§318.1.  Fishing tournaments; special permits

A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commission may adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act  to establish special permits authorizing participants in a large tournament to possess live black bass, Micropterus spp., or its hybrids, that would otherwise fall outside of legal limits.

B.  The application for the permit may be accompanied by a fee in an amount determined by the department as necessary to cover the reasonable administrative costs incurred by the department in issuing and enforcing the permit.  The permit application shall be made on a standard form provided by the department and shall include the name, address, and phone number of the sponsoring organization or individual; the location and date of the tournament; total value of the prizes; and expected number of participants.  The permit application shall be submitted to the department at least thirty days prior to the proposed event.

C.  Permits are not transferable and shall clearly demonstrate the expiration date.

D.  An employee of the department may be assigned as an observer and be present at any tournament.

E.  As used herein, "large tournament" shall mean any tournament in which the number of qualified entries exceeds one hundred boats.

Acts 1997, No. 449, §1, eff. June 22, 1997.