SB284 Alabama 2013 Session

Under existing law, a person is not permitted to collect protected wild animals or birds or bird eggs for scientific purposes unless the person has a permit from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The cost of the permit is $1 and a person who violates this provision is subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $25

This bill would establish three types of permits for the purposes of protection of wild invertebrate or vertebrate species, or their eggs, would increase the fees, and would provide that the applicable fine would be three times the cost of the appropriate permit

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Section 9-11-231 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to permits issued by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the collection of protected wild animals or birds or bird eggs for propagation or scientific purposes; to provide that the law will apply to any wild invertebrate or vertebrate species, or their eggs; to provide for different types of permits and the fees for the permits; to further provide for the fines for violations; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.