Outfitter Policy Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1420
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2003-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative remedies
Alaska
Animals
Business records
Camping
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Competitive bidding
Conservation of natural resources
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Fees
Fishing
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Government paperwork
Hunting
Indemnity
Land use
Law
Liability (Law)
Licenses
National forests
Negligence
Outdoor recreation
Performance measurement
Sports and Recreation
Tourism
Transportation and Public Works
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: 
Outfitter Policy Act of 2003 - Prohibits unauthorized outfitters from conducting commercial outfitted activities on Federal land.
 
Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish criteria for granting outfitter permits. 
Sets forth procedures for issuing permits and describes permit requirements. Requires fees for outfitter authorizations. 
Requires an authorized outfitter to pay the United States for all injury, loss, damage, and costs arising from negligence, gross negligence, or willful and wanton disregard for persons or property by the outfitter. Requires an authorized outfitter to defend and indemnify the United States for all injury, loss, damage, and costs the United States may incur due to such actions by the outfitter. . Exempts authorized outfitters from having to pay, defend, or indemnify the United States for any injury, loss, damage, or costs for which the United States is solely responsible. 
Requires outfitter permits to include a principal allocation of outfitter use and authorizes temporary permits to include such allocation. 
Authorizes the Secretary to adjust a base allocation of use. 
Permits temporary allocations of use for up to two years and the renewal, transfer, or extension of such allocations. 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop a process for evaluation of the performance of authorized outfitters; and (2) renew an authorization at the outfitter's request, under appropriate conditions. 
Makes outfitter permits transferable to qualified transferees under specified conditions.
Sets forth recordkeeping requirements for authorized outfitters.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) grant authorized outfitters full access to administrative remedies; and (2) establish an expedited procedure for consideration of appeals. 
Entitles outfitters that hold existing permits, contracts, or other authorizations to issuance of new permits under this Act if their recent performance was determined good, satisfactory, or acceptable, or the equivalent.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-03
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-441.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9500-9503)
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9499-9500)
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate