Aquatic invasive species-inspection enforcement.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify details on how inspections will occur, only that they must take place and rules will be created later.

Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection Enforcement

This law makes it a crime for people who have not had their boats or other water vehicles inspected for harmful plants and animals to avoid getting them checked after being stopped by police.

What This Bill Does

• Requires anyone caught without an aquatic invasive species inspection to report to a check station within forty-eight hours.
• Makes it a crime if someone does not go to the check station as required, punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and losing permission to use watercraft for three years.
• Adds penalties for operating watercraft while banned from doing so under this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who have not had their boats or other water vehicles inspected for invasive species and are caught by police.
• Peace officers who stop people without proper inspections.
• Authorized check stations that inspect watercraft for invasive species.

Terms To Know

Aquatic Invasive Species

Plants, animals, or other organisms that are not native to an area and can harm the environment when introduced into lakes, rivers, or oceans.

Conveyance Inspection

A check of boats, trailers, or other equipment used in waterways to make sure they do not carry harmful invasive species.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to people who have been stopped by police and found without an inspection.
• It does not specify how inspections will be carried out, but requires rules to be made about this later.
• The penalties apply for up to three years after the violation.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 22LSO-0072
Bill No.:

SF0006

Effective:

1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

22LSO-0072

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0013

Chapter No.:

34

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Aquatic invasive species-inspection enforcement.

Subject:

Aquatic invasive species-inspection enforcement

Summary/Major Elements:

This act creates an additional criminal penalty in relation to aquatic invasive species conveyance checks. Any person who is lawfully stopped by a peace officer and is subsequently discovered to have failed to have a conveyance inspected as required by law must report within forty-eight (48) hours to an authorized check station.

The act provides that any person who fails report to an authorized check station is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) and may be prohibited from operating any watercraft on any of the waterways of Wyoming for not more than three (3) years.

Comments:
Delayed effective date.

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

22LSO-0072

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0006

ENROLLED ACT NO. 13,

SENATE

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2022 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to aquatic invasive species; providing for mandatory aquatic invasive species checks for persons who have previously failed to have a conveyance inspection as specified; providing a criminal penalty; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 23
‑
4
‑
203 by creating a new subsection (k) is amended to read:

23
‑
4
‑
203.

Enforcement.

(k)

Any person who is lawfully stopped by a peace officer and is subsequently discovered to have failed to have a conveyance inspected as required under subsection (b) of this section, shall report to an authorized check station within forty
‑
eight (48) hours of being stopped to have the conveyance inspected for aquatic invasive species and shall not enter Wyoming waters until the conveyance is inspected. Notwithstanding the penalty imposed under W.S. 23
‑
4
‑
205(a), any person who fails to report to a check station within forty-eight (48) hours as required by this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) and may be prohibited from operating any watercraft on any of the waterways of this state for not more than three (3) years. Any person who operates any watercraft while prohibited from doing so under this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
‑
6
‑
202(a)(v).

Section 2.

This act is effective January 1, 2023.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1