Expanded Game and Parks powers advanced

Senators voted to advance a bill Feb. 27 that would expand powers delegated to the state Game and Parks Commission.

LB499, introduced by Bancroft Sen. Lydia Brasch, would establish a new set of administrative procedures under which commission orders could be passed. Currently, the commission cannot hear public testimony on issues — including conservation orders, seasons, open and closed areas and bag limits — and make decisions on those issues during the same hearing.

“Under this proposed process, the committee would be able to make decisions affecting the public at the same meeting with the public in attendance,” she said.

The bill would categorize these issues under the new administrative procedures, which would allow the commission to make changes to the orders at the same meeting in response to public input before publishing final orders.

An additional provision would enable the commission to close game seasons due to disease epidemics or other extenuating circumstances on an emergency case-by-case basis.

“This would give the committee the latitude to quickly respond to things like disease epidemics rather than waiting months until the next scheduled meeting,” Brasch said.

Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 32-0 vote.