ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

HCM2005: hunting; angling; wildlife conservation

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 19

Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Overview

Requests that Congress respect hunting and angling and the wildlife conservation efforts of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Arizona Game and Fish Department.

History

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission was established in 1929 to create policies and rules for managing, preserving and harvesting wildlife in Arizona (Laws 1929, Chapter 84). In this capacity, it built upon the roles and responsibilities of the Territorial Commissioners of Fisheries and the State Game Warden (Territorial Laws 1881, Chapter 66 and Laws 1912, 1st Special Session, Chapter 82). In 1958, the Legislature overhauled statute and created the Arizona Game and Fish Department to administer state wildlife laws, rules and policies at the direction of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Laws 1958, Chapter 80).

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission consists of five members who are appointed by the governor to five-year terms (A.R.S. § 17-201). It appoints the Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and oversees the department's activities (A.R.S. § 17-211). It has several responsibilities related to wildlife and outdoor recreation including:

1) Establishing policies and rules for managing, preserving and harvesting wildlife in Arizona (A.R.S. § 17-301 et seq.);

2) Regulating the sale, import, export and possession of wildlife (A.R.S. §§ 17-306, 17-307, 17-318 and 17-371);

3) Maintaining facilities that preserve and propagate wildlife such as fish hatcheries (A.R.S. § 17-231);

4) Regulating watercraft, which includes registering watercraft, prescribing equipment requirements and administering the law enforcement and boating safety program (A.R.S. § 5-311 et seq.);

5) Supervising public shooting ranges (A.R.S. § 17-231 and 17-601 et seq.); and

6) Assisting in recovery efforts for endangered species such as the Mexican gray wolf (A.R.S. § 17-253).

Provisions

1. Requests that Congress respect the historic and current use of Arizona's recreational areas by sportsmen and sportswomen for hunting and angling and respect the administration of wildlife conservation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

2. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of this memorial to the President of the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and each member of Arizona's congressional delegation.

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6. HCM 2005

7. Initials PAB Page 0 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

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