**ALERT** GOVERNORS BILL HB 6371

[Jim Marenzana]

Take notice of "The GOVERNORS BILL" HB 6371. If passed this bill will divert funds from licenses which now go to the DEP's Conservation Fund to the General Fund. You can read the bill here cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cga ... um=HB-6371

Also in the bill, is language for the new fishing license the DEP has been trying to pass for the past 2 years. More importantly is the increase (doubled) in fees.

We need EVERYONE to contact your Legislator and oppose this bill. In lieu of the States budget deficit, fees will more than likely increase. It was advised to state to your Legislator support of reasonable increase of fees so long as the money continues to go to the Conservation Fund where the DEP can control it. Otherwise, if the money goes to the General Fund the state can dictate how the funds are to be use by the DEP.

This is extremely important, please write, call, email, all of the above now. Tomorrow may be too late.

[Chris]

I couldn't agree more - we need to fight this everyone, our license fees should be going to wildlife conservation and nothing else. Plus, doubling the fees is severe. Those of us in state might forget, but they're proposing raising ALL the fees - that means to fish in CT as a non-resident it would cost $80, or $32 for 3 days. I don't know of another state that charges anywhere near that, and that includes states known far better for fishing than CT...(Compare to VT, only charges $41 for a non-resident to fish a year and they have Lake Champlain...)
Even just putting aside the principle of it, think of what that could do to tournament turnout in CT...
[Section b) below does say a 'New England' resident can fish for our resident fee if their state offers the same to us - maybe that's in the works in other states, I don't know]

We all like to fish our CT waters; but would you charge someone these amounts to fish them? This is a case of people trying to plunder those of us who fish to offset debts of the state.

The text of the changes proposed:
Sec. 52. Section 26-28 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the fees for firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping and sport fishing licenses or for the combination thereof shall be as follows: (1) Resident firearms hunting license, [fourteen] twenty-eight dollars; (2) resident fishing license, [twenty] forty dollars; (3) resident marine waters fishing license, thirty dollars; (4) one-day resident marine waters fishing license, fifteen dollars; (5) resident all-waters fishing license, fifty dollars; (6) resident combination license to [firearms hunt and] fish in inland waters and firearms hunt, [twenty-eight] fifty-six dollars; [(4)] (7) resident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, fifty dollars; (8) resident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, sixty dollars; (9) resident combination license to fish in all waters and bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c, as amended by this act, eighty-four dollars; (10) resident firearms super sport license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, firearms private land shotgun or rifle deer permit issued pursuant to section 26-86a, as amended by this act, and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, as amended by this act, one hundred sixteen dollars; (11) resident archery super sport license to fish in all waters, bow and arrow permit to hunt deer and small game issued pursuant to section 26-86c, as amended by this act, and permit to hunt wild turkey during the spring season on private land issued pursuant to section 26-48a, as amended by this act, one hundred four dollars; (12) resident trapping license, [twenty-five] fifty dollars; [(5)] (13) resident junior trapping license for persons under sixteen years of age, [three] fifteen dollars; [(6)] (14) junior firearms hunting license, [three] fifteen dollars; [(7)] (15) nonresident firearms hunting license, [sixty-seven] one hundred thirty-four dollars; [(8)] (16) nonresident inland waters fishing license, [forty] eighty dollars; [(9)] (17) nonresident inland waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, [sixteen] thirty-two dollars; [(10)] (18) nonresident marine waters fishing license, sixty dollars; (19) nonresident marine waters fishing license for a period of three consecutive days, twenty-four dollars; (20) nonresident all-waters fishing license, one hundred dollars; (21) nonresident combination license to firearms hunt and inland waters fish, [eighty-eight] one hundred seventy-six dollars; [and (11)] (22) nonresident combination license to fish in all waters and firearms hunt, one hundred ninety dollars; (23) nonresident combination license to fish in marine waters and firearms hunt, one hundred seventy dollars; and (24) nonresident trapping license, two hundred fifty dollars. Persons sixty-five years of age and over who have been residents of this state for not less than one year and who meet the requirements of subsection (b) of section 26-31 may be issued an annual license to firearms hunt or to fish or combination license to fish and firearms hunt or a license to trap without fee. The issuing agency shall indicate on a combination license the specific purpose for which such license is issued. The town clerk shall retain a recording fee of one dollar for each license issued by him.

(b) Any nonresident residing in one of the New England states or the state of New York may procure a license to hunt or to fish or to hunt and fish for the same fee or fees as a resident of this state if he is a resident of a state the laws of which allow the same privilege to residents of this state.