1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; modifying penalties for gross overlimits; providing 
1.3 	criminal penalties;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 97A.201, by 
1.4 	adding a subdivision; 97A.301, subdivision 1; 97A.338; 97A.420, subdivision 
1.5 	1; 97A.421, subdivision 2a.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.201, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 3.Prosecuting authority. (a) County attorneys must prosecute violations an 
1.10 	enforcement officer is authorized to enforce under section 97A.205, clause (5).
1.11 	(b) Prosecution under paragraph (a) includes associated civil actions provided by law.

1.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.301, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.13 		Subdivision 1.Misdemeanor. Unless a different penalty is prescribed, a person 
1.14 	is guilty of a misdemeanor if that person:
1.15 	(1) takes, buys, sells, transports or possesses a wild animal in violation of violates 
1.16 	the game and fish laws;
1.17 	(2) aids or assists in committing the violation;
1.18 	(3) knowingly shares in the proceeds of the violation;
1.19 	(4) fails to perform a duty or comply with a requirement of the game and fish laws;
1.20 	(5) knowingly makes a false statement related to an affidavit regarding a violation or 
1.21 	requirement of the game and fish laws; or
1.22 	(6) violates or attempts to violate a rule under the game and fish laws.

2.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.338, is amended to read:
2.2 	97A.338 GROSS OVERLIMITS OF WILD ANIMALS; PENALTY.
2.3 	(a) A person who takes, possesses, or transports wild animals over the legal limit, 
2.4 	in closed season, or without a valid license in violation of the game and fish laws, when 
2.5 	the restitution value of the wild animals is over $1,000 or more but less than $2,000, is 
2.6 	guilty of a gross misdemeanor gross overlimit violation. A violation under this section 
2.7 	paragraph is a gross misdemeanor.
2.8 	(b) A person who takes, possesses, or transports wild animals in violation of the 
2.9 	game and fish laws, when the restitution value of the wild animals is $2,000 or more, is 
2.10 	guilty of a felony gross overlimit violation. A violation under this paragraph is a felony.
2.11 	(c) If a wild animal involved in the violation under this section is listed as a 
2.12 	threatened or endangered wild animal, the penalties do not apply unless more than one 
2.13 	animal is taken, possessed, or transported in violation of the game and fish laws.

2.14 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.420, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.15 		Subdivision 1.Seizure. (a) An enforcement officer shall immediately seize the 
2.16 	license of a person who unlawfully takes, transports, or possesses wild animals when the 
2.17 	restitution value of the wild animals exceeds $500. Except as provided in subdivisions 
2.18 	2, 4, and 5, the person may not use or obtain any license to take the same type of wild 
2.19 	animals involved, including a duplicate license, until an action is taken under subdivision 
2.20 	6. If the license seized under this paragraph was for a big game animal, the license seizure 
2.21 	applies to all licenses to take big game issued to the individual. If the license seized under 
2.22 	this paragraph was for small game animals, the license seizure applies to all licenses to 
2.23 	take small game issued to the individual.
2.24 	(b) In addition to the license seizure under paragraph (a), if the restitution value of 
2.25 	the wild animals unlawfully taken, possessed, or transported is $5,000 $1,000 or more, all 
2.26 	other game and fish licenses held by the person shall be immediately seized. Except as 
2.27 	provided in subdivision 2, 4, or 5, the person may not obtain any game or fish license or 
2.28 	permit, including a duplicate license, until an action is taken under subdivision 6.
2.29 	(c) A person may not take wild animals covered by a license seized under this 
2.30 	subdivision until an action is taken under subdivision 6.

2.31 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.421, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
2.32 		Subd. 2a.License revocation after conviction. (a) A person may not obtain a 
2.33 	license to take a wild animal and is prohibited from taking wild animals for ten years 
3.1 	after the date of conviction of a violation when the restitution value of the wild animals 
3.2 	is $2,000 or more.
3.3 	(a) (b) A person may not obtain a license to take a wild animal and is prohibited 
3.4 	from taking wild animals for a period of five years after the date of conviction of:
3.5 	(1) a violation when the restitution value of the wild animals is $5,000 $1,000 or 
3.6 	more but less than $2,000; or
3.7 	(2) a violation when the restitution value of the wild animals exceeds $500 and 
3.8 	the violation occurs within ten years of one or more previous license revocations under 
3.9 	this subdivision paragraph.
3.10 	(b) (c) A person may not obtain a license to take the type of wild animals involved in 
3.11 	a violation when the restitution value of the wild animals exceeds $500 and is prohibited 
3.12 	from taking the type of wild animals involved in the violation for a period of three years 
3.13 	after the date of conviction of a violation.
3.14 	(c) (d) The time period of multiple revocations under paragraph (a) or (b), clause 
3.15 	(2), shall be is consecutive and no wild animals of any kind may be taken during the 
3.16 	entire period.
3.17 	(e) If a wild animal involved in the conviction is listed as a threatened or endangered 
3.18 	wild animal, the revocations specified under this subdivision do not apply unless more 
3.19 	than one animal is taken, possessed, or transported in violation of the game and fish laws.
3.20 	(d) (f) The court may not stay or reduce the imposition of license revocation 
3.21 	provisions under this subdivision.