SB 513

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues various

hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, and tags (approvals). DNR also

issues certain combination licenses, including resident and nonresident

conservation patron licenses. A conservation patron license confers upon the

licensee the combined privileges of certain approvals, including a small game

hunting license, a deer hunting license, an archer hunting license, and an annual

fishing license. A conservation patron license also confers certain other privileges,

including the authority to take a motor vehicle into state parks and certain other

areas without a vehicle admission receipt.

This bill requires that a veteran who is a state resident be issued a conservation

patron license at a lower fee than the regular license fee if he or she produces

evidence showing that he or she has a service-connected disability rating of 70

percent or greater, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),

or is receiving disability benefits from the VA due to being unemployable based on

his or her education and skills as well as his or her medical condition. Under current

law, a resident veteran who produces this evidence is eligible for an annual fishing

license at a reduced fee. The bill also requires that the license be issued at the time

the veteran applies.