CHAPTER 38

SB 222-FN - FINAL VERSION

02/12/2015 0197s

2015 SESSION

15-0930

10/09

SENATE BILL 222-FN

AN ACT relative to harassment of hunting, fishing, or trapping.

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Little, Dist 8; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Hopper, Hills 2

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill extends the prohibition on harassment of persons hunting, fishing, or trapping and adds the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to the activities prohibited.

This bill is a request of the fish and game department.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/12/2015 0197s

15-0930

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to harassment of hunting, fishing, or trapping.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

38:1 Fish and Game; Harassment. Amend RSA 207:57 to read as follows:

207:57 Harassment.

I. No person shall purposely obstruct or impede the participation of any individual in the lawful activity of hunting, fishing or trapping [while that individual is in a designated hunting area on public lands]. No person shall [enter or remain in a designated hunting area on any state lands with the intent to] purposely obstruct or impede the participation of any individual in the lawful activity of hunting, fishing or trapping. No person shall purposely engage in an activity that will tend to disturb wild animals, with intent to prevent their lawful taking. No person shall use a drone or UAV with the intent to conduct video surveillance of private citizens who are lawfully hunting, fishing, or trapping without obtaining the written consent of the persons being surveilled prior to conducting the surveillance.

I-a. For purposes of this section, “unmanned aerial vehicle” or “UAV” means any device capable of flying in the air which is remotely, automatically, or otherwise piloted without an occupant, including but not limited to, drones.

II. The provisions of paragraph I shall not apply to the actions of law enforcement officers and personnel of the department of fish and game in the performance of their official duties. The provisions of paragraph I shall not apply to any incidental interference arising from the lawful and normal activities of public land users.

III. The executive director shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to administer this section [and to establish designated hunting areas on public lands, if he finds that a significant interference with or disruption of a hunt is likely to occur on those lands].

IV. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation.

38:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2016.

Approved: May 7, 2015

Effective Date: January 1, 2016