AB 878

Under current law, with certain exceptions including an exception for residents

under the age of 16, no person may fish in this state unless the person has a valid

approval that authorizes fishing. The Department of Natural Resources issues

various fishing licenses, such as resident annual fishing licenses, one-day fishing

licenses, and two-day sports fishing licenses. This bill requires DNR also to issue

lifetime fishing licenses to residents. Under the bill, a resident lifetime fishing

license confers the privilege of an annual fishing license. The holder of a resident

lifetime fishing license must still be issued a fishing stamp if the type of fishing in

which he or she will be engaged requires such a stamp. The bill establishes the fee

for a resident lifetime fishing license at 30 times the fee for a resident annual fishing

license, which under current law is $19.25 plus a 75 cent issuing fee. Thus, at the

current rate, a resident lifetime fishing license fee under the bill is $577.50, plus a

75 cent issuing fee. The bill provides that the fee for a resident lifetime fishing license

issued to a resident age 62 or older is reduced to five times the annual fishing license

fee, which under the current rate is $96.25, plus a 75 cent issuing fee.