By Jeff Demoss
Daily Herald
Saturday, February 10, 2007

Twelve- and 13-year-old members of Utah nonprofit groups will be able to fish for free on group outings in the state under a bill that passed the Senate Friday.

Senate Bill 59 is aimed at drumming up more interest in the sport among Utah's youth, said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan.

"If we can get these kids fishing at 12 and 13, they will be hooked for life," Stowell said.

Current regulations allow anyone under age 14 to fish for free, but another bill that passed a final Senate vote Friday, Senate Bill 161, would require 12- and 13-year-olds to purchase an annual license for $5.

That bill's sponsor, Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, said it would bring much-needed additional revenue to the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Stowell's bill would offer the fishing exemption to a wide range of nonprofit groups, including religious, educational and scientific organizations. Out-of-state groups would still have to buy licenses.

Some senators object to the bill, saying it sends the wrong message to children about paying for the resources they use.

"There's no free lunch, and we teach kids wrong when we teach them that there is a free lunch," said Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem.

Stowell said the bill requires group leaders to teach youth about fishing laws and inform them that they must buy their own license before fishing individually.

Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, said the $5 annual license is not prohibitive, and purchasing it would help teach children about responsibility.

"This seems to be directed toward Scouting groups, and one of the purposes of the citizenship merit badge is to learn and follow the law of the land," Dayton said. "This is saying they don't have to follow the law of the land for Scouting trips."

Stowell said the exemption is important for creating an opportunity to teach kids about fishing, and groups wouldn't take advantage of it more than once or twice per year.

SB 59 passed an initial Senate vote, 22-4, and must survive one more vote before heading to the House.