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Committee advances DNR "cleanup" bill expanding disabled hunting access, standardizing youth age and adjusting shellfish licenses
Summary
An unnamed senator presented House Bill 287 (LC442970) to the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, describing it as the Department of Natural Resources' annual cleanup bill covering license, definition and age adjustments.
An unnamed senator presenting House Bill 287 (LC442970) described the measure as the Department of Natural Resources' annual cleanup bill and told the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee it does "4 simple things." The presenter said the measure updates statutory references, codifies certain DNR rules, revises the disabled courtesy-hunting/fishing definition and standards, standardizes the youth-hunting age to 16, and adjusts shellfish licensing for commercial harvesters.
"This is our DNR cleanup bill, department bill for the year," the presenter said.
On the disabled courtesy license, the presenter said: "Previous language only allowed nonresidents to qualify for a courtesy fishing license if they were paralyzed or a disabled veteran, participating in one of our approved events. But this new language includes all paralyzed or disabled residents and non residents, residents and non residents, and expands opportunities for not only fishing, but hunting that is approved by the department."
The presenter described DNR outreach and equipment purchases to support disabled hunters, saying the agency has about 20 chairs that help disabled hunters access fields and managed wildlife areas. On youth hunting, the presenter said the bill sets 16 as the uniform youth category across species to reduce confusion. On shellfish, the presenter described two master-harvester license options: a $200 license that covers up to 10 crew members and a $400 unlimited license, and said the bill waives the waiting period once harvesters add crew to their list and notify DNR.
A presenter praised Department of Natural Resources personnel for their response to recent drownings at Lake Oconee, saying DNR staff "are working around the clock" and commending their effort to the committee.
The committee had no recorded objections on the transcript; a motion and second were made and the chair asked committee members to raise their hands in favor. The committee advanced the bill to the Senate floor.
LC442970 was provided in committee testimony. The transcript did not include roll-call vote tallies or an effective date. The committee record shows agency support and sponsor presentation; no amendments or fiscal details were read into the record during the hearing.
