WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 563

By Senator Maynard

[Introduced February 02, 2022; referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-5-20, relating to permitting dispersed camping on state lands under the jurisdiction of the Division of Natural Resources; authorizing program; requiring permits issued as additions to hunting and fishing licenses; prohibiting the use of several classes of vehicles; requiring fees to be established by legislative rule; and exempting Coopers Rock and Kanawha State Forests from the program.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. PARKS AND RECREATION.

§20-5-20. Providing for dispersed camping on state properties.

The Director of the Division of Natural Resources is authorized to establish or designate dispersed camping areas for wildlife viewing in secluded, remote areas of properties under the jurisdiction of the division. The director shall create a permit system to allow visitors to camp in these properties, within the areas so designated, for the general public between Memorial Day and Labor Day and, for persons holding a Class Q special hunting permit, throughout the entire calendar year. For purposes of this section “dispersed camping” means camping in small parties at undeveloped sites without designated tent pads, water service, or waste facilities, and adherence to leave-no-trace principles. Ground fires are not permitted in any dispersed camping site.

Dispersed camping shall not be available for access by all utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), regardless of the vehicle’s registration status with the Division of Motor Vehicles, or for use by recreational vehicles (RVs), travel trailers, or camper trailers.

Permission for dispersed camping requires a stamp as an addition to a state hunting or fishing license or Class Q permit. These stamps shall be issued in a form prescribed by the director, for a period of 12 months, for a fee to be established through a rule proposed for legislative approval, pursuant to the provisions of §29-3-1 et seq. of this code. Distributed camping shall not be available at Coopers Rock State Forest and Kanawha State Forest.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to establish dispersed camping areas on public lands under the jurisdiction of the DNR.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.