SENATE BILL NO. 335

INTRODUCED BY K. MESAROS, C. HIBBARD, J. HERTEL, E. SWANSON

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING OUTFITTERS OPERATING A HUNTING CAMP IN MORE THAN ONE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS ADMINISTRATIVE REGION TO PAY A FEE OF $5,000 FOR EACH CAMP LOCATED BEYOND A 100-MILE RADIUS OF THE OUTFITTERS' BASE OF OPERATIONS AND IN A REGION OTHER THAN THE REGION CONTAINING THE OUTFITTERS' BASE OF OPERATIONS ; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; SUBMITTING THE FEE TO THE ELECTORATE; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT VOIDNESS PROVISION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Fee for camp. An outfitter who operates hunting camps in more than one department of fish, wildlife, and parks administrative region shall pay an annual fee of $5,000 for each camp that is located beyond a 100-mile radius of the outfitter's base of operations and that is in an administrative region other than the region containing the outfitter's base of operations. A fee is not required for the following:

(1) an outfitter's base of operations camp;

(2) camps established before October 1, 1999;

(3) camps established on public land when use is directly regulated by public land-use policies; or

(4) camps on corporate timberlands where public access is not restricted.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Submission to electorate. This act shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the tax election to be held in 1999 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

SHALL A NEW TAX, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, BE IMPOSED?

[]	FOR a $5,000 fee per camp for outfitters who operate certain camps located beyond a 100-mile radius of the outfitters' primary base of operations.

[]	AGAINST a $5,000 fee per camp for outfitters who operate certain camps located beyond a 100-mile radius of the outfitters' primary base of operations.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Contingent voidness. If Constitutional Initiative No. 75, enacting Article VIII, section 17, of the Montana constitution, is declared invalid, then this act is void.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. Section 1 is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 37, chapter 47, and the provisions of Title 37, chapter 47, apply to section 1.

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. This act is effective upon approval by the electorate.

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