Game and fish-data protection.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific penalties for violations, leaving this detail uncertain.

Game and Fish Data Protection Act

This law restricts the release of personal information about people who legally hunt or catch wildlife, including geographic details, without written consent.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the Game and Fish Commission from sharing personally identifiable information about hunters and anglers with others unless they give permission in writing.
• Requires the Game and Fish Department to create rules for implementing this law by July 1, 2020.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who legally hunt or catch wildlife
• The Game and Fish Commission and Department

Terms To Know

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Information that can be used to identify a specific person, such as their name, address, or social security number.

Geographic Information

Details about the location where an event took place, like coordinates or addresses.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify what happens if someone violates these rules.
• It is unclear how this will affect existing public records requests for wildlife-related data.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0371
Bill No.:

HB0176

Effective:

Multiple Dates

LSO No.:

20LSO-0371

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0048

Chapter No.:

108

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Game and fish-data protection.

Subject:

Personal and geographic information related to legal takings.

Summary/Major Elements:

The bill excludes personally identifiable and geographic information related to the legal taking of wildlife from disclosure under the Public Records Act.

The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to not publicly release personally identifiable information about a person legally taking wildlife unless the person authorizes the release in writing.

The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to not publicly release geographic information about a legal taking on private land without the written authorization of the person legally taking the wildlife and the owner or manager of the land.

The bill requires the Game and Fish Department to promulgate rules to implement this act.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0371

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0176

ENROLLED ACT NO. 48,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to game and fish; limiting release of personally identifiable information, including geographic information of the legal taking of wildlife; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 16
‑
4
‑
203(d) by creating a new paragraph (xx) and 23
‑
1
‑
302 by creating a new subsection (r) are amended to read:

16
‑
4
‑
203.

Right of inspection; grounds for denial; access of news media; order permitting or restricting disclosure; exceptions.

(d)

The custodian shall deny the right of inspection of the following records, unless otherwise provided by law:

(xx)

Information related to legally taking wildlife as provided in W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
302(r).

23
‑
1
‑
302.

Powers and duties.

(r)

The following shall apply to information collected by the commission or the department:

(i)

Personally identifiable and geographic information associated with the legal taking of wildlife within this state is solely for the use of the commission, department or appropriate law enforcement office and is not a public record for purposes of W.S. 16
‑
4
‑
201 through 16
‑
4
‑
205;

(ii)

Information subject to paragraph (i) of this subsection shall not be released or otherwise publicly disseminated by the commission or department for any purpose unless authorized in writing by the person legally taking wildlife;

(iii)

Subject to paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection, information related to legally taking wildlife on private land shall not be a public record for purposes of W.S. 16
‑
4
‑
201 through 16
‑
4
‑
205 and shall not be released or otherwise publicly disseminated by the commission or department unless authorized in writing by the landowner or manager of the land where the taking occurred;

(iv)

The department shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this subsection.

Section 2.

The game and fish commission shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this act on or before July 1, 2020.

Section 3.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2020.

(b)

Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1