GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1061
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/29/97

Short Title:  Disabled Sportsman Licenses.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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April 21, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH LIFETIME SPORTSMAN LICENSES FOR CERTAIN DISABLED RESIDENTS AND DISABLED VETERANS AND TO PROHIBIT THE UNLAWFUL USE OF FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR DISABLED SPORTSMEN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 113-270.1D(b) reads as rewritten:
	"(b)	Lifetime Sportsman Licenses.  Lifetime sportsman licenses are valid for the lifetime of the holders and entitle the holders to take all wild animals and wild birds by all lawful methods in all open seasons, including the use of game lands, and to fish with hook and line for all fish in all inland and joint fishing waters, including public mountain trout waters.  Lifetime sportsman licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission are:
(1)	Infant Lifetime Sportsman License – $200.00.  This license shall be issued only to an individual under one year of age.
(2)	Youth Lifetime Sportsman License – $350.00.  This license shall be issued only to an individual under 12 years of age.
(3)	Adult Resident Lifetime Sportsman License – $500.00.  This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State.
(4)	Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman License – $1,000.  this license shall be issued only to an individual nonresident of the State.
(5)	Age 70 Resident Lifetime Sportsman License – $10.00.  This license shall be issued only to an individual resident of the State who is at least 70 years of age.
(6)	Disabled Resident Sportsman License – $100.00.  This license shall be issued only to (i) an individual resident of the State who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, remaining valid for the lifetime of the individual so long as the individual remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled; or (ii) an individual resident of the State who is totally disabled, remaining valid for the lifetime of the individual so long as the individual remains totally disabled. For purposes of this section, ‘totally disabled' means physically incapable of being gainfully employed."
Section 2.  G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(2) and G.S. 113-270.1C(b) (3) are repealed.
Section 3.  G.S. 113-270.1C(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(4)	Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License for Disabled Residents – $10.00.  This license shall be issued only to (i) an individual resident of the State who is a fifty percent (50%) or more disabled veteran as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, remaining valid for the lifetime of the individual so long as the individual remains fifty percent (50%) or more disabled; or (ii) an individual resident of the State who is totally disabled, remaining valid for the lifetime of the individual so long as the individual remains totally disabled. For purposes of this section, ‘totally disabled' means physically incapable of being gainfully employed."
Section 4. G.S. 143-250.1(c) is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(5a)	The proceeds from the sale of lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses for disabled residents pursuant to G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(4);"
Section 5.   Article 22 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 113-297.  Unlawful use of facilities provided for disabled sportsman.
	Any person who knowingly uses facilities or participates in activities provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission for disabled sportsmen, when that person does not meet the qualifications for use of those facilities or participation in those activities, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.” 
Section 6.  Section 5 of this act becomes effective December 1, 1997.  The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 1997.  All lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses issued under G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(2) and G.S. 113-270.1C(b)(3) prior to that date shall remain valid for the uses for which they were issued.