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S1491..........................................by RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
WOLF REINTRODUCTION PLANS - Amends existing law to provide that the
Department of Fish and Game is allowed to meet and confer with state, local
and federal agencies, departments or entities or federally recognized
Indian tribes to discuss the federal or tribal entity's plans for wolf
reintroduction or for monitoring wolf reintroduction and wolf recovery
programs; to provide that the department may cooperate with counties,
federal agencies, departments or entities or federally recognized Indian
tribes regarding damage complaints, depredation and conflicts regarding
wolves in Idaho.
02/21 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/22 Rpt prt - to Res/Env
S1491
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1491
BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO WOLVES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME; AMENDING SECTION
3 36-715, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME IS
4 ALLOWED TO MEET AND CONFER WITH STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, DEPART-
5 MENTS OR ENTITIES OR FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES TO DISCUSS THOSE
6 FEDERAL OR TRIBAL ENTITY'S PLANS FOR WOLF REINTRODUCTION OR FOR MONITORING
7 WOLF REINTRODUCTION AND WOLF RECOVERY PROGRAMS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE
8 DEPARTMENT MAY COOPERATE WITH COUNTIES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS OR
9 ENTITIES OR FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES REGARDING DAMAGE COM-
10 PLAINTS, DEPREDATION AND CONFLICTS REGARDING WOLVES IN THIS STATE; AND
11 DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
13 SECTION 1. That Section 36-715, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
14 amended to read as follows:
15 36-715. DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME REGARDING THE ENDAN-
16 GERED SPECIES ACT. (1) Since wolf/dog hybridizations are known to exist within
17 Idaho and these hybrids are not protected by the United States endangered spe-
18 cies act, a biological evaluation shall be required of the animal to determine
19 species priority before the department of fish and game may take any action in
20 accordance with the United States endangered species act.
21 (2) The department of fish and game shall not be authorized to expend
22 funds, transfer assets or enter into a cooperative agreement with any agency,
23 department or entity of the United States government concerning wolves unless
24 expressly authorized by state statute except that the department is authorized
25 to provide a representative to participate on the northern rocky mountain wolf
26 recovery team and to participate in activities regarding nuisance wolves, and
27 except that the department is allowed to meet and confer with state, local and
28 federal agencies, departments or entities or federally recognized Indian
29 tribes to discuss those federal or tribal entity's plans for wolf
30 reintroduction or for monitoring wolf reintroduction and wolf recovery pro-
31 grams. Additionally, the department may cooperate with counties, federal
32 agencies, departments or entities or federally recognized Indian tribes
33 regarding damage complaints, depredation, and conflicts regarding wolves in
34 this state.
35 (3) If a wolf is sighted, the burden of proof concerning the reported
36 presence of the wolf within Idaho shall rest with the observer and the depart-
37 ment of fish and game shall take no action to enforce the United States endan-
38 gered species act regarding wolves in absence of that proof.
39 (4) From the effective date of this act through December 31, 2002, the
40 department of fish and game is authorized to work in conjunction with the wolf
41 oversight committee, as established by the wolf EIS participation plan dated
42 February, 1992, in the development and implementation of an Idaho wolf manage-
43 ment plan, provided that:
2
1 (a) The department is authorized to work in conjunction with the wolf
2 oversight committee to develop and coordinate wolf management plans with
3 state agency officials of the states of Wyoming and Montana.
4 (b) Any Idaho wolf management plan so developed by the department and
5 wolf oversight committee shall take into consideration local economies,
6 custom, culture, and private property rights. The department and the wolf
7 oversight committee may consult with federal entities and coordinate with
8 state and local government entities in the development of the plan.
9 (c) Upon completion of an Idaho wolf management plan, the department and
10 the wolf oversight committee shall provide a report to the senate
11 resources and environment committee and to the house resources and conser-
12 vation committee and shall provide written copies to all interested par-
13 ties. When the plan is complete, the speaker of the house of representa-
14 tives and the president pro tempore of the senate may authorize a joint
15 meeting of the senate resources and environment committee and the house
16 resources and conservation committee to be held during the interim to
17 review the Idaho wolf management plan.
18 (d) Members of the wolf oversight committee shall serve without compensa-
19 tion, but shall be reimbursed actual expenses for attending meetings of
20 the committee from funds provided by the department of fish and game at
21 prevailing state rates.
22 SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby
23 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
24 passage and approval.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 10149
As wolf numbers and associated conflicts greatly increase, and as the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service prepares for the delisting process, the Wolf Oversight
Committee has recommended the Idaho Department of Fish and Game become
participants in some wolf management activities.
This RS authorizes the department to participate in damage complaints
and preparations for delisting.
FISCAL IMPACT
No appropriation of additional funds is required.
CONTACT:
Senator Laird Noh
332-1333
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL IMPACT S 1491