House File 2021 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2021 BY GEARHART A BILL FOR An Act relating to ginseng harvesting privileges for disabled 1 veterans. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5050YH (3) 91 sb/js
H.F. 2021 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 456A.39 Lifetime ginseng harvesting 1 permit for disabled veterans. 2 1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise 3 requires: 4 a. “Disabled veteran” means a veteran who has been honorably 5 discharged from active military service in the armed forces of 6 the United States and who has a service-connected disability 7 rating of zero percent or higher as certified by the United 8 States department of veterans affairs. 9 b. “Harvest ginseng” means the taking, possessing, and 10 selling of American ginseng pursuant to a program established 11 by the department under section 456A.24. 12 2. A resident of Iowa who is a disabled veteran may submit 13 an application the department for a lifetime ginseng harvesting 14 permit as provided in this section. 15 3. Upon application and payment of a one-time fee of seven 16 dollars and issuance of a lifetime ginseng harvesting permit 17 by the department, a disabled veteran shall be authorized 18 to harvest ginseng in accordance with applicable season 19 restrictions, quantity limits, and reporting requirements 20 established by the department. The permit shall be valid for 21 the lifetime of the permittee. 22 4. A lifetime ginseng harvesting permit issued under this 23 section shall be used in lieu of an annual ginseng harvesting 24 permit and shall be subject to the same rules and enforcement 25 provisions governing ginseng harvesting under this chapter and 26 chapter 481A. 27 5. The department shall prepare an application form and 28 adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A as necessary to implement 29 this section. The department of veterans affairs shall assist 30 the department in verifying the status or claims of applicants 31 under this section. 32 6. Fees collected under this section shall be deposited 33 in the state fish and game protection fund established under 34 section 456A.17. 35 -1- LSB 5050YH (3) 91 sb/js 1/ 2
H.F. 2021 EXPLANATION 1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 This bill relates to lifetime ginseng harvesting permits for 4 disabled veterans. The bill defines “disabled veteran” as a 5 resident of Iowa who has been honorably discharged from active 6 military service in the armed forces of the United States and 7 who has a service-connected disability rating of 0 percent 8 or higher. A disabled veteran may obtain a lifetime ginseng 9 harvesting permit upon payment of a fee of $7 to the department 10 of natural resources (DNR). The permit shall authorize 11 a disabled veteran to harvest ginseng in accordance with 12 applicable season restrictions, quantity limits, and reporting 13 requirements. DNR shall prepare an application to be used by a 14 person requesting a lifetime ginseng harvesting permit under 15 the bill. The department of veterans affairs shall assist DNR 16 in verifying the status or claims of applicants. 17 The bill directs all fees collected to be deposited in the 18 state fish and game protection fund. 19 -2- LSB 5050YH (3) 91 sb/js 2/ 2