HP0208, LD 275, item 1, An Act To Expand Disabled Veteran Eligibility for Complimentary Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses

An Act To Expand Disabled Veteran Eligibility for Complimentary Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2015, c. 281, Pt. C, §3, is further amended to read:

4. Disabled veteran. A resident disabled veteran or , a nonresident disabled veteran who is a resident of New Hampshire or Vermont or a disabled veteran who is a resident of another state and who holds a valid hunting or fishing license in that state may obtain upon application, at no cost, all hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permission needed to hunt, trap and fish, and, upon meeting the qualifications as established in section 12853, subsection 4, a guide license. A license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt during the special season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements of section 11106 must be issued one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit. The commissioner shall issue all fishing, trapping and hunting licenses and permits requested under this subsection if the commissioner determines the applicant is a disabled veteran meets the requirements of this subsection and is not otherwise ineligible to hold that permit or license. For the purposes of this subsection, "disabled veteran" means a person who:

A. Is a resident as defined in section 10001, subsection 53 or is a resident of New Hampshire or Vermont;

B. Is a veteran as defined in Title 37-B, section 505, subsection 2, paragraph A, subparagraph (3) Was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard; and

C. Has a service-connected disability evaluated at 50% or more.

Each application must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence that the applicant meets the requirements of this subsection. An applicant for a license or permit under this section is subject to the provisions of this Part, including, but not limited to, a lottery or drawing system for issuing a particular license or permit. A permit or license issued under this subsection remains valid for the life of the permit or license holder, as long as the permit or license holder continues to satisfy the residency requirement in section 10001, subsection 53 or nonresident hunting or fishing license requirements and the permit or license issued under this subsection is not revoked or suspended. For a resident of New Hampshire or Vermont to be eligible under this subsection, that resident's state must have a reciprocal agreement with this State.

summary

This bill expands eligibility for complimentary hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permissions necessary to hunt, trap and fish in Maine, to include nonresident disabled veterans who hold valid hunting or fishing licenses in the states in which they are residents.

HP0208 LD 275	Session - 128th Maine Legislature		LR 807 Item 1
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