05 LC
25 3853
Senate
Bill 119
By:
Senators Chapman of the 3rd, Thomas of the 2nd, Johnson of the 1st, Tolleson of
the 20th and Hill of the 4th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 27-4-150 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to taking,
possessing, and dealing in crabs and peelers and related record requirements, so
as to postpone the date of an automatic repeal of certain provisions related to
sponge crabs; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 27-4-150 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to taking,
possessing, and dealing in crabs and peelers and related record requirements, is
amended by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:
"(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess or offer for sale at any
time any female blue crab bearing eggs visibly on its body, commonly known as
sponge crabs, or any such female blue crab from which the egg pouch or bunion
has been removed. It shall not be unlawful temporarily to take such sponge
crabs incidental to lawful crabbing operations so long as the sponge crabs are
returned immediately to the water free, alive, and unharmed. Nothing in this
paragraph shall prohibit any person from importing, transporting, or possessing
sponge crabs when such person can provide documentary evidence showing that the
sponge crabs were taken outside this state in full compliance with the laws of
the state of origin. He or she must have an executed invoice showing the point
of origin of such sponge crabs and exhibit such an invoice upon demand to any
conservation ranger. This paragraph shall be automatically repealed on July 1,
2005
2008,
unless continued by the General Assembly following a report on the status of the
blue crab resource and
fishery."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.