H.R. 6013 — what changed

Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the following:

changed “(c) Federal framework closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots

changed “(1) In general—In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to a the Federal framework for outside dates within which the States may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date of shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots.coots—

changed “(2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel—Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1), “(A) adopt the Secretary shall allow youths, veterans recommendation of each respective flyway council (as defined in section 101 20.152 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members 50, Code of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than Federal Regulations) for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots during the first weekend in February Federal framework, but the framework closing date shall be January 31 of each year.year; and

changed “(3) Prohibition—With respect to ducks, mergansers, and coots, the Secretary shall not decrease the length of “(B) allow the hunting season or bag limit, as compared States to establish the length of closing date for the hunting season and bag limit for in accordance with the 2017–2018 hunting season, in—Federal framework.

changed “(A) the Atlantic flyway;“(2) Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel

changed “(B) “(A) In general—Notwithstanding the Mississippi flyway;closing date under paragraph (1) and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall allow States to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots. Such days shall be treated as an addition to the regular hunting season lengths selected by the States.

changed “(C) the Central flyway; or“(B) Requirements—In selecting days under subparagraph (A), a State shall ensure that—

changed “(D) “(i) the Pacific flyway.days selected—

changed “(4) Regulations“(I) do not fall within the regular hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots;

changed “(A) In general—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance “(II) with this subsection.regard to youth days, are on a weekend, holiday or other day in which schools are not in session; and

changed “(B) 2018–2019 migratory bird hunting season—The Secretary shall modify the proposed rule entitled “Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations” (83 Fed. Reg. 4964 (February 2, 2018)), if, “(III) are not more than 14 days before or after the date of enactment of this subsection—hunting season for duck, mergansers, and coots; and

changed “(i) “(ii) the proposed rule has been finalized; andtotal number of days in a hunting season for ducks, mergansers and coots, including any days selected under subparagraph (A), is not more than 107 days.

changed “(ii) “(C) Limitation—A State may combine the 2018–2019 duck 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under subparagraph (A), but in no circumstance may a State have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season has not commenced in—for any purpose.

changed “(I) “(3) Regulations—The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Atlantic flyway;Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter.”

removed “(II) the Mississippi flyway;

removed “(III) the Central flyway; or

removed “(IV) the Pacific flyway.”