115 HR 6013 RH: Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act U.S. House of Representatives 2018-06-06 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB Union Calendar No. 757 115th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 6013 [Report No. 115–969] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2018 Mr. Bishop of Utah (for himself and Mr. Bergman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources September 25, 2018Additional sponsor: Mr. Kelly of Mississippi September 25, 2018 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 6, 2018 A BILL To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act.

2.

Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots

Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c)

Federal framework closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots

(1)

In general

In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to the Federal framework for outside dates within which the States may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots— (A)adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway council (as defined in section 20.152 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations) for the Federal framework, but the framework closing date shall be January 31 of each year; and (B)allow the States to establish the closing date for the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework. (2)

Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by the States. (B)

Requirements

In selecting days under subparagraph (A), a State shall ensure that— (i)the days selected— (I)do not fall within the regular hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots; (II)with regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday or other day in which schools are not in session; and (III)are not more than 14 days before or after the hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and (ii)the total number of days in a hunting season for ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days. (C)

Limitation

A State may combine the 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any purpose. (3)

Regulations

The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter..

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.. September 25, 2018 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed