June 16, 2010, Introduced by Senators PATTERSON, PRUSI, KUIPERS, RICHARDVILLE, BIRKHOLZ, JANSEN, PAPPAGEORGE and HARDIMAN and referred to the Committee on Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation.
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 43537 (MCL 324.43537), as amended by 2007 PA
60.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 43537. (1) A resident who is declared legally blind is
eligible to purchase a senior restricted or senior all-species
fishing license. The department may demand proof of blindness. The
licensee, when fishing, shall possess proof of blindness and shall
furnish the proof upon the request of a peace officer.
(2) A disabled veteran is eligible to purchase any senior
hunting license described in section 43535 or any senior fishing
license described in section 43536, or both.
(3) As a pilot project for 2007, there shall be a disabled
veterans firearm deer season in at least 3 areas of this state,
including Marquette county and deer management units 053 and 064.
The disabled veterans firearm deer season shall correspond with the
youth firearm deer hunting days, if any, established by order of
the commission. A disabled veteran may take 1 deer during the
disabled veterans firearm deer season. A disabled veteran taking
deer during this season shall possess a current firearm deer
license, combination deer license, or antlerless deer license or a
deer management assistance permit authorizing the disabled veteran
to take a deer with a firearm and issued for the area or land upon
which the veteran is hunting. The same kind of deer may be taken
during the disabled veterans firearm deer season as during the
regular November firearm deer season. This subsection does not
limit the authority of the commission under section 40113a to
establish a special hunting season in any area of this state for
veterans with disabilities or other classes of individuals.
(4) The department shall establish a special military deer
hunting program. The program shall attempt to match holders of deer
management assistance permits with qualified individuals interested
in taking deer upon their return from active duty.
(5) (4)
The department may demand proof of
eligibility under
subsection
(2), or (3), or (4). The licensee, when
hunting or
taking aquatic species, as applicable, shall possess proof of his
or
her eligibility under subsection (2), or (3), or (4) and shall
furnish the proof upon the request of a peace officer.
(6) (5)
The department shall process
licenses issued under
subsection (2) in the same manner as licenses issued to senior
citizens for purposes of receiving appropriations from the
legislature under section 43546.
(7) (6)
As used in this section: ,
"disabled
(a) "Disabled veteran" means either of the following:
(i) (a)
A resident who has been determined
by the United States
department of veterans affairs to be permanently and totally
disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans'
benefits at the 100% rate, for a disability other than blindness.
(ii) (b)
A resident rated by the United States
department of
veterans affairs as individually unemployable.
(b) "Qualified individual" means a resident that is a member
of the United States armed forces or national guard and that was on
active duty outside this state during the regular November firearm
deer season.