Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 125 First Substitute (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Albrecht, C.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/2/2020

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides a policy statement;
• defines terms;
• directs the director to take immediate action under certain circumstances when a big game population is under the established herd size objective for a management unit;
• describes what is immediate action; and
• requires reporting.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht
Senate Sponsor: 
Ralph Okerlund
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses activities overseen by the director of the Division of Wildlife
Resources.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides a policy statement;
▸ defines terms;
▸ directs the director to take immediate action under certain circumstances when a big
game population is under the established herd size objective for a management unit;
▸ describes what is immediate action; and
▸ requires reporting.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
23-16-10
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
23-16-10
 is enacted to read:
 23-16-10.
Big game protection -- Director authority.
(1) It is the policy of the state that big game animals are of great importance to the
citizens of the state, the citizen's quality of life, and the long term sustainability of the herds for
future generations.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Big game" includes deer, elk, big horn sheep, moose, mountain goats, pronghorn,
and bison.
(b) "Director" means the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.
(c) "Management unit" means a prescribed area of contiguous land designated by the
Division of Wildlife Resources for the purpose of managing a species of big game animal.
(d) "Predator" means a cougar, bear, and coyote.
(3) (a) Unless the condition described in Subsection (3)(b) is determined, the director
shall take immediate action to reduce the number of predators within a management unit when
the big game population is under the established herd size objective for that management unit.
(b) Subsection (3)(a) does not apply if the Division of Wildlife Resources determines
that predators are not significantly contributing to the big game population being under the herd
size objective for the management unit.
(4) Immediate action under Subsection (3) includes any of the following management
tools:
(a) increasing take permits or tags for cougar and bear until the herd size objective is
met;
(b) allowing big game hunters to harvest predators with the appropriate permit during a
big game hunting season, including issuing over-the-counter predator permits;
(c) professional trapping and predator control by the United States Department of
Agriculture Wildlife Services, private contracts, and the general public, including aerial control
measures; and
(d) other management tools as determined by the director.
(5) The director shall annually give a status report on predator control measures
implemented pursuant to this chapter to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental
Quality Appropriations Subcommittee and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
Interim Committee.