ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2224: unlawful wildlife feeding; enforcement; penalty

Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4

Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Overview

Establishes a mandatory fine for a person that unlawfully feeds wildlife.

History

A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or enticing wildlife into an area in a county with a population of more than 280,000 persons. Exempts from unlawfully feeding of wildlife for:

1) persons lawfully taking or holding wildlife pursuant to the Arizona Department of Game and Fish or pursuant to rules or order of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission;

2) public employees or authorized agents acting within the scope of their authority for public safety or for wildlife management purposes;

3) normal agricultural or livestock operational practices; and

4) tree squirrels or birds (A.R.S. § 13-2927).

Unlawful feeding of wildlife is a petty offense. The court can impose a person that is found guilty of a petty offense a $300 fine (A.R.S. §§ 13-802 and 13-2927).

Wildlife means all wild mammals, wild birds and the nests or eggs thereof, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans and fish, including their eggs or spawn (A.R.S. § 17-101).

Provisions

1. Requires a person that unlawfully feeds wildlife to pay a $1,000 fine if the offense occurs in in a city or town with a population of 100,000 persons. (Sec. 1)

2. Adds that a person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly creating a wildlife habitat. (Sec. 1)

3. Removes the specification that unlawful feeding of wildlife applies to a county with a population of 280,000 persons. (Sec. 1)

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7. HB 2224

8. Initials BSR Page 0 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

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