Senate File 2254 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2254 BY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS (SUCCESSOR TO SF 2076) A BILL FOR An Act allowing the issuance of special hunting licenses to 1 certain nonresident disabled veterans and members of the 2 armed forces serving on active federal service. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5915SV (2) 84 av/nh

S.F. 2254 Section 1. Section 483A.24, Code Supplement 2011, is 1 amended by adding the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 10A. The commission shall issue a special 3 hunting license to a disabled nonresident who has served in the 4 armed forces of the United States on active federal service 5 and was disabled during that veteran’s military service or who 6 is serving in the armed forces of the United States on active 7 federal service and has been awarded the purple heart for 8 disabilities incurred in action, to enable the disabled person 9 to participate in a hunt that is conducted by a nonprofit 10 organization that conducts hunting experiences in this state 11 for disabled veterans and members of the armed forces serving 12 on active federal service. The licenses shall be issued as 13 follows: 14 a. The department shall prepare an application to be used by 15 a person requesting a special license under this subsection. 16 (1) The department shall verify that the license will 17 be used by the applicant in connection with a hunt conducted 18 by an approved nonprofit organization that conducts hunting 19 experiences in this state for disabled veterans and members 20 of the armed forces serving on active federal service. The 21 department shall specify, by rules adopted under chapter 17A, 22 what requirements a nonprofit organization must meet in order 23 to be approved to conduct hunts for disabled persons who obtain 24 licenses under this subsection. 25 (2) The department of veterans affairs shall assist the 26 department in verifying the status or claims of applicants 27 under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “disabled” 28 means that a veteran is entitled to a service connected rating 29 under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11 with a degree of disability of thirty 30 percent or more or that a person who is serving in the armed 31 forces of the United States on active federal service has been 32 awarded the purple heart for disabilities incurred in action. 33 b. A disabled veteran or member of the armed forces serving 34 on active federal service who receives a special license under 35 -1- LSB 5915SV (2) 84 av/nh 1/ 3

S.F. 2254 this subsection shall purchase a hunting license and pay the 1 wildlife habitat fee, all for the same fee that is charged to 2 resident hunters. 3 c. A license issued under this subsection is valid for use 4 only on a hunt conducted by a nonprofit organization approved 5 under this subsection. 6 d. The commission shall issue no more than forty of each of 7 the special licenses available under this subsection per year. 8 e. The commission shall adopt rules under chapter 17A for 9 the administration of this subsection. 10 EXPLANATION 11 This bill requires the natural resource commission to issue 12 a special hunting license to a disabled nonresident who has 13 served in the armed forces of the United States on active 14 federal service and was disabled during that veteran’s military 15 service or who is serving in the armed forces of the United 16 States on active federal service and has been awarded the 17 purple heart for disabilities incurred in action, to enable 18 the person to participate in a hunt that is conducted by a 19 nonprofit organization that conducts hunting experiences in 20 this state for such persons. 21 The commission is required to verify that an applicant for 22 a special hunting license is entitled to a service connected 23 disability rating of 30 percent or more or is serving in 24 the armed forces and has been awarded the purple heart for 25 disabilities incurred in action, and that the license will 26 be used in connection with a hunt conducted by an approved 27 nonprofit organization. The commission shall adopt rules 28 specifying the requirements for a nonprofit organization to be 29 approved to hold such hunts. 30 A disabled nonresident receiving a special license under 31 the bill must purchase a hunting license and pay the wildlife 32 habitat fee, all for the same fee that is charged to resident 33 hunters and complete the hunter safety and ethics education 34 course. 35 -2- LSB 5915SV (2) 84 av/nh 2/ 3

S.F. 2254 The commission is limited to issuing no more than 40 of the 1 special hunting licenses available under the bill per year. 2 The commission is required to adopt rules pursuant to Code 3 chapter 17A to administer the provisions of the bill. 4 -3- LSB 5915SV (2) 84 av/nh 3/ 3