An Act to revise the qualifications of Game, Fish and Parks commissioners.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 41-2-2 be AMENDED.

41-2-2. Farmer members--Residence--Gross income requirementsCommission composition.

Not more than four of the game, fish and parks commissioners may be members of the same political party, and, at At the time of their appointment, a commissioner must be a resident of the state., at least

Appointments to the game, fish and parks commission shall remain reflective of the political party affiliation in the South Dakota Senate at the time of the current Governor's election.

Not more than four game, fish and parks commissioners shall be farmers agricultural producers actually residing on a farm or working primarily on a farm, engaged in agriculture, deriving at least two-thirds of their gross annual incomes from crop or livestock production or both, and interested in wildlife conservation. At the time of their appointment, no more than two of the agricultural producers shall reside west of the Missouri River and no more than two shall reside east of the Missouri River.

At the time of their appointment, three commissioners shall reside west of the Missouri River and five shall reside east of the Missouri River.

At least four commissioners, who are not agricultural producers, must actively hunt, fish and or camp, and shall have purchased a license and or permit to do so in the state of South Dakota three of the preceding four years.

Section 2. That § 41-2-3 be AMENDED.

41-2-3. Terms of office of commissioners--Annual appointments--Restrictions on appointments.

The term of office of the game, fish and parks commissioners is four years. The Governor shall preserve:

(1) An an arrangement of length of terms whereby two members have terms expiring each year;

(2) A rotation of terms between the republican and democratic parties.

The expiration of terms occurs on the tenth day of January of each year, and all required appointments shall must be made by the first day of March. The appointments shall must fill all vacancies on the commission arising either by expiration of term or from any other cause.

No person may serve on the commission for more than eight years. However, if If the person's first appointment is for two years, the person may be reappointed thereafter for no more than two additional four-year terms.