Kansas Beaglers! You better read this!

[Steve Fielder]

There's a brand new trespass bill in the Kansas House of Representatives and it ain't pretty!

Senate Bill 496 passed the Senate by a 40 to nothing vote! Then it went to the House Tourism and Parks Committee and apparently has been moved to the House floor.

If you want to take a look at this baby, you can see the full bill at:

http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2004/496.pdf

You may have to download Adobe Acrobat if you haven't already in order to see the bill. Here is my synopsis:

1. This is a trespass bill requiring written permission to hunt, fish, or harvest fur.

2. Written permission is required on posted land only.

3. If you are found guilty of "Criminal hunting" which is what trespassing is now called, you spend 48 hours in jail or 100 hours of community service, AND lose your hunting/fishing/furtaking license for six months on FIRST OFFENCE! Second offense, lose license for one year. Third offense, lose licence for five years.

4. If you are pursuing a wounded animal, you will not be charged unless you have been warned by the landowner. Failing to leave when warned will be considered an offense.

What to do? At this point, all we can do is to begin to bombard members of the Kansas House of Representatives urging them to vote NO. There's not much time! Here's the way bills become law: (we'll use this one as an example)

SB 496 was introduced and sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. The committee tweaked it a little and "reported" it, or in other words passed it to the floor of the Senate. The bill passed the full Senate by a 40 to 0 vote. The bill is then sent to the House and assigned to the Committee on Tourism and Parks. Apparently they have "reported" the bill to the full House where it will be read three times and then voted upon. If it passes the full House, it goes ot the Governor to become law. We have two chances. Kill it on the floor of the House or depend upon the Governor to veto.

If you live in Kansas and you hunt, fish, or harvest fur, you need to call or email your representatives now! Here's the list of emails:

http://www.kslegislature.org/houseroster/index.html

BETTER DO IT NOW!

This announcement is a service of the Regulatory Affairs Department, Professional Kennel Club, Inc., 576 Romence Road, Suite 231, Portage, MI 49024. Phone 269-321-1814. Email dogstar118@aol.com

[Bob Kane]

Steve,
I'm sure what you say is correct, but I'd prefer to see the actual bill language before the Kansas House before I make any calls or send email alerts. Would you post that bill and the relevant statute here, please?
Bob Kane
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
http://saova.org

[jackrabbit]

First off Steve knows what he is talking about and the bill link is in his message for everyone to go see.

my advise is do everything you can now. make sure your legislators know that this bill will effectively kill most forms of hunting, fishing, and trapping, that other states that have enacted this type legislation have found that when land owners are forced to give written permission to be on their land they tend to be afraid of the possible liability consequences and wont give written permission. many of the states that have enacted such legislation have since repealed it.

Jack Hyden
Indiana Beaglers Alliance