Bill > H760

This bill establishes a special commission to investigate the current condition of wild striped bass in the Commonwealth, examining how both commercial fishing and recreational angling affect the striped bass population and its ability to thrive. The commission will also assess the economic benefits of recreational striped bass fishing, including tax revenue and job creation, and analyze any loss of state and local tax income resulting from a decline in this fishery. The commission will be composed of representatives from the Senate and House of Representatives, including leadership and minority party appointees, along with designees from key state agencies such as Energy and Environmental Affairs, Public Health, Housing and Economic Development, Revenue, and the Division of Marine Fisheries. Additionally, it will include members from the commercial and sports fishing industries, a marine economist, and a representative from a striped bass advocacy group, with all members to be appointed by a specific date. To gather information, the commission is authorized to hold public hearings in several coastal locations and is tasked with producing a comprehensive report of its findings and any proposed legislative solutions by the end of 2015, which will be submitted to various state officials and legislative committees.