The chief of the division of wildlife, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may issue a permit for the operation of a tag fishing tournament on state-administered and other public waters. A permit may be issued to any person making application to the chief in accordance with rules adopted under section 1533.93 of the Revised Code and upon payment of a separate fee established by the chief for each tag fishing tournament. Any fee established under this section shall not exceed two hundred dollars.

The chief shall act upon an application within thirty days from its receipt. The chief shall notify the applicant of his decision regarding approval or disapproval of the application by certified mail, return receipt requested. Failure of the chief to act within thirty days shall be deemed to be a denial of the application. In any case where an application is denied, the applicant may appeal the decision of the chief to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, which shall have original, exclusive jurisdiction over such appeals. To perfect such an appeal, the applicant shall cause a copy of a notice of appeal to be filed with the court of common pleas and with the chief within ten days of the mailing of the chief's notice of denial of the application or within ten days of the expiration of the thirty-day period if the chief fails to act. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the chief shall certify to the court of common pleas a copy of the complete application and all documents submitted to him in relation to it. In reviewing the appeal, the court is limited to the papers certified to it by the chief and to argument of the parties. The court may reverse the chief's decision only upon clear and convincing proof that the license was denied contrary to law.

Effective Date: 05-03-1990.