GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 374

Short Title:        Modify For‑Hire License Logbook Requirement.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Cook (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.

March 25, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to make voluntary the requirement that a holder of a for‑hire Commercial Recreational Fishing license maintain a logbook summarizing catch and effort statistical data, and to delay implementation to allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct a stakeholder input and education process.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑174.3(e), as enacted by subsection 14.8(o) of S.L. 2013‑360, reads as rewritten:

"(e)       Each individual who obtains a for‑hire license shall may submit to the Division logbooks summarizing catch and effort statistical data to the Division. The Commission may adopt rules that determine the means and methods to satisfy the requirements of this subsection."

SECTION 2.  Section 14.8(ab) of S.L. 2013‑360 reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 14.8.(ab) This G.S. 113‑174(e), as enacted by subsection 14.8(o) of this section, becomes effective January 1, 2016. The remainder of this section becomes effective August 1, 2013."

SECTION 3.  Prior to implementation of the logbook requirement imposed by subsection 14.8(o) of S.L. 2013‑360, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall conduct a 12‑month implementation process to include seeking input from stakeholders with regard to the requirement and public workshops to provide education for persons subject to the requirement. The process shall also include the establishment of a stakeholder advisory group that includes, at a minimum, representatives from the organizations listed in G.S. 113‑173.1(d), or the successors to those organizations. The Division shall review and provide a written response to any issues raised by the advisory group, and shall report to the Environmental Review Commission no later than January 15, 2016, regarding the implementation process required by this section.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.