Assigned to COMPS &                                                                                                              FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2404

license to practice taxidermy; repeal

(NOW: taxidermy; registry)

Purpose

Replaces taxidermy licensure with taxidermy registration.

Background

Taxidermists are licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission), within the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), to engage in the mounting, refurbishing, maintaining, restoring or preserving of wildlife specimens for display (A.R.S. § 17-101). A taxidermist must keep a register of: 1) the names and addresses of persons who furnish raw and unmounted specimens; 2) the taker's tag or license number; and 3) the date and number of each species of wildlife received. On request, a taxidermist must provide the registry to AZGFD or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A taxidermist must also file register reports in January, April, July and October of each year (A.R.S. § 17-363).

A taxidermy license costs $150 annually (A.A.C. R12-4-102). AZGFD reports 151 active taxidermy licenses in FY 2017. A JLBC Fiscal Note estimates that the repeal of the fee would reduce AZGFD Fund revenues by $22,700. There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires a taxidermist to:

a) register with AZGFD, rather than obtain a license from AZGFD;

b) file the registry of furnished wildlife to AZGFD annually, rather than quarterly; and

c) maintain the registry of wildlife received in the preceding five years.

2. Repeals the requirement that a taxidermist must furnish the register to USFWS on request.

3. Allows the Commission, after a public hearing, to revoke or suspend a taxidermist's registration for up to one year for violating registry requirements.

4. Levies a $150 civil penalty for failure to comply with registration requirements.

5. Makes technical and conforming changes.

6. Becomes effective on January 1, 2019.

House Action

EENR             2/6/18              DPA/SE          5-4-0-0

3^rd Read          2/15/18                                    39-18-3

Prepared by Senate Research

March 1, 2018

GH/lb