resources for paying claims of property
owners for damages to real and personal property caused by acts of
bear and to cover the expense of black bear research programs
within the state. This stamp requires that the licensee purchase
the appropriate base license before participating in the activities
specified in this section, except as noted.
ARTICLE 2B. WILDLIFE ENDOWMENT FUND.
§20-2B-6. Expenditure of funds for specific and general purposes.
In accordance with the intent of sections thirty-four and
forty-two-o, article two of this chapter and pursuant to sections
three and four of this article, income accruing from the
investments of the wildlife endowment fund shall be distributed in
the following manner:
(1) Income accruing from the investment of moneys resulting
from the sale of Class O-L licenses shall be distributed and
disbursed in the same manner as revenues accruing from the sale of
Class O licenses as provided in section forty-two-o, article two of this chapter.
(2) Income accruing from the investment of any portion of the
principal of the wildlife endowment fund which, at the time of its
deposit into the fund, is specifically designated for the
activities of a particular section within the Division, shall
accrue solely to that section within the Division; and
(3) All other income accruing from the investments of the
wildlife endowment fund shall be distributed within the Division in
the same manner as provided in section thirty-four, article two of
this chapter.
§20-2B-7. Lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping licenses created.
(a) Pursuant to section three of this article, the Director
may issue the following lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping
licenses and for the lifetime of the licensee, the lifetime
licenses serve in lieu of the equivalent annual license: Lifetime
resident statewide hunting and trapping license; lifetime resident
combination statewide hunting, fishing and trapping license;
lifetime statewide fishing license; and lifetime resident trout
fishing license: Provided, That a full-time nonresident student
who attends an in-state college or university is not eligible to
purchase any of these lifetime licenses.
(b) The Director shall propose a rule for legislative approval
in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this
code, setting the fees for the lifetime licenses. The rule shall
provide that the fee for any resident who has not reached his or
her second birthday shall be one half of the adult fee set under the rule. The fees for lifetime licenses shall be twenty-three
times the fee for the equivalent annual licenses or stamps.
§20-2B-8. Privileges of lifetime licensees.
Pursuant to section seven of this article, lifetime licensees
shall be entitled to the same privileges and subject to the same
restrictions as licensees possessing the equivalent annual license
with the following exceptions:
(1) Class A-L, AB-L, B-L and O-L licenses shall be valid for
the lifetime of the licensee;
(2) A Class O-L lifetime resident trout fishing license shall
be issued only to residents of the state and shall be valid only
when accompanied by a Class AB-L, B, B-L, X or XJ license; and
(3) No additional fee shall be required of Class A-L, AB-L or
B-L licensees for the conservation stamp required by section nine
of this article. No additional fee shall be required of Class A-L
or AB-L licensees for the Class BG stamp required by section forty-
two-v, article two of this chapter.
§20-2B-9. Class CS resident conservation stamp; purposes, etc.
A resident hunter, angler or trapper licensed to hunt, fish or
trap in this state shall have, in addition to a Class A or B
license, a Class CS conservation stamp. The fee for the stamp is
five dollars.
The revenue derived from the sale of conservation stamps shall
be deposited in the State Treasury and shall be credited to the
Division of Natural Resources. The revenue shall be used and paid out, upon order of the Director, for capital improvements and land
purchases or leases benefitting wildlife except that at the
discretion of the Director, a maximum of twenty percent of the
revenue may be used for the operation and maintenance of capital
improvements and lands: Provided, That none of this revenue shall
be expended for the purchase of wetlands, or for land to be flooded
so as to create wetlands, to attract migratory waterfowl within
sixty air miles of any established poultry industry: Provided,
however, That no expenditures of the revenue derived from the sale
of the conservation stamps shall be made for recreational
facilities or activities that are used by or for the benefit of the
general public rather than by or for purchasers of hunting, fishing
or trapping licenses. Any unexpended moneys derived from the sale
of conservation stamps shall be carried forward to the next fiscal
year.
§20-2B-10. Class CS/LE nonresident conservation law-enforcement
and sports education stamp.
(a) Any nonresident hunter, angler or trapper licensed to
hunt, fish or trap in this state, in addition to a Class E, EE, F,
H, LL or XXJ license, shall have a Class CS/LE nonresident
conservation, law-enforcement and sports education stamp. The fee
for the stamp is twelve dollars.
(b) The revenue derived from the sale of Class CS/LE stamps
shall be deposited in the State Treasury and shall be credited to
the Division of Natural Resources. Fifty percent of the revenue shall be used and paid out, upon order of the Director, for the
law-enforcement section's expenses relating to the general
enforcement of state laws pertaining to the conservation of fish
and wildlife and law-enforcement education programs for hunters,
anglers and trappers: Provided, That no expenditures of the
revenue derived from the sale of the Class CS/LE stamp shall be
made for law-enforcement purposes not directly related to the
wildlife resources of the state or for the educational programs set
forth in this subsection. Fifty percent of the revenue shall be
used and paid out for capital improvements and land purchases or
leases benefiting wildlife except that at the discretion of the
Director, a maximum of twenty percent of the revenue may be used
for the operation and maintenance of the capital improvements and
lands: Provided, That no expenditures of the revenue derived from
the sale of the conservation stamps shall be made for recreational
facilities that are used by or for the benefit of the general
public rather than by or for purchasers of hunting, fishing or
trapping licenses. Any unexpended moneys derived from the sale of
Class CS/LE stamps shall be carried forward to the next fiscal
year.