Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-405
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2015-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Agricultural practices and innovations
Army Corps of Engineers
Birds
Canada
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Farmland
Firearms and explosives
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government liability
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Hunting and fishing
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Legal fees and court costs
Licensing and registrations
Mammals
Motor vehicles
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Tax-exempt organizations
Television and film
Trade restrictions
User charges and fees
Water use and supply
Wetlands
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-05
text: 

Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015

 
This bill revises a variety of existing programs to expand access to, and opportunities for, hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. 
 
The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act is reauthorized through FY2025. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act are reauthorized through FY2020.
 
Components of firearms and ammunition and sport fishing equipment and its components (such as lead sinkers) are exempted from regulations of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
 
The proportion of funding from the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act that states may use for public target ranges is increased. 
 
Interior must issue permits for the importation of polar bear parts taken in sports hunts in Canada before May 15, 2008, which is the date the species was listed as threatened. 
 
The bill revises standards for determining what a baited area is for purposes of the prohibition on taking migratory game birds. 
 
Federal public land management officials must facilitate hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on certain federal public land. Land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service must be open for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless the managing agency acts to close the land.
 
This bill provides special rules to expand access to federal land and waterways for film crews of five people or fewer.
 
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may not prohibit individuals from possessing a firearm in public areas of a water resources development project. The National Park Service may not prohibit individuals from transporting bows and crossbows if certain requirements are met. 
 
Funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund are allocated for priority projects that secure public access to federal public lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-09
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 15.
action_date: 2015-02-05
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S837-838)
action_date: 2015-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate