Senate committee OKs bill on Mexican gray wolf release

Posted: Feb 15, 2016 

 

PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Senate attorney responsible for reviewing the constitutionality of legislation says a measure requiring prior state approval for the release of Mexican gray wolves into the wild is likely pre-empted by federal law.
The Senate's Republican-controlled Rules Committee advanced the measure anyway Monday on a party-line vote.
Sen. Gail Griffin of Hereford is sponsoring Senate Bill 1243. It requires the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to approve any wolf release, prevents release near state trust land or private property and requires a full DNA profile of each released wolf.
About 110 Mexican gray wolves roam a portion of Arizona and New Mexico nearly two decades after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 11 wolves.
Senate President Andy Biggs says he doesn't necessarily agree with the committee attorney's analysis.

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