LOCAL WATERCRAFT RULES ON

COUNTRY SCENIC NATURAL RIVERS

House Bill 6215

Sponsor:  Rep. Dave Hildenbrand

Committee:  Local Government and Urban Policy

Complete to 6-21-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6215 AS INTRODUCED 6-20-06

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow a political subdivision to adopt a local ordinance regulating the use of vessels, water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, and similar equipment on rivers designated as country scenic natural rivers.  Such ordinances would be exempt from the usual process of establishing local ordinances on state waters under Part 801.

Currently, NREPA allows the DNR to initiate investigations and inquiries into the need for such special rules on state waters and then to prepare a local ordinance if controls are considered necessary.  The local unit can approve or disapprove the ordinance.  A local unit that believes a special local ordinance is needed can initiate the process by informing the DNR and requesting assistance.  (A revision of these procedures has recently been made by House Bill 5125, which has passed both the House and Senate and was presented to the Governor on June 15.  The revision provides statutory criteria for determining whether special rules are necessary and provides an appeal process to the Natural Resources Commission for local units.)

[A country-scenic river is defined as a river in an agricultural setting with pastoral borders, some homes, and readily accessible.  According to the DNR, it is one of three broad classes of natural river, the other two being wilderness and wild-scenic.]

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would not have a fiscal impact on the State.  Local governmental revenue realized through fines assessed for violation of enacted ordinances would increase by an indeterminate amount.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.