SENATE DOCKET, NO. 592        FILED ON: 2/3/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 614

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to salvage, disposition, and possession of deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals killed by means other than sport hunting.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 592        FILED ON: 2/3/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 614

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to salvage, disposition, and possession of deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals killed by means other than sport hunting.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 22A as appearing in 2018 official edition is hereby struck in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:

Section 22A. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections twenty-two, twenty-three and twenty-four, the director, with the approval of the fisheries and wildlife board, may make, alter, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relative to the disposition of deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals killed by means other than sport hunting. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the procedures for acquiring and possessing such deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals categories of persons authorized to acquire and possess such deer, moose and bear and procedures and time limits for timely and accurate administration of such disposition. The director is hereby authorized to issue a permit, the cost of which shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, to each person authorized to possess such deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals and each such deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals or carcass thereof shall be reported to a law enforcement agency and assigned a unique identifier number buy the respective law enforcement agency receiving the report.  Persons authorized to possess such deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals shall then report such number through a website and in such a manner as the director shall prescribe. Fees accrued under this section shall be deposited in the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, pursuant to the provisions of section 2C. Any deer killed by means other than sport hunting and not acquired by an individual under provisions of this section shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement in the best interest of the commonwealth, including but not limited to, donations to civic associations, sportsmen's clubs, and churches. The commonwealth or any of its subdivisions or any employee thereof shall not assume liability for any acts leading to or arising from disposition of deer under this section.

The division of fisheries and wildlife in consultation with the department of environmental police with regards to said procedures and time limits for timely and accurate administration of such disposition shall develop a public facing website for any eligible person to submit information as determined by the director for the timely and accurate administration of such disposition of deer, moose, bear, birds, and mammals.