House Bill No. 151

Introduced By marshall

By Request of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

A Bill for an Act entitled: An Act expanding the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Crimestoppers Act to include state parks-related crimes; amending sections 2-15-3404, 87-5-601, 87-5-602, 87-5-603, and 87-5-605, MCA; and providing an immediate effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

Section 1.  Section 2-15-3404, MCA, is amended to read:

"2-15-3404.   Fish, and wildlife, and parks crimestoppers board. (1) There is a fish, and wildlife, and parks crimestoppers board.

(2)  (a) The board consists of five members, four of whom are appointed by the director of the department of fish, wildlife, and parks, as follows:

(i)  the a person within the department responsible for the enforcement of fish and wildlife laws;

(ii) a member of a sportsmen's a hunter's, angler's, or conservation group;

(iii) a member who is actively engaged in agricultural production; and

(iv) a member of the public, appointed at large of the public with an interest in parks and recreation.

(b)  The fifth member is a member of the fish, wildlife, and parks commission who shall must be designated by the commission.

(3)  The board shall elect a chairman presiding officer from its members.

(4)  A member must be appointed for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed.

(5)  (a) A vacancy must be filled within 14 days of occurrence in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b)  A vacancy does not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise the powers of the board.

(6)  The board is allocated to the department of fish, wildlife, and parks for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121."

Section 2.  Section 87-5-601, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-5-601.  Short title. This part may be cited as the "Fish, and Wildlife, and Parks Crimestoppers Act"."

Section 3.  Section 87-5-602, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-5-602.  Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1)  "Board" means the fish, and wildlife, and parks crimestoppers board created in 2-15-3404.

(2)  "Department" means the department of fish, wildlife, and parks.

(3)  "Program" means the fish, and wildlife, and parks crimestoppers program created under 87-5-605."

Section 4.  Section 87-5-603, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-5-603.  Functions of the board. The board shall recommend to the department:

(1)  the names of individuals to be rewarded for providing information used in detecting and combating fish, and wildlife -related wildlife, and parks-related crimes;

(2)  the amount of any reward recommended; and

(3)  means for promoting the program."

Section 5.  Section 87-5-605, MCA, is amended to read:

"87-5-605.  Powers and duties of department -- rules. (1) The department shall:

(a)  create, maintain, and promote a statewide fish, and wildlife, and parks crimestoppers program in order to assist law enforcement agencies in detecting and combating fish, and wildlife-related wildlife, and parks-related crimes; and

(b)  consider the board's recommendations and take action on them.

(2)  The department may:

(a)  advise and assist in the creation and maintenance of local programs, including neighborhood watch programs;

(b)  encourage the channeling of information from state and local programs to law enforcement agencies;

(c)  foster the detection of fish, and wildlife-related wildlife, and parks-related crimes by the public;

(d)  encourage the public, through a reward program or otherwise, to provide information that assists in the prosecution of fish, and wildlife-related wildlife, and parks-related crimes;

(e)  promote state and local programs through the media;

(f)  accept gifts, grants, or donations for the furtherance of the program and spend these in compliance with the conditions of the gifts, grants, or donations; and

(g)  adopt rules necessary to administer the provisions of this part."

Section 6.  Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

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