Bill > HB2215

This bill allows the executive director of the wildlife resources agency to make agreements with local law enforcement agencies to help enforce wildlife laws and rules, specifically focusing on public safety issues related to human-wildlife interactions like feeding animals or encounters that could be dangerous. These agreements must clearly define which laws local officers can enforce and require them to report their actions to the agency, ensuring they don't exceed their usual authority. Additionally, the bill creates a new criminal offense for feeding black bears in areas where the Fish and Wildlife Commission has prohibited it, making it a Class B misdemeanor, which is a type of criminal offense, punishable by fines, with stricter penalties for repeat offenses or if food or garbage is left unsecured and accessible to bears.