SF 2076 (LSB 5069XS (5) 89)

SENATE FILE 2076

BY  MATHIS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges for disabled veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 483A.24, subsection 16, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   16.  a.  Upon payment of the fee established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license, the department shall issue a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license to a resident of Iowa who has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled or was a prisoner of war during that veteran’s military service. The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license under this subsection. The department of veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “disabled” means entitled to a service connected rating under  38 U.S.C. ch. 11 paragraph.
   b.  A resident of Iowa who has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled may hunt without acquiring a hunting license, hunt or trap a fur-bearing animal without acquiring a fur harvester license, or fish without acquiring a fishing license. While hunting, trapping, or fishing pursuant to this paragraph, the resident shall, upon request of an officer of the department, display proof of the veteran’s age, residency, veteran status, and disability status. As used in this paragraph, “disabled” means entitled to a service connected rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges for certain disabled veterans. Under current law, a resident who served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled during that veteran’s military service is eligible to obtain a lifetime fishing license or a lifetime hunting and fishing combined license.
   Under the bill, a resident who is a disabled veteran may hunt without acquiring a hunting license, hunt or trap a fur-bearing animal without acquiring a fur harvester license, or fish without acquiring a fishing license. A resident hunting, trapping, or fishing in such manner shall, upon request of an officer of the department of natural resources, display proof of the veteran’s age, residency, veteran status, and disability status.
   As a matter of law, a person who is not required to possess a fishing license to fish is not required to pay a trout fishing fee to fish for or possess trout.