A public hearing will be conducted by the Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Commission at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2016 at the Seward County Event Center, 810 Stadium Road, Liberal, Kansas, to consider the approval and adoption of proposed regulations of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism.

A general discussion and workshop meeting on business of the Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Commission will begin at 1:00 p.m., October 20 at the location listed above.  The meeting will recess at approximately 5:00 p.m. then resume at 6:30 p.m. at the same location for the regulatory hearing and more business.  There will be public comment periods at the beginning of the afternoon and evening meeting for any issues not on the agenda and additional comment periods will be available during the meeting on agenda items. Old and new business may also be discussed at this time.  If necessary to complete business matters, the Commission will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. October 21 at the location listed above.

This permanent regulation establishes daily and annual permit prices for vehicles entering and using state parks and other areas requiring a motor vehicle permit.  The proposed amendments would set a permit price for unconventional motor vehicle permits.

The proposed version of the regulation is not anticipated to have any appreciable negative economic impact on the department, other agencies, small businesses or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes the overnight and annual camping permit prices, fees for utility connections, and related fees within state parks.  This is a user fee regulation and the proposed amendments would increase fees for annual camping permits, daily camping permits and 14 day camping permits.

If the same number of permits were sold as calendar year 2015, the proposed increases would generate an additional $1,111,973.00, all of which would accrue to the park fee fund.  Otherwise, the proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any appreciable negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes legal fishing equipment and methods for sportfish and for nonsportfish.  The proposed amendment would allow the use of floatlines 24 hours a day.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes special provisions related to fishing.  The proposed amendments would update the reference document related to new invasive species waters as well as remove receipt requirements when fishing with baitfish.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes the authorized operation of motorized vehicles and aircraft upon department lands and roads.  The proposed amendments provide for the use of unconventional motorized vehicles on department roads within state parks.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes the legal species that can be sold for commercial fish bait.  The proposed amendments would eliminate the requirement for commercial baitfish dealers to provide receipts on sale.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This permanent regulation establishes the tournament bass pass.  The proposed amendments would allow tournament anglers who possess the bass pass the ability to keep up to five fish that meet the statewide length limit but do not meet the length limit for the specific body of water where the tournament is being conducted.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any negative economic impact on the department, small businesses, other agencies, or the public.

This proposed exempt regulation establishes hunting unit boundaries, bag limit and season dates for the 2017 fall wild turkey seasons.  The proposed change would close the fall season for units 3, 5 and 6 to take into account several years of poor reproduction and correct an error in the boundary descriptions.  Otherwise, the regulation would be unchanged from previous seasons.

In 2015, the department issued 12,133 fall turkey permits of various types, generating $211,590.  It is anticipated that the closure of the fall season in three additional units will reduce permit sales by 7300 permits, and reducing income to the wildlife fee fund by approximately $130,000. Administrative costs associated with the season are borne by the department.

The department estimates over 24,000 days of hunting activity will occur, thus providing economic benefit to businesses providing goods and services.  No other economic impact on the general public, small businesses or on other state agencies is anticipated.

This proposed exempt regulation establishes hunting unit boundaries, bag limits and season dates for the spring turkey hunting season.  The proposed changes would correct an error in the boundary descriptions. 

It is anticipated that approximately 61,973 permits and game tags will be issued in 2017, based on 2016 permit sales.  Estimated revenue if the above number of permits and tags are issued would be $1,925,577.00.  Administrative costs associated with the season are borne by the department.

Approximately 310,000 recreational days of hunting could occur, thus providing economic benefit to businesses providing goods and services.  No other economic impact on the department, general public, small businesses, or on other state agencies is anticipated.

This proposed exempt regulation establishes statewide limits and open seasons for fishing in Kansas. The proposed changes relate to removing the length limit on walleye, saugeye and sauger on streams and rivers, allowing floatline fishing year round and 24 hours a day, updates to the reference document related to length and creel limits for specific bodies of water and the addition of one trout water. 

The proposed changes would likely have no substantive economic impact to the department, other state agencies, small businesses, or the public.

As a result of discussion with the Office of the Attorney General on the proposed regulation, the Department has drafted the following amendment be made to the version of the regulation submitted for public comment.

As a result of Commission comment on the proposed regulation, the Department has drafted the following amendment be made to the version of the regulation submitted for public comment.