Examining Alabama Game & Fish (ADCNR) approach to obtaining public input we see the ADCNR has an Advisory Committee (AC) that meets only 2-3 times per year. The AC is essentially self-perpetuating and appointed by the Governor. The AC has just announced its first 2024 meeting on Saturday February 24, 2024, at Auburn University. More on the organizational structure can be found above in this thread.
https://www.outdooralabama.com/about...advisory-board
Members of the public may sign up the morning of the meeting to speak. Such a speaker must provide 18 copies of the speaker’s topic to the AC before speaking. The speaker is limited to 3 minutes. The AC will not hear more than one speaker on the same topic and a speaker may not speak more than once. The AC rules require multiple individuals wishing to speak on the same topic to select one person to speak on behalf of the group. An agenda is provided in advance online; however, specific topics are unknown to the public prior to the meeting. The AC is not compelled to comment on the speaker’s narrative. But if they wish to comment, by rule they self-limit their own comments to no more than ten minutes.
The summary then is - public input in Alabama about herptiles to the AC of the ADCNR is limited to a single speaker for 3 minutes per meeting, and who must deliver 18 copies of the topic to the AC at the meeting held at the university.
Each state will have its own rules and regulations which allow for public input to the Game & Fish Commission. For the most part, public input is limited in various ways. In Alabama, one may send correspondence to the ADCNR or AC anytime. Neither are required to respond, and they typically do not respond. However, correspondence can be important as such becomes public documentation and is discoverable in any legal process.
The necessary conclusion is the herptile hobby and industry are best served by an organization that is proactive and functions to speak on behalf of the entire group. The affinity organization can only be successful with substantial membership to fund representational activity.
https://usark.org/
https://projects.propublica.org/nonp...ions/262668189