AB 520

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to treat a nonresident

recipient of a U.S. armed forces award that is equal to or higher than the Purple

Heart medal in order of precedence as a resident for purposes of issuing hunting,

trapping, or fishing approvals. The bill also requires DNR to issue a conservation

patron license at a reduced fee to a resident or nonresident applicant who has

received a U.S. armed forces award that is equal to or higher than the Purple Heart

medal in order of precedence. Under the bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs is

required to maintain a list of medals awarded by the U.S. armed forces that are equal

to or higher than the Purple Heart medal in order of precedence.

Under current law, DNR must treat a qualified member of the U.S. armed

forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard or a nonresident

who has received the Purple Heart medal as a resident for purposes of determining

the member's eligibility for, and cost of, obtaining hunting, trapping, or fishing

approvals. Fees for approvals issued to residents are lower than for those issued to

nonresidents. This bill expands this treatment to a nonresident who has received a

medal awarded by the U.S. armed forces that is equal to or higher than the Purple

Heart medal in order of precedence.

Under current law, a conservation patron license confers a number of hunting,

trapping, and fishing privileges and allows free vehicle admission to state parks and

related areas. Under current law, DNR must issue a conservation patron license at

a reduced fee to a resident or nonresident applicant who has received a Purple Heart

medal. This bill expands this requirement to a resident or nonresident applicant who

has received a medal awarded by the U.S. armed forces that is equal to or higher in

order of precedence than the Purple Heart medal.

Under this bill, for purposes of a DNR determination of whether a person is a

qualified recipient of a U.S. armed forces medal, verification by a county veteran

services office is sufficient proof that a person has received an armed forces medal.